Key information
Duration
- Full-time: 36 months
- Part-time: 60 months, 21 hrs/week
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting January 2027 - Apply before Oct 2026
- Starting April 2027 - Apply before Jan 2027
- Starting July 2027 - Apply before Apr 2027
- Starting October 2027 - Apply before Jul 2027
More details
There are no official closing dates however completed applications should be submitted for consideration at least 3 months before your requested start date.
Language
English
English requirements
- TOEFL iBT: 100
- PTE Academic: 76
- IELTS: 7
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Area & Cultural Studies
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.
Politics and Law are home to the Wales Governance Centre and have close connections with the National Assembly for Wales. Wales degree is offered at Cardiff University.
Distinctive features
- We play a leading role in Language-based Area Studies, and are involved in Politics & International Relations, within the Wales Doctoral Training Partnership, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
- All research students are entitled to call upon a personal allocation of funds which may be spent on legitimate research related activities.
- Our Research in Progress seminar series provides students with the opportunity to present papers in a non-intimidating environment. The series is designed to be preparatory to presenting papers at conferences, and also plays a vital role in the dissemination of subject-specific skills.
- We encourage our PhD students to gain teaching experience, however applicants are asked to note that the allocation of teaching is dependent on which modules are running at an Undergraduate or Postgraduate level and may not be available to everyone.
Visit the programme website for more information
Programme Structure
Range of research topics, include:
- British politics
- Comparative politics
- Constitutional politics
- Devolution
- Electoral politics
- Europeanisation
- Governance
- Identity politics
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.
- 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. Your application will be considered if you have the following;
- Masters’ degree in Politics or International Relations (or equivalent)
- Applicants with appropriate professional experience.
Make sure you meet all requirements
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees
- 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 Information
Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Wales.
- Fulbright-Cardiff University scholarship — Deadline: 07 Oct 2026 (Cardiff University)
- Cardiff University Marshall Scholarship — Deadline: Not specified (Cardiff University)
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program — Deadline: 07 Oct 2026 (U.S. government)
- ServiceScape Scholarship — Deadline: 30 Nov 2026
- ACES Scholarships — Deadline: 15 Nov 2026
- Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility — Deadline: Not specified
- Scholarships for PhD Students — Deadline: Not specified
- Boustany Astronomy PhD Scholarship — Deadline: 28 Feb 2027
- $1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship — Deadline: 31 Oct 2026
- Voice Talent Online Scholarship — Deadline: 01 Mar 2027
- Women Scholarship for International Students — Deadline: 28 Aug 2026
- The PhD Prep Fellowship — Deadline: 01 Sep 2026
- Dream Chaser Scholarship — Deadline: 13 Jan 2027
- Scholarship for students with disabilities — Deadline: 31 Dec 2026
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – University Bids — Deadline: Not specified
- Grants of the Leopold Figl Foundation for students with residence in Lower Austria — Deadline: 31 Dec 2026
- The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship — Deadline: Not specified
- Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme — Deadline: 11 Jan 2027