Frequently Asked Questions

The admissions process is very competitive - we admit fewer than 10% of our applicants. We certainly encourage you to apply to other PhD programmes if you wish to be sure of admission to a programme.

There are no absolute requirements for admission to the PhD programme. We look for promise of academic excellence in Political Science in the round. We admit both students with and without Masters Degrees, and with and without previous degrees in political science. We encourage applications from prospective students with a wide variety of backgrounds.

Regarding English language requirements, the programme follows the standardised requirements set by the Graduate Studies Office.

Look at the web pages of academic staff in the department and see the research topics that they focus on, or at the Department's research page. Staff interests cover a wide variety of topics, but many staff have an interest in different aspects of the politics of European integration and in party politics, and of course in Irish politics. You would be wise to apply for a topic which matches the interests of at least one member of our staff.

We recommend a 2-3 page research proposal, identifying a research question on the basis of the existing scholarship addressing the topic. A shorter research proposal is often better than a longer one. We know of course that applicants have not yet been properly trained in research design, so that we do not expect perfection in applicants' research proposals, but we do expect evidence of reading and assessment of at least some of the existing scholarship. You may also wish to include a writing sample, such as a chapter of an undergraduate or Masters thesis. The Department may contact applicants to ask them to provide such a writing sample if available.

You are invited to contact Trinity’s academic staff with a short email outlining your academic background (your degrees, your grades) and a brief indication - one paragraph should be enough - of your research proposal/interest. That will ensure that this staff member is aware of your application when the department meets to discuss applications and admissions.

We regret that we do not review research proposals before applications are submitted.

Yes, to learn more have a look at our Former Post-Graduate Students webpage.

Yes - we welcome applications from those who are seeking support from the China Scholarship Council. Please contact the member of staff who has a research interest that matches the proposed research project, and if both sides deem it suitable, we will support your application to the CSC. View Trinity’s guide to CSC applications. Please remember that applications must be made both to Trinity and to the CSC itself, and that deadlines are early. In the first instance, you should approach a suitable supervisor in the Department by email with a brief description of your proposed project so that we can start considering whether Trinity offers a good match for your research interests. View a list of our staff.

In recent years, the Department of Political Science has ensured that all entering PhD students have their fees paid and generous stipends provided, whether by Trinity or by an outside funding body. As part of admission and in return for financial assistance, the Department expects all PhD students to participate in teaching Trinity’s undergraduate courses, which provides postgraduates with valuable professional training for the job market.

All applicants (both EU and non-EU) are considered for financial aid as part of the process of considering admission, no special application is needed.

We admit new PhD students only in September because of the structured nature of the first two years of the programme.

The Political Science PhD programme is available on a full-time basis only.

Students must expect to be resident in Dublin throughout the PhD programme at Trinity, except for any necessary field trips agreed with supervisors.

All applicants are asked to provide the names and email addresses of two referees in the online application system. Upon the successful submission of the application, the system will automatically send emails to the referees that will include a link through which they can submit their reference letters. We strongly encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to ensure that your referees have ample time to upload their letters. If we do not receive your reference letters within a week of the application deadline, we will not be able to process your application in a timely manner.

Please see the PhD Admissions section of this website, and the Graduate Studies website.

We do not make early decisions and all applicants are notified at the same time in May/June.

Trinity College’s Graduate Studies Office will write informing students of the results of their applications, within approximately eight weeks of the application deadline.

We regret that we cannot offer feedback on unsuccessful applications to the PhD programme.