Details of Postgraduate Research Degrees

One of the best things is the degree of diversity within my department. The support from the department has been excellent. We are encouraged to feel part of the research community rather than working in isolation and there is an atmosphere of being able to share ideas and learn from each others' experiences.

Lucy Abbott (UK), PhD Government and International Affairs

Research degrees

The approximate duration of research and thesis length are:

(In exceptional circumstances we may allow research students to register for part-time programmes. However students would be expected to provide evidence of extensive research experience, research training and related skills.)

We offer postgraduate supervision in the following areas:

• American Politics
• British Party Politics
• British Political History
• Central Asian Studies: politics, security, religion, economics, international relations.
• China's International Relations
• Economic Development in the Middle East: economic diversification and self sustaining growth, labour markets and employment creation, technological transfers and intellectual property rights, the Arab telecommunications and multimedia industry, global versus national governance of trade and investment flows.
• The European Union
• German Politics
• History of Political Thought
• International Development
• International Organisation
• International Relations of East Asia
• International Relations Theory and Methodology
• Islamic Studies: Islamic thought, intellectual trends, politics and contemporary movements, the role of Islam in the political and social dynamics of Muslim countries, minority Muslim communities, popular and scholarly Western perceptions of Islam, the relationship between Islam and other faiths. In addition to the above, the School offers expertise in the field of Quranic and Shi'a Studies, with considerable resources available in the University.
• Middle East Politics: including domestic and international politics, political economy, society.
• Modern Iranian Studies: modern politics, international relations, political economy.
• North African Studies: politics and history, religion, political economy, international relations, boundary disputes.
• Persian Studies: history of Islamic Iran
• Political Culture
• Regional Security Issues: geopolitics and economic geograph
• Religion and Politics
• Religion and Globalisation

Research Training

All research students attend the Faculty Research Training Programme, which offers:

• Induction: an introduction to the work of our IT service, Library, Computer Literacy Unit and Language Centre and to life and work as a postgraduate student
• Research Methods: an introduction to ontology, measurement, methodology, data sources and data analysis
• Study Methods: computer literacy and library use
• Philosophy and Methodology: including legal and ethical issues
• Managing your project: including presentational skills andthesis production

Students are also required to undertake research methodology training offered by the School and those undertaking Middle Eastern areas of research have the opportunity to undertake intensive language training through the School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

Excellent Library Facilities

Durham is one of only six English universities to be listed in Colin Steele's definitive Major Libraries of the World. It has internationally significant documentary collections relating to East Asia, Europe and the Middle East, as well as the history of political thought.

Admission Procedures

• There is no application fee
• Candidates MUST APPLY ON-LINE (see link near the top of this page)
• Applicants must provide two references, one of which should be academic; these can either be sent directly to the School. References by letters or emails from refereees are quite acceptable.
• Applicants should provide transcripts and evidence of Bachelors and/or Masters degrees.
• All students must be members of either the Ustinov College which is the College most postgraduate students opt for, or one of the other twelve Colleges of the University. If applicants are unsure it is better to choose Ustinov College where there is more postgraduate accommodation distributed between singles, couples and families. The college prioritises new first year students, particularly those coming from overseas, for college accommodation.
• Applicants should ensure they have the means to pay tuition fees and living costs.

• Most importantly applicants applying for research degrees MUST submit a research proposal with their application, 500 words minimum. Please see the attached guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Example of recent PhDs awarded :

• Political Economy of Iraqi Kurdistan
• Private Sector and the State in Saudi Arabia
• Political Economy of Fiscal Crisis in a Rentier State: Case Study of Saudi Arabia
• British Sinai: Its Geopolitical Significance in the Middle East and its Strategic Role in British Colonial Policy
• Re-thinking Western Constructs of Islamism: Pluralism, Democracy and the Theory and Praxis of the Islamic Movement in the Gaza Strip
• European Business Interest in Lebanon: An Assessment of EU Private Foreign Direct Investment in Reconstruction Era
• Measuring and Weighing Terms in Quran: Their Meaning with Reference to Six English Translations
• Democracy in Palestine: An Evaluation of the Experience of the Legislative Council, 1996-98
• British Identity and Muslim Integration
• An Analysis of United States' Security Policy Towards a Third World State During the Cold War Era: Case Study of US-Iran Relations
• Education, School ro Work Transitions and Unemployment in Saudi Arabia

Further information:
Postgraduate Admissions
School of Government and International Affairs
Durham University
Al-Qasimi Building, Elvet Hill Road
Durham DH1 3TU
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)191 334 5660
Fax: +44 (0)191 334 5661
Email:Postgraduate Admissions

• Guidance on Writing a Research Proposal (last modified: 3 February 2012)