Political Science
Department of Political Science
Political sciences.
About Political Science
Political science is crucial for solving the world’s most complex social problems faced by people, firms and governments. Effective solutions require analysis of legal systems, political power and personal motivations, both domestically and globally.
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- Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD)
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Go to programs search
The Department of Political Science offers Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs that are structured around five substantive fields: Canadian politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory, and U.S. Politics.
We offer in the range of 25 graduate seminar courses per year and ample support for mentoring grad students in their professional development, through research collaboration, workshops, and colloquia. We have the most successful doctoral graduates of any program in Canada, judged by our record of placing graduates in academic positions in Canada, the United States, Great Britain, Australia, and elsewhere.
For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website
What makes the program unique?
One of the key criteria that sets the Political Science department at UBC apart is the methodological breadth and diversity of research interests of faculty members, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. We have particular strengths for graduate students in:
- indigenous politics, with indigenous faculty members in two different subfields
- critical political theory and identity politics
- democratic theory and practise
- political behaviour, parties and elections
- comparative public policy and institutions
- migration, social diversity, and identity
- environmental politics
- international norms, institutions and goverance, and human security.
Quantitative Methods: we are particularly strong on quantitative methods for students using this kind of approach, with the deepest lineup of persons engaged in systematic quantitative research and the country’s most robust sequence of graduate methods courses for those students wishing to acquire a sophisticated understanding of quantitative analysis.
Regional Area Strengths: we are exceptionally strong in the study of Asian politics, the politics of the Americas, European politics, U.S. politics, and Canadian politics.
UBC’s dedication to innovation and transforming ideas into action is what originally drew me to the university. I felt that the university could offer the resources to thrive in my graduate studies and future career and provide a cohort of like-minded scholars engaging with new and emerging research areas.
Katelynn Kowalchuk
Quick Facts
Program enquiries, meet a representative, 2024 ubc political science graduate programs info session.
The online information session will cover information about our programs, course offerings, current faculty research, career outcomes, and admissions process.
Admission Information & Requirements
1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:
- Canada or the United States
- International countries other than the United States
Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.
English Language Test
Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.
Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:
TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based
Overall score requirement : 92
IELTS: International English Language Testing System
Overall score requirement : 6.5
Other Test Scores
Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:
The GRE is required by some applicants. Please check the program website.
2) Meet Deadlines
September 2025 intake, application open date, canadian applicants, international applicants, deadline explanations.
Deadline to submit online application. No changes can be made to the application after submission.
Deadline to upload scans of official transcripts through the applicant portal in support of a submitted application. Information for accessing the applicant portal will be provided after submitting an online application for admission.
Deadline for the referees identified in the application for admission to submit references. See Letters of Reference for more information.
3) Prepare Application
Transcripts.
All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.
Letters of Reference
A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.
Statement of Interest
Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.
- Supervision
Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.
Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD)
Citizenship verification.
Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.
4) Apply Online
All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.
Research Information
Research focus.
Canadian Politics: federalism, the Canadian electoral system, the constitution, the courts, electoral reform, parliamentary institutions, political parties, Canadian public policy, Canadian political thought, voting behaviour Comparative Politics: democratization and democratic institutions, state-society relations, comparative public policy, comparative political economy, constitutional design and comparative political institutions, executive politics, separation of powers, governance, non-governmental organizations, and immigration politics International Relations: International Relations Theory, International Political Economy, International Security, International Law and Organization, International Norms, Human Security, the politics of international law, and global governance Political Theory: democratic theory, liberalism, constitutionalism, human rights, feminism, multiculturalism, nationalism, identity politics, critical theory, history of political thought.
