MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government)

About the course

The MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) is an advanced two-year graduate degree which provides training in research techniques and methodology and enables you to acquire substantive knowledge in this sub-area of the discipline. It is also suitable if you wish to later embark upon doctoral research.

The MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) emphasises the research-led study of government and political institutions from area-specific and comparative perspectives, and provides a range of educational experiences in a variety of learning environments to develop your written and oral communication skills as well as other technical skills.

The MPhil will provide you with a solid foundation for a wide range of careers, including academic, professional, commercial, diplomatic and governmental positions.

The Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) is internationally recognised as a leading centre for teaching and research in comparative government and empirical political science, and counts among its members a number of acknowledged authorities within this discipline.

Assessment

At the end of your first year you will sit a three-hour written examination in the core subject and submit a research design proposal as preparation for the MPhil thesis.

At the end of the course, you are required to complete the assessment in the optional papers of your choice and submit a thesis of not more than 30,000 words.

Graduate destinations

Graduate work in politics will prepare you for an academic career in the field, either in Oxford or elsewhere, but the DPIR also celebrates the substantial number of its graduates working in government, in diplomatic services, and in senior positions in the private sector.

The DPIR is committed to engaging with its alumni community. The alumni programme is now underway and includes an annual publication ('Inspires’), a website forum, alumni networks and tailored events.

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the equivalent of the following UK qualifications or their equivalent: a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in political science or international relations, or in a related discipline such as economics, history, philosophy, sociology or law. Nonetheless, each application will be assessed upon its own merits, and so candidates with a degree in an unrelated discipline should demonstrate the relevance of their academic background to their proposed subject or topic of study. Entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or its equivalent. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0.