PhD in Politics

 

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New ESRC awards: 2 studentships for starting in 2012

The ESRC Scottish Doctoral Training Centre has just announced the revised dates for submission of applications (see below): 30th March 2012.

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The degree is based on three to four years of full-time research. In the first year, students acquire a wide range of research skills and formulate their research question and related design, under the guidance of their supervisors. At the end of their course of study students submit a thesis of no more than 100,000 words and are examined in an oral examination (viva voce) by two examiners (usually one internal to the university, the other external.) The degree is an ideal way for students to make an original contribution to the field of politics and international relations by pursuing a long piece of research on a topic of particular interest to them.

At the same time the Politics and IR subject area emphasises the importance for students of acquiring a range of transferrable skills above and beyond those required by their specific projects, such as organising seminars and conferences, learning how to apply for research jobs in and out of academia, and learning how to deliver professional seminar presentations. To these ends a number of workshops are organised over the year which research students are strongly encouraged to attend.

Some examples of past and current projects include the following:

• Governance participation and avoidance: everyday public involvement in the Scottish NHS.
• Believing Hate: Genocidal Ideology in the Modern Era.
• Europeanization in gender equality policies, a critical frame analysis in Germany and the UK.
• The European Union's External Policy in Issues of Migration and Development.
• Linking professional organisations of health care to patients' perceptions and experiences of chronic illness. A discussion of health services for type 2 diabetes in Scottish primary care.
• International and domestic bond market investors and margin of manoeuvre in government economic policy.
• Fiscal policy coordination in the Euro area.
• The spread of Private-Public Partnerships in Europe.
• The political economy of EU financial sector governance.

RESEARCH TRAINING

All new research students, whatever degree they are registered for, follow a programme of research training, drawn from the MSc by Research courses co-ordinated by the Graduate School of Social and Political Science (see Graduate School Research Training Courses Handbook), and the Politics-specific training described here. The programme equips you with professional training to a high standard, enabling you to pursue further research, perhaps leading to a PhD or further research for a governmental or non-governmental institution. After graduating you can expect to be a strong candidate for careers in a wide variety of contexts, including academia, the media, the private sector and a diverse array of public services. Nearly everyone needs good researchers!

Postgraduate researchers also have access to the University and College-wide programme of training in transferable skills and other aspects of professional development, such as specialist Careers advice.  In Politics each student must agree an individual training programme with their supervisor and the Postgraduate Adviser. This programme is reviewed and updated on an annual basis.

RESEARCH GROUPS

Every research student belongs to at least one of the research groups in the department and are expected to take part in their activities, ranging from doctoral workshops to seminar series and conferences, in the following areas: Political Theory, African Politics, Elections, Public Opinions & Political Parties, International Politics, Gender and Politics, European Integration, Migration and Citizenship, Territorial Politics, and Policy & Governance.  You can find details for the groups at http://www.pol.ed.ac.uk/research_groups/index

HOW TO APPLY

See the Graduate School's website for guidance on how to apply (http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/gradschool/how_to_apply). Please note that full applications must be received by 1st July 2012 at the latest in order to be considered for entry in September 2012.  In addition to the School's and University's requirements (especially with regards to English language skills, past academic undergraduate record and references), Politics and IR attaches considerable importance to:

(a) Applicant's postgraduate work at Masters level. We will expect a good overall performance, at least in the 65+% range or equivalent, with particular focus on the dissertation

(b) Applicant's research proposal. The proposal (of no more than 1,000 words, not including references) should:

• indicate clearly the question/issue/topic which the applicant wishes to pursue
• provide a general background for the proposal (why is that question important? What is the existing literature on the topic? What is the gap which your research aims to fill?)
• set out the methodology to be used for the research in relation to data creation and data analysis (Will the research need statistical modelling? Will it require interviews and surveys? Will it require specific historiographic and archival skills? etc.)
• indicate why you are particularly well suited to carry out this particular research (for example, show why your past studies and/or professional experience are particularly relevant to your project, etc.)

You are strongly advised to get in touch with prospective supervisors in the department. You can identify them by looking up staff pages at http://www.pol.ed.ac.uk/staff_profiles/index.  Prospective supervisors might ask you to provide them with written work from your Master's degree (for example, your MSc dissertation, or examples of long essays), in order to get a sense of your research potential).

Please note that full completed applications must be received by 1st July 2012 at the latest in order to be considered for entry in September 2012.

Further information can be found in the programme handbook for the current year: http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/70970/PIR_RESEARCH_HANDBOOK_2011-12_FINAL.pdf.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Financial support is available from a variety of sources: the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for UK and EU students, the School of Social and Political Studies, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and University awards. See http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/gradschool/funding/introduction for further information.

