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Politics at Sussex was rated joint 2nd in the UK in its unit of assessment in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 90 per cent of our research was rated as internationally recognised or higher, and 60 per cent rated as internationally excellent or higher.
Sussex is ranked in the top 20 universities in the UK for politics in The Times Good University Guide 2013 and in the top 25 in the UK in The Complete University Guide 2014.
We also rank among the top 100 universities in the world for politics and international studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2013.
The politics faculty at Sussex offer teaching and research expertise that covers the spectrum of UK, European and international issues, encompassing political theory as well as comparative and party politics.
We offer teaching excellence, with four winners of national teaching awards among our faculty.
The Department offers particular research expertise in European integration, comparative politics, party politics, British and French politics and citizenship, ethnicity and migration, comparative political economy, and corruption.
The Department includes the Sussex European Institute (SEI) – a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for the study of European Integration, and the Sussex Centre for the Study of Corruption.
Programmes
- PhD in Politics
- MPhil in Politics
We supervise students in all areas in which our faculty specialise.
Recent thesis titles
Explaining the emergence of Eurosceptic protest movement formation in contemporary Europe: a comparative approach
Obeying the iron law? Changes to the intra-party balance of power in the British Liberal Democrats
Organisational change in Western European communist parties since 1989
Paths to populism: the ideologies of populist parties in Europe
Regionalist parties in Western Europe: a comparative study
The predominance of Prime Ministers: a comparative study of Britain and Australia
Young citizens’ political participation
Entry requirements
- MPhil in Politics
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UK entrance requirements
A first- or upper second-class undergraduate honours degree in any relevant social science, but applicants with other backgrounds may be considered. Applicants should submit an outline (two to three pages) of their research interests.
Overseas entrance requirements
If your country is not listed below, please contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
Country Overseas qualification Australia Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division Brazil Bacharel, Licenciado or professional title with a final mark of at least 8 Canada Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3/4.0 (grade B+) China Bachelor degree from a leading university with overall mark of 75%-85% depending on your university Cyprus Bachelor degree or Ptychion with a final mark of at least 7.5 France Licence with mention bien or Maîtrise with final mark of at least 13 Germany Bachelor degree or Magister Artium with a final mark of 2.4 or better Ghana Bachelor degree from a public university with second-class upper division Greece Ptychion from an AEI with a final mark of at least 7.5 Hong Kong Bachelor (Honours) degree with second-class upper division India Bachelor degree from a leading institution with overall mark of at least 60% or equivalent Iran Bachelor degree (Licence or Karshenasi) with a final mark of at least 15 Italy Diploma di Laurea with an overall mark of at least 105 Japan Bachelor degree from a leading university with a minumum average of B+ or equivalent Malaysia Bachelor degree with class 2 division 1 Mexico Licenciado with a final mark of at least 8 Nigeria Bachelor degree with second-class upper division or CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 Pakistan Four-year bachelor degree, normally with a GPA of at least 3.3 Russia Magistr or Specialist Diploma with a minimum average mark of at least 4 South Africa Bachelor (Honours) degree or Bachelor degree in Technology with an overall mark of at least 70% Saudi Arabia Bachelor degree with an overall mark of at least 70% or CGPA 3.5/5.0 or equivalent South Korea Bachelor degree from a leading university with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent Spain Licenciado with a final mark of at least 2/4 Taiwan Bachelor degree with overall mark of 70%-85% depending on your university Thailand Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or equivalent Turkey Lisans Diplomasi with CGPA of at least 3.0/4.0 depending on your university United Arab Emirates Bachelor degree with CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent USA Bachelor degree with CGPA 3.3-3.5/4.0 depending on your university Vietnam Masters degree with CGPA 3.5/4.0 or equivalent If you have any questions about your qualifications after consulting our overseas qualifications, contact the University at E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
- PhD in Politics
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UK entrance requirements
A Masters degree in political science, international relations, economics, history or sociology. Applicants should submit an outline research proposal indicating the nature, ambitions and primary questions of the research project.
Overseas entrance requirements
If you are an international student and wish to find out if you have the necessary qualifications for this degree, please refer to Overseas qualifications.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5, with not less than 6.5 in Writing and 6.0 in the other sections. Internet TOEFL with 88 overall, with at least 20 in Listening, 20 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 24 in Writing.
