PhD International Studies

International Relations at Queen’s assembles one of the largest and most diverse group of scholars in the UK covering almost all areas of politics. We offer a comprehensive range of academic approaches, and regional expertise includes Europe and the USA, Africa, East Asia and Latin America. The School has a strong international reputation for innovative research, across a wide range of specialist research strengths:


• Security and terrorism
• Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict Studies (with a particular focus on European minority politics, human rights, conflict resolution and peacebuilding)
• International political economy
• Foreign policy


We pride ourselves on our global outlook within the School. This is reflected in our wide range of international partners and in the diverse nationalities represented across the staff and student bodies. The School hosts international visitors and speakers throughout each academic year and students benefit from the wide range of national and international topics being discussed and researched within the school.

About the Programme
The aim of the programme is to produce students who are fully-fledged independent researchers, and students are from the outset given encouragement to disseminate their work at seminars and conferences and by publishing in high-quality locations. The programme culminates in the submission of an 80,000-word dissertation.

Research Resources
The Political Studies and International Relations seminar for staff and students
Centre for the Study of Ethnic Conflict
Centre for Gender and Politics
The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice

Mode of study/duration
Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).

Community
We provide a challenging intellectual atmosphere for our postgraduates. You’ll see our thriving research culture yourself, through visits and talks, conferences and workshops, reading groups and the staff seminar series.

Our PhD student body reflects a growing and diverse global community giving you near unrivalled opportunities to make new friends, debate aspects of your research with a substantial peer group, and begin making those networks that will stand you in good stead throughout you careers.

You’ll become part of our vibrant postgraduate research culture, focused on areas in international relations.
The postgraduate community within the School is lively, energetic and diverse and, contribute enormously to the research culture of the school. It includes many of our own graduates, as well as graduates of British and Irish universities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford, and UCD, and international institutions such as Princeton, Georgetown and Minzu University Beijing.

Careers
We are proud of the students who have graduated with their doctorates. Where possible we stay in touch so that the link and relationships remain long after a student has left the School.

Employability is at the heart of the Queen’s curriculum. Key to this is the delivery of a programme that fully equips all of its students to succeed in their careers and give them a competitive edge in the graduate job market. Social science graduates are in demand for their critical thinking skills as they are equipped to question received views and explore new approaches and solutions. Graduates of the School have found success in a wide range of careers including journalism, PR, marketing, policy research, social work, teaching, civil service and government posts.

Scholarships:
NINE DTP – Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership. Please see: https://www.ninedtp.ac.uk/ for further details.

Northern Bridge DTP – Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership.
Please see: http://www.northernbridge.ac.uk/ for further details

DfE Studentship – Department for the Economy Postgraduate Studentship scheme
Please see: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-postgraduate-studentship-scheme for further details.

Further PhD opportunities are available through the LINAS Doctoral Training Programme.
Please see https://www.qub.ac.uk/Research/GRI/mitchell-institute/Study/linas/Projects/ for more details