Overview Degree Requirments Core Courses Road Map CourseOutline PHD Students
Introduction
PhD in International Relations is a rigorous and immersive research degree designed to cultivate advanced expertise in the theory and practice of global politics. Spanning three to eight years, the program blends comprehensive theoretical training with hands-on empirical research, enabling candidates to investigate questions shaping contemporary international affairs. Through interdisciplinary engagement, students explore a wide range of areas including Foreign Policy of Major Power, Critical Peace, Green Politics, conflict and security studies, political economy, international law, regional dynamics, and the workings of global institutions. The program emphasizes both classical and contemporary theoretical frameworks while providing rigorous training in qualitative and quantitative research methods along with IA Tools. This dual focus ensures that graduates are not only grounded in scholarly debates but also equipped to apply research skills in real-world policy and academic settings. Students are encouraged to pursue original research that contributes to both academic knowledge and practical problem-solving in a rapidly changing world. This program is ideal for motivated individuals with a strong academic foundation and a desire to contribute meaningfully to decoloniality, conflict resolution, international peace, development, and cooperation.
Career Prospects
Potential career prospects for PhD IR are in academia, research thinktanks, Strategic advisory bodies, governmental organisations, international governmental organisations, non-governmental organizations, foreign embassies and media.
Admission Requirements
Minimum CGPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0 in the Semester System) or First Division (in the Annual System) in M.Phil./Equivalent with major in International Relations/Political Science/Defense and Strategic Studies/Social Science is required. Preference will be given to students having majors in International Relations or Political Science. The candidate must have completed at least 30 credit hours in MS/MPhil of which 24 credit hours should be reserved for course work and 6 credit hours for thesis. The candidate must fulfil the minimum criterion of HEC for admission to the PhD program.
Subject Test:
- A subject test conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS) or ETS must be cleared prior to admission to the PhD Program.
- In the case of GAT Subject test ( http://www.nts.org.pk/GAT/GATSubject.asp ) a minimum 60% marks are required to pass the test.
- In the case of GRE subject test, minimum 60% score is required.
- Department has also initiated its own test as an alternative to NTS/GRE test. Candidate has to score 70 percent to secure his/her position in the program.
- Interview at the Departmental Graduate Committee of Political Science Dept. (UMT)
Curriculum Structure
Minimum 54 credit hours are required to complete PhD International Relations program. Out of 54 credit hours, 18 credit hours are for coursework, while 36 credit hours are for thesis.
Dissertation (36 credit hours) app. 80,000-100,000 words
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