Tuition & Financial Support
| Fees | Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / Refugee / Diplomat | International |
|---|---|---|
| $116.25 | $168.25 | |
| Tuition * | ||
| Installments per year | 3 | 3 |
| Tuition | $1,838.57 | $3,230.06 |
| Tuition (plus annual increase, usually 2%-5%) | $5,515.71 | $9,690.18 |
| Int. Tuition Award (ITA) per year ( ) | $3,200.00 (-) | |
| Other Fees and Costs | ||
| (yearly) | $1,116.60 (approx.) | |
| Estimate your with our interactive tool in order to start developing a financial plan for your graduate studies. | ||
Financial Support
Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.
Program Funding Packages
We offer a full five-year funding package for our PhD students, which generally consists of a combination of UBC Four-Year Fellowships (4YFs), Department Funding, Teaching Assistantship, and Research Assistantship.
In some cases, we are able to offer additional funding in the form of RA positions, but these are contingent on several factors, including faculty members having available research funds for RAs.
The Department of Political Science will offer TA opportunities to PhDs when available in order to enhance the financial resources at students’ disposal. Moreover, we consider it an important aspect of the professional development of our PhDs to work as Teaching Assistants, at some point in their PhD program, to develop their teaching skills under the guidance of faculty members.
Average Funding
- 14 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 14 students was $15,348.
- 9 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 9 students was $8,794.
- 10 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 10 students was $3,461.
- 21 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 21 students was $27,166.
- 4 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 4 students was $26,500.
Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)
All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .
Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)
Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.
Financial aid (need-based funding)
Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .
All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.
Foreign government scholarships
Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.
Working while studying
The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.
International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.
A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .
Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals
Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.
Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.
Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.
Cost Estimator
Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.
Career Outcomes
47 students graduated between 2005 and 2013. Of these, career information was obtained for 44 alumni (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016):
Sample Employers in Higher Education
Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.
Our PhDs have been highly successful in pursuing academic and non-academic careers.
On the academic front, UBC PhDs hold tenured or tenure track positions at major universities in North America and internationally – including the University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Western Ontario, York University, University of Ottawa, University of Calgary, University of Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, University of Essex, Sophia University, National University of Singapore, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Ritsumeikan University, University of Sheffield, Queensland University, Simon Fraser University, MacEwan University, University of Fraser Valley, University of Manitoba, Memorial University, McMaster University, and Cardiff University.
Our PhDs have held postdoctoral fellowships at a wide range of international institutions including Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University, Vanderbilt University, University of Toronto, Queens University, Oxford University, Duke University, and others.
Many UBC PhDs have taken their doctoral training to high-level positions with government agencies, NGOs, and private-sector employers. Our students have pursued careers at Statistics Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada, the US Department of Defense Asia-Pacific Center, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Deutschebank (London), and the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, among others.
Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats
These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.
ENROLMENT DATA
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applications | 107 | 112 | 118 | 114 | 117 |
| Offers | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| New Registrations | 4 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| Total Enrolment | 41 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 51 |
Completion Rates & Times
- Research Supervisors
Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors
These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.
This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.
