FAQs

We’ve curated the most frequently asked questions about applying and studying for a PhD in POLIS. If your question isn’t answered here, feel free to contact us at fass-polis-pg-admissions@open.ac.uk with your question.

Who can apply for a PhD in POLIS?

We welcome and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or ability. We have a strong record of supporting students with a range of disabilities to successful completion of PhDs. If you have any questions at all about how we can accommodate your study, please get in touch with us.

What are the entry requirements for studying for a PhD in POLIS?

Most successful applicants to the PhD programme have a Masters degree in Politics and/or International Relations or a related discipline, and a 2:1 at undergraduate level. However, applicants can still be considered provided they demonstrate evidence of the ability to pursue research and write at a high level in the discipline.

Is there a residency requirement?

We welcome applications from students from all over the world. Students are, however, required to attend regular, face-to-face supervision meetings and to take advantage of our year-round programme of workshops, seminars, and training at The Open University’s main campus in Milton Keynes, as well as training provided by the universities of (Oxford and Cambridge/Oxford and Brunel) as part of our doctoral training partnership. As such, students are encouraged to reside in or near Milton Keynes. On a case-by-case basis, we are generally able to accommodate students living in other parts of the UK or elsewhere in Europe, provided they can travel to Milton Keynes as required.

It is also important to check the residency requirements of any PhD funding. Some funding bodies, such as the AHRC/ESRC, may require students to reside in the UK, for example.

More information on support for overseas students can be found here.

How much does it cost?

Current tuition fees for the PhD Programme can be found here.

Full-time PhD students are entitled to an annual research budget of £1000 (£500 for part-time students), which can be used to travel to conferences or to archives, for example.

What funding options do you have?

The Open University, in partnership with Oxford University and Brunel University, is part of the Grand Union Doctoral Pathway, funded by the ESRC. Each year the group awards a number of ESRC-funded doctoral studentships, covering fees and maintenance. Potential applicants can apply to our specific pathway, Social Justice and Inequalities, which is shared with Social Policy.

The Open University, in collaboration with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, is part of the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Each year, this group awards a number of AHRC-funded doctoral studentships to incoming PhD students at the OU, covering fees and maintenance. More information on these studentships can be found here.

If you are interested in applying for a DTP studentship, simply indicate on your PhD application form that you would like to be considered for funding. If your application to the PhD programme is successful, you will have the opportunity to complete a short additional application for the studentship. Studentships are open to applicants of all nationalities.

Students are also welcome to apply for external funding. General information about funding opportunities for postgraduate research can be found here.

How long does it take to do a PhD? And can I study part time?

You have the option of studying full time or part time. Full-time students generally complete their PhD in three to four years, while part-time students typically complete within six years.

What are the deadlines for applying for and beginning the PhD?

The PhD programme in POLIS is open for self-students with an October start date. The application deadline is March 31st. In case where successful applicants cannot commence in October due to justifiable reasons, they will have an option to start in February of the following year.

Which areas does POLIS supervise?

The department has a broad range of expertise, and we are able to support many diverse research projects. We do have specific supervision expertise in a number of areas, however, as reflected on our Research page.

We have finite capacity for taking on new PhD students, which means that even if a member of the department has suitable expertise in a given area, s/he may not necessarily be able to take on a new PhD student in a given year.

Can I be co-supervised by members of two different departments?

Yes. The Open University fosters interdisciplinary research, and we often organise a supervisory team with academics from two different disciplines.

Do you offer an MPhil in POLIS?

Yes. Students do have the option of pursuing an MPhil rather than a PhD. An MPhil requires research students to produce a thesis of 60,000 words (rather than 100,000 for the PhD) and is typically completed in 15 months (full-time). The application procedure is the same for the MPhil and for the PhD.

Unfortunately, there is no funding available to study for an MPhil.

Who should I ask to be my referees for my PhD application?

You are required to provide the names and contact details of two referees in support of your application. Both referees should be individuals who can confirm that you have the skills required to successfully complete a PhD. At least one of the referees should be an academic - for example, the person who supervised your Master’s dissertation. The other referee can be an academic as well, or s/he can be an employer who can confirm that you possess the necessary skills to undertake postgraduate research.

Do I need to submit a research proposal as part of my application?

Yes, a research proposal is a vital part of any application. Any application submitted without a research proposal will be rejected as incomplete. More information on how to draft a research proposal can be found in this useful blog post by Alison Phipps has written a useful blog post on writing a good PhD proposal in the social sciences.

What is the first year of the PhD like?

When you first enrol for your PhD, you will technically be an MPhil student. During your first year, you will have the opportunity to attend induction and training sessions organised by the Graduate School Network and by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

For your first year, much of your research will focus on producing a literature review, which will allow you to master the secondary literature related to your chosen topic.

At the end of your first year of full-time study, or your second year of part-time study, you will submit your literature review along with some other work for your upgrade to the full PhD programme. For your upgrade, a panel of two OU academics will look at the work you’ve completed so far and your plans for the years ahead.

In the first year of the PhD programme, you can also be assigned a mentor, namely a more advanced PhD student in a different discipline within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Your mentor is there to help you with the transition to life as a PhD student.

Can I get teaching experience at the OU as a PhD student?

We currently run a Teaching Scheme that invites PhD students to join an undergraduate module team and take part in discussions around creating and marking exams and essays, while benefitting mentorship from an experienced tutor. PhD students can also receive training on writing and delivering lectures and have the opportunity to lecture to undergraduate students. The OU also collaborates with the Brilliant Club, where PhD students gain experience teaching in secondary schools.

What careers do graduates go on to pursue?

Graduates of our PhD programme thrive in a wide range of different sectors. Many of our graduates teach in universities across the UK and overseas, while others have pursued careers in think thanks, the civil service, and other third sector organisations.