The PhD programme at the Department of Political Science is part of the Aarhus Graduate School of Social Sciences at Aarhus University. For further information on open positions, PhD programmes, rules and regulations, application procedures etc., please see Graduate School of Business and Social Sciences.

About the Department

The Department of Political Science at Aarhus University is one of the most productive departments in Europe with regard to academic publications, placing the department in the European and global top of political science departments.

The department has approximately 50 faculty members, 30 PhD students in residence and 1,300 full-time students and hence constitutes the biggest research community within the field of political science in northern Europe.

The department has a broad academic profile including the following main areas:

• International Relations
• Political Theories
• Public Administration
• Public Theory
• Political Systems.

Career opportunities for PhD candidates

The objective of the PhD programme is to prepare candidates for a career in university research and teaching, but also for careers in public administration, international organizations, private-sector businesses and other educational institutions. Most graduates hold research-related positions at Danish universities, while others combine academic prowess with hands-on challenges by pursuing a career in the public service.

Collaboration with University of Washington

For many years, the department has maintained a close collaboration with the Center for American Politics and Public Policy at the University of washington. This long-running and successful collaboration has recently been further strengthened with the appointment of adjunct professor Bryan D. Jones, director of Center for American Politics and Public Policy and one of the world's leading researchers in agenda-setting and political decision-making.

Research stays at prestigious international universities

Apart from University of washington in Seattle many of the PhD students have also spent time at the University of California, San Diego, or other prestigious American universities such as Princeton University, Harvard University and Indiana University.

Solid training in all areas of political science

The PhD programme offers solid training in political theory as well as social science methodology and application, including the following fields of study:

• Political science and the history of ideas
• International relations
• Comparative politics
• Danish politics
• Political sociology
• Public administration
• Public policy.

Courses for PhD students

Four (mandatory) research method courses are offered particularly for PhD students.

Danish Political Science Research School

The Danish Political Science Research School is a network consisting of a number of political science institutions in Denmark. Many courses are offered through this research school.

Internal workshops

The Department of Political Science organizes a number of meetings in more specialized research areas at which faculty and PhD students participate. Research projects and current dissertations are presented and discussed at meetings in the department or in the individual research groups, just as controversies on key international and Danish projects are debated.

Project presentations

During the PhD degree programme, PhD students must present their projects and research achievements to other PhD students and interested academic staff at the department. Such presentations generally take place in the form of internal seminars. Other enrolled PhD students are expected to take an active part in such project presentations.

Participation in international conferences

PhD students at the department are encouraged to participate in international workshops and conferences, such as the annual joint sessions of workshops organized by the European Consortium for Political Research. Faculty as well as PhD students participate in these workshops. Participation in specialized workshops allows PhD students to gain valuable insight into the latest international research within their field. Other possibilities could be conferences and workshops organized by the Nordic Political Science Association (NOPSA), the American Political Science Association (APSA)and the International Political Science Association (IPSA).

Positive and friendly working environment

PhD students at the Department of Political Science meet for lunch on wednesdays and breakfast on Fridays. Traditionally, PhD students participate when other PhD students present their research projects. Most PhD students share an office, which promotes a friendly and intellectual research environment. women students have established a network and meet once a month for dinner to discuss academic as well as other issues.