- Afsahi, Afsoun (Democratic theory and practice, Gender in politics, Challenges, opportunities, and best methods of inclusion, Representation of marginalized communities in democratic decision-making processes)
- Arneil, Barbara (Identity politics, history of political thought)
- Baier, Gerald (Canadian politics, federalism, constitutional law, courts, federal-provincial relations, Constitution, federalism and public law in Canada)
- Baum, Bruce (Political Culture, Society and Ideology; critical social theory; feminist theory; critical hermeneutics; issues of cross-cultural interpretation; American political thought and cultural politics; political theories of Mill and Marx; philosophy of political inquiry; liberal and democratic theory)
- Bloemraad, Irene (consequences of migration on politics and understandings of membershi; immigrants become incorporated into political communities; intersection of migration studies and political sociology)
- Borwein, Sophie (intersection of political economy, political behaviour, and public policy)
- Byers, Michael (International relations; Public international law (except international trade law); international law; international relations; Outer Space; Arctic; Law of the Sea; Laws of War; International Human Rights; International Environmental Law)
- Cameron, Maxwell (Political science; Political Regimes (Democracy, Monarchy, Federalism, Parliamentarism, etc.); Social Organization and Political Systems; Comparative Politics; Democratization; Latin America; Practical wisdom)
- Chowdhury, Arjun (Failed states, intervention, civil war, autocrats, revolution. )
- Coleman, Katharina Pichler (International organizations, international relations, international security/peace operations, interntional rules, noms and legitimacy, sun-Saharan Africa)
- Coulthard, Glen (First Nations politics – national; political theory )
- Cutler, Frederick (Social movements and democracy; public opinion; Political Methodology; Canadian Politics; Elections; Electoral Systems; Federalism; Academic Publishing Systems)
- Dauvergne, Peter (Social sciences; international relations; global environmental politics; sustainability governance; global South; Developing countries; transnational corporations; technology; consumption; Plastic Pollution; social movements; environmentalism; activism; deforestation)
- Doberstein, Carey (Political science and policy administration; Agencies and arms-length bodies in Canada; Public servant behavior in Canada; How citizens engage with government as part of local consultations and public engagement; Homelessness (politics, governance, policy); Local government or governance)
- Ellermann, Antje (Political science; Migrations, Populations, Cultural Exchanges; Migratory Flows; Public Policies; Identity and Transnationality; Role of Governments and Institutions; Comparative Public Policy; Migration and Citizenship)
- Givens, Terri Elizabeth
- Harrison, Kathryn (Canadian politics, environmental politics, environmental policy, climate change, global warming, climate change policy, Canadian public policy)
- Hopkins, Vincent (Political science; Democratic theory and practice; Federalism and Local Politics; Migration Policy and Politics; Public Management; public opinion)
- Huebner, Kurt (European integration; euro and global currency regimes; international trade and fdi; sustainability and innovation policies; global macroeconomics;European politics, Money and currency regimes, politics and economics of European integration as well as on contradictions and complementarities of sustainability and international competitiveness)
- Hummel, Calla (Why and how communities with little political power organize and negotiate with their governments, Civil society, LGBTQ+ policy, Labor politics, Health policy, Latin American politics)
- Jacobs, Alan Michael (Political science; Social Organization and Political Systems; economic inequality; Political economy; public opinion; Public Policy; Research Methodology)
- Janara, Laura (Language and symbolism especially in gendered and familial thinking, politcal theory)
- Jeong, Gyung-Ho (Political science; Social Organization and Political Systems; Congress; Foreign Policy; Immigration Policy; Legislative Politics; Public Choice; Trade Policy; US politics)
- Jurkevics, Anna (critical theory, democratic theory, and the history of German political thought)
- Kam, Christopher (Nature and evolution of parliamentary democracy, historical development of institutions)
Doctoral Citations
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Dr. Chew examined how ethnic identity affects different types of political attitudes and behaviour in Myanmar and Singapore. She found that its effects are conditioned by institutions and the interests that they generate. Her findings have implications for policymaking in ethnically diverse societies. |
| 2024 | Dr. Kuang studied the political economy of global 5G governance. Her dissertation, "A Mosaic of Mundane Innovations," shows how a new open and decentralized form of global governance took shape in the 5G technology regime. Her work foregrounds new possibilities for latecomer economies to participate in the making of the international economic order. |
| 2024 | Dr. Hurtado Lozada's four mixed-method studies on party formation failure in Peru demonstrate that social organizations can replace traditional parties, involving disloyal voters and populist politicians. The absence of parties, then, contributes to a gradual but steady weakening of democracy. |
| 2024 | Dr. Lacelle-Webster studied the work and experience of hope in democratic politics. Drawing on Hannah Arendt and contemporary democratic theory, he proposes a theoretical account of democratic hope that depends on and deepens political practices and spaces, empowering political agents to define possibility as an open, shared, and worldly phenomenon. |
