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Political Economy Research MPhil / PhD, option of joint PhD with NUS

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Overview

We are the only dedicated Department of Political Economy in the UK. Situated within the broader Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy, we see the disciplines of Politics and Economics as inextricably linked. Undertaking a PhD in Political Economy with us places you within a unique institution in which you will be part of a vibrant and growing set of world-leading scholars, who are committed to understanding the intertwining of politics and economics and applying those insights to solving local, national and global problems.

We have an open an inclusive research culture that encourages debate between the contesting theories, approaches and ideologies. Our vision of what political economy is lends itself to an interdisciplinary approach, and there is a wide range of methodological and theoretical approaches used across the department. This provides a stimulating environment for PhD research that fosters open-minded and critical scholarship.

Examples of current staff research projects

  • The Centre for the Study of Governance and Society, founded by a John Templeton Foundation award, examines how both formal and informal rules of governance operate and evolve, and how these rules facilitate or imperil peaceful, prosperous, and ecologically secure societies. It is run by Prof Mark Pennington but involves a number of other scholars both within DPE and beyond.

  • Waking Up to a Golden Dawn: How Exposure to the Refugee Crisis Shapes Political Behaviour – Dr Kostas Matakos, in collaboration with Prof Elias Dinas at the University of Oxford, is examining the impact of exposure to the refugee crisis unfolding in Southern Europe on political attitudes and behaviour, using Greece as a case study.

  • Voices in the City: Policy Networks and Regulatory Reform in the City of London – Dr Scott James’s ESRC funded research seeks to map and explain the formation and development of various multi-level networks that emerged to ensure that the City’s voice is represented in the policy process around post-financial crisis regulatory reform.

Examples of current PhD projects

  • How do alternative development (AD) programmes influence land ownership governance in illegal crop farming communities in Colombia?

  • An examination of ideal theory in environmental ethics, with a focus on water resource management

  • How do we ensure that the automation of work benefits the many, not the few?

Partner organisations

DPE works with a number of partner organisations both within KCL and outside, helping to bring together scholars interested in a particular theme. These include Inside King’s: Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Centre for Conflict Security and Development (CSD), the Social Care Workforce Research Unit (SCWRU), and the King's Centre for Risk Management (KCRM). Outside King’s: Centre for the Study of Science Policy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong University.

Key information

Duration MPhil: two years full-time, three years part-time. PhD: three years full-time, four to six years part-time. Research degree registration may begin in September or January.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London/King's and NUS for joint programme

Faculty Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

Department Department of Political Economy

Locations

 

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Course detail

Description

All students on the doctoral programme are initially registered for an MPhil. At the beginning of the programme you will work with your supervisors to assess your individual training needs. You will use this to develop a personalised training schedule that draws on foundational and advanced courses made available to you through the King’s Centre for Doctoral Studies, the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (LISS-DTP) and the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network. These courses will hone your academic skills and prepare you for the demands of your specific research project.

After around 12 months (or the part time equivalent), you will demonstrate that you are ready for formal upgrade to the PhD programme. This involves the examination of a substantial document that shows (i) you have identified an original and interesting research problem and (ii) you have the skills and expertise to tackle it within the time available.

You will be supported throughout your PhD by two academic supervisors, who will provide expert advice and guidance on your progress and your project. Your project will culminate in the submission of a thesis of up to 100,000 words in length. Full-time students must submit their thesis within four years of the start of their registration. Part-time students must submit within seven years.

 

Course study environment

Each student has two supervisors and meets regularly with both, though typically more frequently with the primary supervisor. The department provides office space and computer equipment on the Strand campus. The department runs seminars for PhD students on topics such as publication strategy, and to discuss actual research. PhD students are also encouraged to attend research seminars in DPE and related departments, and are required to present at one such seminar in their time at King's. Sharing your research in this way is an important way of contributing to the departmental research community, of which PhD students are a crucial element.  In addition, learning how to present your research clearly and succinctly is a key transferable skill of the PhD programme.

Our large undergraduate programme offers opportunities for PhD students to earn money and valuable teaching experience. PhD students have the opportunity to spend part of their PhD working at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and at the National University of Singapore.