For more information, refer to English language requirements.
Visas and immigration
Find out more about Visas and immigration.
For more information about the admissions process at Sussex
For pre-application enquiries:
Student Recruitment Services
T +44 (0)1273 876787
E pg.enquiries@sussex.ac.uk
For post-application enquiries:
Postgraduate Admissions,
University of Sussex,
Sussex House, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9RH, UK
T +44 (0)1273 877773
F +44 (0)1273 678545
E pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Related subjects
Fees and funding
Fees
- MPhil in Politics
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
- PhD in Politics
-
Home UK/EU students: £3,9001
Channel Island and Isle of Man students: £3,9002
Overseas students: £13,00031 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
2 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
3 The fee shown is for the academic year 2013.
To find out about your fee status, living expenses and other costs, visit further financial information.
Funding
The funding sources listed below are for the subject area you are viewing and may not apply to all degrees listed within it. Please check the description of the individual funding source to make sure it is relevant to your chosen degree.
To find out more about funding and part-time work, visit further financial information.
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust for Postgraduate Study (2014)
Region: UK
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 1 October 2013
The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust are offering bursaries to Postgraduate students following any postgraduate degree courses in any subject.
Sussex ESRC 1+3 and +3 Scholarships (2014)
Region: UK, Europe (Non UK)
Level: PG (taught), PG (research)
Application deadline: 28 February 2014
Up to 22 1+3 and +3 awards across the social sciences
Faculty interests
The Department has one of the largest concentrations of scholars working on party politics in the UK. This and other research interests are briefly described below.
Dr Sabina Avdagic Comparative political economy, the politics of market reforms, national variation in politico-economic institutions.
Dr Sue Collard French politics, the politics of culture, European citizenship.
Dr Rekha Diwakar Indian politics and public policy, comparative politics, electoral competition, voting behaviour, Civil Service reforms.
Dr James Hampshire Immigration politics and policy, citizenship, race and racism.
Professor Dan Hough German politics, party politics, post-communism in Europe, political corruption.
Francis McGowan Policy making in the European Union, European government/ industry relations.
Dr Emily Robinson British political history, politics of time, progress and progressivism, nostalgia, heritage and tradition.
Professor Shamit Saggar The politics of race, ethnicity and citizenship; public policy; electoral politics; regulation policy.
Professor Aleks Szczerbiak Comparative politics of central eastern Europe, lustration and de-communisation, Poland. Co-Director of SEI.
Professor Paul Taggart Euroscepticism, populism, party politics.
Dr Adrian Treacher International relations of the EU, European security, French foreign policy.
Professor Paul Webb Parties and elections – UK and comparative, empirical democratic theory.
Careers and perspectives
Many graduates have taken up jobs in a range of organisations in both public and private sectors including think tanks and NGOs at international, European, national and sub-national levels. Others have pursued doctoral research followed by careers in Higher Education.
For more information, visit Careers and alumni.
School and contacts
School of Law, Politics and Sociology
Engaging with key issues of contemporary concern, the School of Law, Politics and Sociology brings together academic units that are committed to excellence in teaching, and recognised nationally for research.
Dr James Hampshire,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SP, UK
T +44 (0)1273 876806
E j.a.hampshire@sussex.ac.uk
Department of Politics
Postgraduate Open Day 2013
4 December 2013, 1pm-4pm
Bramber House, University of Sussex
- talk to academic faculty and current postgraduate students
- subject talks and presentations on postgraduate study, research and funding
- choose from our exciting range of taught Masters and research degrees
- find out how postgraduate study can improve your career prospects
- get details of our excellent funding schemes for taught postgraduate study.
To register your interest in attending, visit Postgraduate Open Day.
Can’t make it to our Postgraduate Open Day? You might be interested in attending one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions.
Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions
If you can’t make it to our Postgraduate Open Day, you’re welcome to attend one of our Discover Postgraduate Study information sessions. These are held in the spring and summer terms and enable you to find out more about postgraduate study and the opportunities Sussex has to offer.
Visit Discover Postgraduate study to book your place.
Other ways to visit Sussex
We run weekly guided campus tours every Wednesday afternoon, year round. Book a place online at Visit us and Open Days.
You are also welcome to visit the University independently without any pre-arrangement.