| 2024 | Dr. Weiner examined how rebel groups adapt to shifts in the strategic environment during long conflicts. Focusing on the Syrian civil war, he found that leader turnover reduced group battlefield performance but not overall violence, while revenue shocks led groups to tax people in their territory more rather than increase looting. |
| 2023 | How might we better alleviate poverty and mitigate inequality? Dr. Peng studied how satellite data reveals local political dynamics that impact developmental outcomes, how the success of global superpowers could influence the political attitudes of foreign citizens, and why those who qualify for social assistance might not take it up. |
| 2023 | Dr. Heard examined how the effectiveness of civilian harm response and compensation influences the ways in which the legitimacy of counterinsurgency operations are perceived by affected communities. This research illuminates the strategic role of survivor-centric approaches to harm mitigation and response in contemporary conflict. |
| 2023 | Dr. Klein studied moral intuition's impact on experts' conceptualizations of international order via interviews, establishing that moral foundations influence their notions of change, progress, and threat. This substantiates the idea that moral intuition shapes both the scholars' theoretical leanings and the practitioners' foreign policy stances. |
| 2023 | Dr. Zhumatova developed a policy index that measures the scope of mainstreaming, a policy of immigrant integration, across European states. She used the index and other data to examine if mainstreaming helps immigrants find employment. Her research contributes to a better understanding of whether immigrant integration policies work. |
| 2023 | Foreign investment can benefit the recipient economy. Dr. Burzo examined empirically the political and economic aspects that influence the destination of foreign investments. His findings contribute to policy discussions on the redefinition of the international investment regime, particularly in relation to developing countries. |
Sample Thesis Submissions
- A mosaic of mundane innovations : emerging powers, multinational firms, and global 5G technology rules
- Moral intuition and international order : on change, progress, and threat
- Running a rebellion : essays on armed group behavior
- Competing without parties : voter mobilization in Peru
- Negotiating gender in crisis : global norms and state power in South Sudan
- A democratic theory of hope : collective agency in uncertain times
- Essays on ethnic identity, attitude formation, and political behaviour in contemporary Southeast Asia
- Essays on the political economy of equality, development, and influence in Indonesia and Singapore
- The price of a life: the confluence of strategy and legitimacy in civilian harm compensation
- Discrimination in post-World War II naturalization policy : France and Switzerland
- The impact of investor-state arbitrations on foreign direct investment and domestic public opinion : evidence from FDI flows, elite interviews and a survey experiment
- Mainstreaming the labour market integration of immigrants in the EU : policy framework and policy impact
Related Programs
Same specialization.
- Master of Arts in Political Science (MA)
Related Disciplines
- Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (PhD)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Geography (PhD)
- Doctor of Philosophy in History (PhD)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD)
Further Information
Specialization.
The program covers the following subjects:
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Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.
Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .
Martina Zago
I really wanted to pursue my doctoral studies in Canada, where my Dad was born. I applied to UBC specifically because of the work of Professor Barbara Arneil. I had encountered her writings during my master’s degree and read her pathbreaking books on the history of liberalism and empire.
Addye Susnick
I largely decided to study at UBC because of the Department of Political Science’s strength in critical political theory and environmental politics. I was also drawn to the Social Justice Institute and various opportunities UBC offers for interdisciplinary research. Less tangibly, I liked the vibe...
Leah Shipton
I decided to study at UBC for a number of reasons, but the main reason was because the faculty both within the Department of Political Science as well as in other departments have expertise in my research areas of interest. This made me reassured that it would be a great campus to learn and develop...
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Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
As future leaders, our students are catalysts for change – in Canada and beyond. Curious about the world and committed to creating meaningful change, our students forge their paths to success at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), Canada’s leading school of public and international affairs in the heart of the nation’s capital.
As a center of excellence tied into a worldwide network of research and teaching collaborations, we attract outstanding students and world-class scholars doing cutting-edge research. We bring together multidisciplinary studies, theory and practice, bilingualism as well as a roster of Senior Fellows , comprised of distinguished policy professionals, to deliver transformational programs. Housed in the nation’s capital, the GSPIA will open doors for you on the national and international stage – empowering you to drive change and pursue your interests passionately.
