Political Science

Western's Political Science Department is known for the outstanding quality of its research and teaching in Democratic Engagement, Global Justice, Urban Politics and Local Governance, and Research Methods. Our faculty offer expertise and training in all of the traditional subfields, such as Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Local Government, and Political Theory but also value and encourage work that cuts across and challenges those boundaries. Not only do our faculty and students draw upon multiple theories and methods to solve a wide range of pressing domestic and international problems, we also invent new ones to expand the discipline’s analytical and explanatory power. If you share these values and want to acquire the skills necessary to put them into practice, we invite you to apply to our PhD program.

The Own Your Future doctoral professional development program will help you become a career-ready graduate with the skills necessary to excel in your studies and achieve your future goals. By participating in the program, you will assess your own strengths and opportunities for growth, choose what skills you want to enhance during your time at Western, and learn how to articulate the skills you gained in your degree to optimize your future career opportunities. To learn more, visit www.uwo.ca/ownyourfuture.

Program Length

• 12 Terms

Program Design

• Full-time study
• Thesis-based

Funding Information

• Graduate Student Funding Support Package

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS)
• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fee schedules (per term) are posted on the Office of the Registrar's website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_schedules.html

Graduate Student Affordability Calculator

Use this helpful tool to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three term) academic year.

Admission Requirements

• An MA in Political Science with superior standing. Candidates must demonstrate a high level of academic performance.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum acceptable score is 550 for the paper and pencil version, 213 for the computer version, or 86 for the internet version with no individual score below 20. [Western's TOEFL ID is 0984].
• The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS Academic). Minimum acceptable score is 6 out of 9.
• The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL Assessment). Minimum acceptable score is 60.
• Fanshawe College’s ESL Program. The requirement is graduation from Level 10, English for Academic Purposes, with a minimum 80% in all components.

Application Deadline

• February 1 - Acceptance notification in April, concluding in July

Fields of Research

• Canadian Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Political Theory
• Urban Politics and Local Governance