Please note that, if you wish to apply for an ESRC or AHRC award, you must first apply to the University for a place on the PhD in Politics.  Note that deadlines for the University of Edinburgh scholarship/studentship funding are usually set for 1st February preceding the start of the academic year for which it is available.  Students who wish to apply are invited to check whether they are eligible for funding before making full inquiries about the suitability of their project and academic background. 

ESRC Funding Awards

The ESRC is the main British funding body for research in the social sciences.  We are pleased to announce the availability of ESRC funded PhD studentships beginning in September 2012.  These studentships are offered as part of the ESRC Scottish Graduate School in the Social Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (DTC), established in 2011.  The Scottish DTC, based in the University of Edinburgh, offers studentships in the pathway for Politics and International Relations, which is governed by representatives from the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews.

Although awards will be shared among the three universities, interested applicants should apply directly to the university where they believe their research interests are best represented in staff research activity.  They are not permitted to apply to more than one of these three universities within this pathway.  The numbers of studentships are likely to vary each year.  For entry in 2012, there are two studentships available.

Candidates may apply for two types of studentships in Politics and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh:

(a)  1+3 awards: Students will be funded for a one year MSc by Research in Politics, with an emphasis on research methods, followed by three years of research for a PhD on a topic matching the research interests and expertise of staff in the subject area. 

(b)  +3 awards: Students demonstrating sufficient training in research methods will be funded for three years of research for a PhD on a topic matching research interests and expertise in the subject area.  Note that students in any field of politics (including political theory), who have completed an ESRC-recognised MSc elsewhere in all fields of politics, would be more than welcome to apply to us for a +3 ESRC studentship.

For information on the subject area of Politics and International Relations see: http://www.pol.ed.ac.uk/.

For details on the research interests and expertise of staff see: http://www.pol.ed.ac.uk/staff_profiles/index.

Eligibility:

Studentships are only available to UK and EU nationals who have been recently resident in the EU.  Full awards are available to applicants with established UK residency.  Fees-only awards are available for EU applicants without UK residency.  Fuller details of eligibility can be found in the ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide at: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/_images/PFG_DTC_%28June_2011%29_tcm8-14766.pdf.

Students who are eligible for ESRC funding must first apply for a place on the MSc by Research or PhD programmes through the online application system.  You may not apply to more than one university within the same DTC pathway for ESRC funding.

In addition to the normal application materials required by the Graduate School of Social and Political Science (http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/gradschool/how_to_apply), applicants must also provide the following, which should be sent directly to Professor Andrew Thompson (pgadviser-pir@ed.ac.uk), not the Graduate School:

1.  A research proposal of 1200 words maximum (excluding references).  If you have already applied for the programme and been offered a place, you have the opportunity to re-submit a proposal that takes into account your potential supervisors' expertise, which needs to be sent directly to the Postgraduate Adviser (see below).

2.  A supporting statement from each intended supervisor in the University of Edinburgh, including an explanation or demonstration of the adequacy of their supervision.

3. An up to date Curriculum Vitae (CV).

4. The standard Scottish Graduate School DTC application cover sheet.

5. An Equal Opportunities monitoring form.

If you are wishing to carry out advanced quantitative methods as part of your research, you may also apply for the AQM awards in addition to applying for the pathway awards.  If so, you will also need to submit:

6. The AQM application form.

The forms for items 4, 5 and 6 above can be downloaded from the Scottish DTC website.

The deadline for receipt of full applications will be Friday 30th March 2012.  Immediately afterwards the governance committee of the politics and international relations pathway will meet and make recommendations to the DTC, which will announce the decision by early May 2012.

Interested applicants are strongly advised to contact potential supervisors and/or either the Postgraduate Adviser, Professor Andrew Thompson (pgadviser-pir@ed.ac.uk), or the Research Postgraduate Admissions Director, Dr Juliet Kaarbo (j.kaarbo@ed.ac.uk) about their suitability for the awards. 

 

Sir Bernard Crick Fellowships

All applicants for Postgraduate Research study are automatically considered for Sir Bernard Crick Fellowships.  We hope to be able to offer a few Fellowships (normally in the amount of £3000) to outstanding applicants.

 

Scholarship scheme to benefit PhD students

Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea, Principal, has unveiled a scheme offering more than 110 new PhD scholarships.

The Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships, a £6 million funding scheme, is open to UK, EU and overseas students taking research degrees in any field of study. Close to 60 scholarships will be offered per year for students beginning their study over the period 2010-2013.

The scholarship scheme includes a package of career training that allows PhD students to simultaneously develop skills in research, and also in teaching, public engagement, or entrepreneurship.

Generous stipend

Each scholarship will cover the home rate of tuition fee as well as a stipend which in 2012-13 will be £14,500. Subject to satisfactory progress, the awards can cover the cost of studying at the University for up to three years.

See: http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/270110-phdscholarships