Why study at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs?
The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs educates highly qualified leaders conscious of their responsibility to the common good in the domains of international relations, public policy, environmental sustainability, security, and defence.
Why choose the GSPIA as a graduate student.
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Accelerate your career at the gspia. gain real-world experience on a global scale..
Set yourself up for success. Take what you’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world, while building connections that will set you apart from other candidates.
Take part in the GSPIA experiential learning program. Discover a world of opportunities outside the classroom: from co-op placements to study abroad programs and from embassy internships to a unique professional development program piloted by the GSPIA’s Senior Fellows , who are among the most experienced policy professionals in Canada – we’ll help you find your place in the world.
Learn more about the student experience at the GSPIA .
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Global Governance (PhD)
The world faces increasingly complex problems that have taken on global significance, including conflict and peace building, humanitarian crises and intervention, international economic inequality and instability, and global environmental change. Students in the PhD program understand the issues facing humanity and will develop both the research and leadership skills to examine how these problems are addressed at the global level. And are the mechanisms adopted to address them effective and just?
The PhD in Global Governance, offered jointly by Laurier and the University of Waterloo at the Balsillie School of International Affairs , is a unique opportunity for examination of power and authority in the global arena. Our graduates will pursue careers as researchers, scholars or practitioners working domestically or internationally in private sector positions, national or local governments, not-for profit agencies, think tanks and the media.
Program Highlights
- Study at one of Canada’s leading graduate schools for international studies, the Balsillie School of International Affairs .
- The Laurier PhD in Global Governance offers six areas of specialization .
- Opportunity to gain teaching experience in a master's level course.
- Eligible students admitted to study full-time in the PhD program will receive a minimum of $30,000 for the first year, and $27,000 a year for the subsequent three years.
- Additional financial support can be accessed through external scholarships, teaching or research assistantships and/or faculty-funded studentships.
Program Details
Joint university phd program with an interdisciplinary focus.
Graduate students in the program examine the variety of actors, institutions, ideas, rules, and processes that contribute to the management of global society. In addition to international organizations and inter-state relations, the study of global governance examines the various non-state actors as well as the realities of contemporary life that contribute to the establishment and functioning of global rules, norms and institutions.
The Global Governance PhD program interrogates the concepts, tools, and assumptions that have served scholars in the past and assesses new approaches for addressing contemporary and future challenges.
For further information, refer to the Graduate Handbook: Joint Laurier-UW Global Governance PhD Program .
Program Structure
PhD students will also complete the following milestones. The expected time to completion of the PhD is four years.
Comprehensive Examinations
Normally, candidates must write comprehensive examinations in two areas within 16 months of starting the program. Normally, students will write comprehensive exams in September at the start of their second year.
The first examination will be on Global Governance and will test the breadth and depth of a student’s comprehension of the leading literature. For their second examination, students will choose to write a comprehensive examination in one of the six fields of the program.
Students can only write an examination in a field if they have completed two courses, one of which must be a “core course” in that field.
Dissertation Proposal
Normally, students will complete and have approved a doctoral dissertation proposal by the end of February of their second year in the program. Completion of the proposal will normally involve a formal presentation and defence of the proposal to the Supervisory Committee. Normally, committee members and the student will also complete their second Annual Progress Report following the defence/approval of the dissertation proposal.
Within one week after completion of the presentation and defence, the student will make any final changes to the proposal that arise from the defence and provide the respective Program Director or Associate Director as well as the respective Program Graduate Coordinator/Program Officer with a copy of the final proposal for their records and the student’s file.
