Politics and International Relations

Key facts

• Active research (including all experimental work, laboratory work, field work, and data collection) will typically take 3 to 3.5 years full time / 6 to 6.5 years part time or distance learning. On completion of active research students may request approval to register for a writing-up period of up to 12 months.
• University of Leicester's Politics and International Relations thesis should not normally exceed 80,000 words and must make an original contribution to knowledge and contain work of publishable quality. The thesis must then be defended in a viva voce (oral) examination before a degree can be awarded.

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Programme Structure

Courses include:

• International Relations and Security Studies
• Political Theory
• Institutions, Participation, Public Opinion, Parties, and Comparative Politics

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Admission Requirements

Academic requirements

GPA: Upper Second Class

English requirements

TOEFL® IBT: 90

IELTS: 6.5

Other requirements

General requirements

• Download and save the Research Proposal Form and prepare your proposal. Complete all sections using the guidance on the form. If your proposal is not submitted on the Proposal Form your application will not be considered.
• CV
• Personal statement explaining your interest in the research, your experience, why it is worth doing and why we should consider you.
• Copies of your Degree Certificates and Marks Transcripts of study already completed and if possible a transcript to-date of any study currently being undertaken.
• If your documents are not in English please include an official translation.
• Evidence of English language proficiency if applicable
• In the reference section please enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the text boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available.
• In the funding section state clearly how you intend to fund your study.

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Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

• International: 34,008 AUD / year (≈ 18,000 GBP / year)
• Domestic: 9,896 AUD / year (≈ 5,238 GBP / year)

Additional Details

International: £18,000 - £20,200 per year

Living costs

Leicester, United Kingdom: 1,419-2,694 AUD / month

Funding

Scholarships are available for Politics and International Relations.

• Family Loyalty Discount - University of Leicester - Various benefits - Deadline: Anytime
• Sanctuary Scholarships - University of Leicester - Various benefits - Deadline: Not specified
• Alumni Discount - University of Leicester - Various benefits - Deadline: Not specified
• Sports Scholarships - University of Leicester - 1000 GBP - Deadline: 31 Aug 2026
• Music Scholarship - University of Leicester - 500 GBP - Deadline: 13 Oct 2026
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program - U.S. government - Various benefits - Deadline: 07 Oct 2026
• ServiceScape Scholarship - ServiceScape - 1000 USD - Deadline: 30 Nov 2026
• ACES Scholarships - ACES Education Fund - 3500 USD - Deadline: 15 Nov 2026
• Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility - OeAD - Various benefits - Deadline: Not specified
• Scholarships for PhD Students - Junhua Li - 19000 GBP - Deadline: Not specified
• Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship - Boustany Foundation - Various benefits - Deadline: 28 Feb 2027
• $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship - IvyPanda - 1000 USD - Deadline: 31 Oct 2026
• Voice Talent Online Scholarship - Voice Talent Online - 1000 USD - Deadline: 01 Mar 2027
• Women Scholarship for International Students - educations.com - 5000 USD - Deadline: 28 Aug 2026
• The PhD Prep Fellowship - Admit Lab - 10000 USD - Deadline: 01 Sep 2026
• Dream Chaser Scholarship - Salvado Law - 1000 USD - Deadline: 13 Jan 2027
• Scholarship for students with disabilities - Anonymous Hope Fund - 3000 USD - Deadline: 31 Dec 2026
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids - UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) - 22500 GBP - Deadline: Not specified
• CIAPS Commonwealth Scholarships for Postgraduate Professional Studies - CIAPS - 1000 USD - Deadline: Not specified
• Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria - Leopold Figl Foundation - 1000 USD - Deadline: 31 Dec 2026
• The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship - IELTS from 6 to 9 - Various benefits - Deadline: Not specified
• Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme - The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme - 1500 USD - Deadline: 11 Jan 2027