Postgraduate training

Students have full access to training opportunities at King’s via the King’s Centre for Doctoral Studies and the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership, depending on their needs. We are also a member of the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network. These cover research training, research methods and wider issues such as publication strategy.  

Head of group/division

The Post-Graduate Research Director is Dr James Scott, who can be contacted for specific enquiries. General questions about the application process should be directed to the Postgraduate Admissions Team.

Contact for information

Postgraduate Admissions Team, Admissions Office
tel: +44 (0)20 7848 7429
fax: +44 (0)20 7848 7200 
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/apply/enquiry-form.aspx

Contact email

james.m.scott@kcl.ac.uk

Course website

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/politicaleconomy/index.aspx

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Political Economy Research Entry Requirements
Minimum UK requirements   Masters degree with at least a Merit including a dissertation mark of no less than 65% (UK marking scheme)
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements Band B Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Our minimum requirement for entry is a good master’s degree in a relevant subject or practical experience in the field of study. (These are only minimum requirements: competition for places is intense.)

When you have a draft research proposal, please look at our research interests on the following website:

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/politicaleconomy/research/researchinterests.aspx

and contact ONE OR TWO supervisors at most, to ask if this is a topic they might be interested in supervising; please email them your CV and your draft proposal too. If you are not sure who to ask, please email james.scott@kcl.ac.uk. When you are ready, please apply via the Portal. At this stage, highly-ranked applicants will be invited to give further information and/or invited for interview.

If you are applying for King’s funding, the deadline is usually in early February, and you are encouraged to contact potential supervisors well in advance of the deadline – ideally by early January.

Personal statement and supporting information

Applicants are encouraged to approach potential supervisors prior to application. To identify a supervisor please see: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checklist
Personal Statement Yes

A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
Research Proposal Yes The proposal (up to 3,000 words plus references)  should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application, please visit the following page.
Previous Academic Study Yes A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References Yes Two references are required with at least one academic. Professional references will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
Writing Sample Yes A sample of relevant written work, in English (e.g MA dissertation).
Travel Plan Yes (joint programme only) If applying for the joint programme, please include the names of your supervisors from both institutions and include a completed travel plan form.
Other Required You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

Course intake

No set number.

Joint PhDs - Application advice

Applicants for the Joint PhD programme must contact the relevant departments at both universities before submitting an application in order to discuss the suitability of their topic for the joint programme and to locate potential supervisors. Applications should initially be submitted to the proposed home institution only, ie where the student will start and finish their programme. Students should note that acceptance onto the programme may take slightly longer than for single-institution PhDs because of the additional steps involved. Further details, including FAQs, can be found on the King’s Worldwide web pages.

Applicants who choose King’s as their home institution should apply through the online system, selecting the appropriate Joint PhD option from the drop-down list. In addition to the standard supporting documentation, applicants should submit a Travel Plan form indicating how they intend to divide their time between the two partner institutions. Students must spend a specified amount of time in each institution, details of which can be found in the ‘Notes’ section of the Travel plan form.

It is recommended that students submit applications for the Joint PhD programme by the end of March to begin the following September.

Application closing date

The deadlines for applications are detailed below. Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier. We will open applications for the corresponding intake in 2021 after the final deadline passes in 2020.

  • October 2020 entry – 31st July 2020 for International students and 28th August 2020 for Home/EU students
  • February 2021 entry- 23rd October 2020 for International students and 23rd November 2020 for Home/EU students

Applications for 2021/22 academic year will open from October 2020.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

£5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

£5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £2,650 per year

International Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees: 

£19,850 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

£19,850 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £9,950 per year

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2020/21

Full time tuition fees:

£5,550 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

£5,550 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £2,780 per year

International Tuition Fees 2020/21

Full time tuition fees: 

£20,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy)

£20,820 per year (MPhil/PhD, Political Economy with National University of Singapore)

Part time tuition fees: £10,410 per year

Students starting their programme in 2019/20 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2020/21.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

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I chose King's College London because I wanted to study at a top university. It offers a world-class education as you are taught by renowned teachers in fantastic facilities and this explains its international reputation.

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