Normally, the doctoral dissertation research proposal will be no more than 30 pages or approximately 15,000 words, exclusive of bibliography. A proposal will include the following: a statement of the principal research question(s) and a justification of the question or questions; an outline of the principal theoretical orientations that are framing the research questions; a detailed outline of the research methods and steps to be taken to obtain answers to the research questions; an assessment of the likely contribution to knowledge of the dissertation research; a timetable for completion of the research.
Laurier students are required to complete the Dissertation Proposal Approval form .
Dissertations: Multiple Manuscript Thesis Guidelines
Doctoral theses can take various forms. The traditional thesis is a sole-authored document with various chapters. However, some theses – the multiple manuscript thesis – consist of a collection of papers that are published or submitted for publication; any such thesis must comply with the following guidelines:
- The multiple manuscript thesis must comply with the policies and guidelines of the student’s host institution.
- Any multiple manuscript thesis must contain at least three articles.
- At least two of the articles must be single-authored, and one may be co-authored provided the student first obtains approval from their supervisor committee, preferably at the time of the proposal defence. If an article is co-authored by the student and authors, the relationship should be explicitly stated with regards to the nature and extent of contributions to the work by all parties involved.
- There must be a common theme among the three articles that is explained in the introduction and conclusion.
- All articles must be of a publishable quality. Acceptance of a manuscript from a journal is separate from and does not constitute acceptance or approval by the advisory committee.
Research and Courses
Research focus and specialization fields.
Students will choose to specialize in one of the six fields in the program. To prepare for the comprehensive exam in that field, they must select at least two courses from their chosen field. Of these two, at least one course must be a course identified as “core” for that field.
Conflict and Security
This field is concerned with the referent objects of security and associated threats; the causes and management of conflict; and the global governance challenges of human, state, societal, national, international, ecospheric, and global security.
Courses in this stream examine the theory and practice of security at all levels of analysis.
Global Environment
This field is concerned with the global governance of environmental issues. Courses in this stream examine contemporary dilemmas relating to the ways in which environmental challenges are being addressed and managed by multiple agents through a range of transnational institutions and governance structures, both existing and proposed. Conceptual issues and debates, set within the context of a variety of internationally significant sustainability challenges, are investigated. Multilevel governance of these challenges at the international, regional, national and local levels are examined.
Key topics covered include: global climate change, agriculture and food security, international water resource management and environmental aspects of the global economy.
Global Justice and Human Rights
This field is concerned with the study of the relationship between global governance and issues of global justice and human rights.
Courses in this stream explore themes such as: the practical and ethical challenges that international human rights and relief organizations encounter when operating in the global south; theoretical approaches to understanding global justice as a contemporary social justice issue, with a particular focus on the cultural constructs relating to conceptions of freedom, obligation, and community; and contemporary debates in the field of human rights, such as those related to cultural relativism and universal human rights, human rights and foreign policy, the place of economic rights, the relationship between gender and human rights, and human rights and retrospective justice.
Global Political Economy
This field is concerned with the governance of the global economy and contemporary issues in international economic relations. Courses in this stream focus on the theoretical and public policy debates relating to governance of the global economy, as well as the evolution of international trade policy.
Topics covered include: international finance and intellectual property rights; labour and environmental standards; the control of illicit economic activity; the removal of tariffs on goods and services; and current efforts to integrate services, investment, and intellectual property into the trading regime through the increasing overlap of trade policy with monetary, competition, cultural, environmental and labour policies.
Global Social Governance
This field examines the prospects for the supranational governance of social issues with a particular focus on the political and philosophical underpinnings of transnational social policy cooperation.
Topics covered include: the implicit and explicit prescriptions for and impact upon national social policy of intergovernmental organisations (such as the UN and Bretton Woods Institutions), international non-governmental organisations and international private actors (such as TNCs and consultancy companies); the contribution of supranational organisations, international NGOs and other global actors to the global discourse on social policy; the role of private actors and global public-private partnerships in global health policy; the development of systems of transnational social redistribution, social regulation and social provision and empowerment; and the methods and concepts used by development agencies to assess the social policy of countries and shape their interventions.
