PhD in Political Science, International Relations Track

The Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy and International Relations asks applicants to fulfill the following requirements / submit the following documents, in addition to CEU's general admission requirements:

Degree requirement

Applicants are expected to hold an internationally recognized Master’s or comparable degree in Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, or a similar politics- and/or policy-related program that provides a relevant academic background for the track to which the candidate applies. A comparable degree in other Social Sciences, Humanities, or other disciplines will also be considered in case of an excellent academic record.

Required documents

In their online application package, applicants to the Doctoral Program in Political Science need to submit the following documents in English (School-specific requirements are in bold):

  • Online CEU PU application form;
  • two confidential letters of recommendation (academic); 
  • relevant undergraduate and graduate transcripts and diplomas;
  • a full curriculum vitae or resume, including a list of publications, if any;
  • a max. 500-word statement of purpose;
  • a max. 1,500-word research proposal (excl. references, bibliography);
  • a max. 500-word summary of a submitted or planned MA thesis or other substantial academic work;
  • a max. 10,000-word single-authored writing sample that can be published or unpublished, a chapter, a seminar paper, an article, etc. (including bibliography and footnotes)
  • proof of relevant English language competency.

Depending on your case, you may be able to request an exemption from the English language proficiency requirement, please review the information here: Proof of English Proficiency.

For general CEU admissions questions, please contact Admissions: Contact CEU Admissions.

For specific admissions questions to the Doctoral School of Political Science, Public Policy and International Relations, please contact us: ds@ceu.edu.