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 creates career-ready graduates with the Power Skills necessary to excel in their studies and achieve their future goals. Assess your own strengths and opportunities for growth and focus on what you want to get out of your time here at Western. 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)

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). Minimum acceptable score is 6 out of 9.
• The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Minimum acceptable score is 80 on each section and an overall score of 85.
• 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