Multilateral Institutions and Diplomacy
This field is concerned with the formal and informal practices, institutions and organizations which generate global governance.
Courses in this stream focus primarily on the theory, practice and machinery of international organization, public policy, and diplomacy. Topics covered include organization theory, multilateral co-operation, foreign policy, diplomatic history, global social and public policy, representation and negotiation.
Core Program Requirements
All students will complete six courses, including the following four mandatory courses: the global governance core course, an economics component, the history component, and Research Methods. Students are required to maintain an overall average of 80% in the course phase.
- Core Course Component: GV710: Globalization and Global Governance (Laurier registration) or GGOV700: Globalization and Global Governance (UW registration). Must be completed in the first term of registration in the program.
- Economics Component: GV730: Economic Analysis and Global Governance (Laurier registration) or Econ637: Economic Analysis and Global Governance (UW registration). Students who have higher-than-second-year macro/microeconomics are required to take an economics course other than GV730/Econ637.
- History Component: GV720: The History of Global Governance (Laurier registration) or HIST605: Global Governance in Historical Perspective (UW registration).
- Research Methods: GV701: Research Methods (Laurier registration) or GGOV701: Research Methods (UW registration).
See a full list of all PhD in Global Governance courses .
"I see the Balsillie School as a unique institution that provides students and scholars with the academic and experiential foundations to lead Canadian and international organizations in pursuing the most effective paths to global security and harmony."
Ann Fitz-Gerald, director, Balsillie School of International Affairs
Take the first step in your graduate education and apply to one of our graduate programs. Follow our three-step admission process — we’ll walk you through how to apply and prepare for your first day as a graduate student.
- Start: Fall (September)
- Format: Full-time
- Application deadline: January 15 (international applicants), April 30 (domestic applicants)
Please note: The application portal for our September 2025 intake is now open for all applicants. First round of consideration for all complete applications will be given to those received by January 15, 2025. We may continue to adjudicate domestic applications until April 30, 2025 or until the program is full.
Admission Requirements
- A master’s degree in political science, history, economics, international development studies, international peace studies, globalization studies, environmental studies, or a related field with a minimum A- standing.
- Applications are reviewed by the graduate program committee, which considers all prior university grades, a statement of research interests and letters of reference.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency in English prior to admission.
- Contact a prospective faculty advisor prior to submitting your application.
Note : It is a requirement of the application process, that you contact a prospective faculty member who shares your interests and would be a supervisor "in principle" for your PhD, should you receive an offer of admission. This must be done in advance and the information must be included on the Application Summary of the online application.
The idea of "in principle" means a professor has reviewed your statement of intent and your CV, and agrees "in principle" to supervise your doctoral dissertation. Sometimes, after the successful acceptance of an offer, another professor may be deemed to be more a suitable advisor; on the basis of this determination, it is possible to change supervisors in the early stages of your PhD program.
Application Checklist
After you have submitted your OUAC application , paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from [email protected] advising you to upload the additional required documentation to Laurier’s Online Registration and Information System (LORIS) .
The application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.
An application for admission to our PhD program in Global Governance must include:
- The Application Summary, which is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
- Be sure you can respond "yes" to the question, "Have you spoken with any faculty at WLU?" and include the faculty member's name.
- Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. Documents must be dated within the past six months.
- A completed statement of intent.
- A resume of your academic and work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
- A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your master's thesis or a paper written for a graduate course.
- Completed reference forms . Three academic references are required. Note: Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.
Visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying.
English Proficiency
Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS .
Your Next Steps
Questions? Contact Maureen Ferraro, program officer, at [email protected] or 226.772.3122.
