Key information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months
- Part-time: 60 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting October 2026 – Application deadline not specified.
- Starting January 2027 – Application deadline not specified.
- Starting April 2027 – Application deadline not specified.
- Starting July 2027 – Application deadline not specified.
There are no official closing dates however, we ask that completed applications are submitted for consideration at least 3 months before.
Language
English
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Political Science
Overview
The School has an exceptionally strong research culture with a strong reputation for the quality of the research produced and the growing number of research grants it is attracting.
It is home to the renowned Collingwood and British Idealism Centre and attracts visiting scholars from all over the world, most prominently Professors Carole Pateman and Rex Martin both of whom have become Honorary Professors at Cardiff. Visit the programme website for more information
The Political Theory Research Unit from Cardiff University, has an unusual concentration of political theorists and historians of political thought and this enables it to offer supervision across a wide range of research topics.
Programme Structure
Topics include:
- British idealism
- Collingwood
- Contemporary political theory
- Distributive justice
- Environmental politics
- European Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment
- Gender studies
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English requirements
- TOEFL iBT: 100
- PTE Academic: 76
- IELTS: 7
Other requirements
General requirements
- Applicants should have a minimum of a good Honours degree in Politics or International Relations (2:1 or equivalent) or overseas equivalent in a relevant subject.
- Masters’ degree in Politics or International Relations (or equivalent)
- Applicants with appropriate professional experience.
- Interviews (via Skype/Phone or in person) may be conducted to identify and assess the academic merit of prospective students.
We will consider all individual applicants on their specific merits. If you do not have the standard qualifications for the course, you may still apply.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
- International: 50,857 AUD / year (≈ 26,700 GBP / year)
- Domestic: 9,535 AUD / year (≈ 5,006 GBP / year)
Additional Details
- Part-time tuition fees: £2,503
Living Costs
Cardiff, United Kingdom: 1,196-2,030 AUD / month
Scholarships
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Political Theory.
- Fulbright-Cardiff University scholarship — Cardiff University, Grant, Various benefits, Deadline 07 Oct 2026
- Cardiff University Marshall Scholarship — Cardiff University, Grant, Various benefits, Deadline Not specified
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — U.S. government, Grant, Various benefits, Deadline 07 Oct 2026
- ServiceScape Scholarship — ServiceScape, Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 30 Nov 2026
- ACES Scholarships — ACES Education Fund, Grant, 3500 USD, Deadline 15 Nov 2026
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation, Grant, Various benefits, Deadline Not specified
- Scholarships for PhD Students — Junhua Li, Grant, 19000 GBP, Deadline Not specified
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Boustany Foundation, Grant, Various benefits, Deadline 28 Feb 2027
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — IvyPanda, Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 31 Oct 2026
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Voice Talent Online, Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 01 Mar 2027
- Women Scholarship for International Students — educations.com, Grant, 5000 USD, Deadline 28 Aug 2026
- The PhD Prep Fellowship — Admit Lab, Grant, 10000 USD, Deadline 01 Sep 2026
- Dream Chaser Scholarship — Salvado Law, Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline 13 Jan 2027
- Scholarship for students with disabilities — Anonymous Hope Fund, Grant, 3000 USD, Deadline 31 Dec 2026
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Grant, 22500 GBP, Deadline Not specified
- CIAPS Commonwealth Scholarships for Postgraduate Professional Studies — CIAPS, Grant, 1000 USD, Deadline Not specified
- Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria — Leopold Figl Foundation, Grant, Various benefits, Deadline 31 Dec 2026
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — IELTS from 6 to 9, Grant, 1500 USD, Deadline Not specified
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme, Grant, 12000 USD, Deadline 11 Jan 2027