PhD Studentship in Political Science at Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin in Ireland

The Department of Political Science at Trinity College Dublin is offering four-year fully funded PhD studentships for entry in September 2026. This prestigious programme provides comprehensive financial support, including tuition grants, stipends, teaching and research assistantships, and funding for conference and research travel. The department is recognized as one of Europe’s leading centres for political research, consistently ranked as the top Politics department in Ireland and among the top 50 worldwide in the QS rankings.

The doctoral programme is designed to train students to become leading scholars in political science, with rigorous coursework in substantive political knowledge and advanced research methods, including quantitative techniques. Students will develop and complete an original dissertation under the guidance of expert faculty, many of whom have published in top international journals and hold significant research grants.

Research strengths within the department include Comparative European Politics, Political Institutions, Legislative Politics, European Union Politics and Policies, International Law, Irish Politics, Computational Political Science, Political Communication, African Politics, Russian and Postcommunist Politics, Authoritarian Politics, Electoral Systems and Political Parties, Public Opinion and Political Participation, Political Psychology, Environmental Politics, International Conflict and Security, and Political Theory. Applicants are especially encouraged to propose projects in these areas and to consult the webpages of academic staff to ensure alignment of research interests.

Graduates of the programme have an excellent track record of securing academic positions at leading universities, as well as roles in government and business. The department collaborates with the Dublin School of Social Sciences and University College Dublin, providing a vibrant and interdisciplinary research environment.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in political science or a related field and demonstrate excellent English language skills. The application process is fully online, and all candidates are automatically considered for financial support as part of their application. The deadline for applications is 1 April 2026.

For further details, including application instructions and staff research interests, visit the department’s PhD programme page. Enquiries about the application process can be directed to the course administrator at [email protected]. The PhD Director, Dr. Peter Stone, is also available for academic queries.