“The BSIA is a strong and supportive community in which I thrived as a student. I benefitted from the mentorship of a multidisciplinary faculty, exchanges with a diverse group of students, and comprehensive support that allowed me to network easily. I chose this program for its research and policy emphasis, and I made the right choice”
Ousmane Aly Diallo (PhD '2020) Researcher, Francophone West Africa, Amnesty International
Balsillie School of International Affairs
As a hub in a global network of scholars, practitioners and students, the Balsillie School of International Affairs aims to develop new solutions to humanity’s critical problems, improve global governance now and in the future, and enhance the quality of people’s lives around the world. Founded in 2007 by philanthropist Jim Balsillie, the Balsillie School is an equal collaboration with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
The Balsillie School is a proud affiliated member of APSIA .
Tuition and Funding
Regardless of the type of graduate degree program you intend to pursue, financial planning is important. At Laurier, we want to provide you with as much information as possible about a variety of scholarship and funding opportunities and equip you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
Graduate Tuition and Funding
"With contributions from several university-based partners, ASPIRE provides graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with informative, hands-on professional skills training essential for degree and post-degree success."
Brent Wolfe , Associate Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
The program is committed to providing students with the interdisciplinary skills for a wide range of careers in the field of global governance.
We provide the students with opportunities to gain relevant international work experience, whether as a visiting scholar at a top-ranked university or as a fellow at a leading think tank. In addition to the academic curriculum, we offer supplementary "professionalization" programming and are normally able to offer funds to support field research and travel to academic conferences.
Graduates of the Joint-PhD Program in Global Governance have gone on to tenure-track positions at a number of universities in Canada and abroad. Many others are pursuing a career in leadership positions for the Government of Canada, non-government agencies, think tanks or the private sector.
- Defence Scientist, Defence Research and Development Canada
- Program Manager, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
- Researcher for Amnesty International
- Global Social Policy Researcher, Public Health Agency of Canada
- Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
- Researcher, Career and Education Advisor, Canada Accent Immigration
- Assistant Professor, University of New Brunswick
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Schulich School of Law
- Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oslo
- Research Director, Cascade Institute
- Deputy Director, Policy and Economics at Canadian Dairy Commission
- Research Associate and Lecturer, University of Kassel
- Founder, Go To Jupiter Productions Inc.
- Senior Lecturer, City University, UK
- Lecturer, Leiden University
- Senior Project Manager, MEDA
- Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh
Your Path to Post-Degree Success
ASPIRE is Laurier's professional skills development training program for graduate students. The program helps you craft an individualized, extracurricular learning plan tailored to your professional journey and entry to the workplace .
Learn about the interests of our faculty members. If you are looking for more information about this program, have questions, or want to set up a meeting, contact a member of our team .
Alison Blay-Palmer Professor UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies
Paula Butler Instructor
Winnie Chan Instructor
Jonathan Crush Professor
Simon Dalby Professor (Retired)
Timothy Donais Associate Professor
Alistair Edgar Associate Professor Associate Dean, School of International Policy and Governance
Nick Garside Instructor
Patricia Goff Associate Professor
Jeff Grischow Associate Professor
Derek Hall Associate Professor
Jenna Hennebry Associate Professor
Ken Jackson Associate Professor
Jurek Konieczny Professor
Alex Latta Associate Professor
Terrence Levesque Professor
Colleen Loomis Associate Professor Co-Director, PhD in Global Governance Director, Master of International Public Policy
Sara Matthews Associate Professor
Audra Mitchell Professor Canada Research Chair in Global Political Ecology
Alison Mountz Professor Co-Director, International Migration Research Centre
Amjad Rabi Instructor
Kim Rygiel Associate Professor Co-Director, International Migration Research Centre
Pierre Siklos Professor
Debora VanNijnatten Associate Professor
Margaret Walton-Roberts Professor
Alan Whiteside Professor (retired)
Randall Wigle Professor Emeritus
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COMMENTS
The School produces Canada’s premier foreign affairs annual, Canada Among Nations and the peer-reviewed Canadian Foreign Policy Journal. A collaborative specialization in African Studies is also available.
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