Do a PhD in
Political Science
The PhD Programme in Political Science is part of Aarhus BSS – the largest university unit within business and social sciences in Denmark. 250 PhD students are part of Aarhus BSS' PhD programmes, and each year approx. 60 new students are enrolled. Besides the programme in Political Science, there are 6 other field programmes to chose from.
About the Department of Political Science
The PhD programme in Political Science is located at Campus Aarhus and is hosted by one of the largest political science departments in Europe with around 100 faculty members and 50 PhD students. The department is an internationally highly recognized department with a wide variety of contacts to other political science departments around the world.
Good research environment
The department offers a lively and ambitious research and teaching environment. PhD students from the department have several times won international prices for their dissertations. Recent examples include:
Kristina Bakkær Simonsen: Maria Ioannis Baganha Dissertation Award, IMISCOE, 2019
Roman Senninger: EUSA Best Dissertation Award, 2019
Martin Bisgaard: APSA, section on political psychology, best dissertation award 2017
Do you have an extraordinary idea?
The originality and feasibility of the research proposal submitted with the application play a central role in the decision of which students to admit to the programme.
"As a PhD student I Aarhus, I experience much freedom in shaping and carrying out my research. My impression is that supervisors here, mine included, are both supportive, great at sparring, and generally very engaged in the PhD students’ learning and well-being. Moreover, we are many PhD students at the department, and our PhD group provides us with a space for academic discussions and, maybe even more important, a space for informal talks, lunch and coffee partners, and social events."
PhD student Ane Edslev Jacobsen, Denmark
"There are many things that make Aarhus a great place to do a PhD in political science: close and frequent supervision from two supervisors, several opportunities to get feedback from both fellow PhD students and senior staff, a fully-funded semester abroad, the possibility to conduct surveys and experiments, an office shared with another PhD student, and social activities organised by the PhD group."
PhD student Edoardo Alberto Viganò, Italy
"The experience you gain as a PhD student at the Department of Political Science in Aarhus is incomparable. You have the opportunity to conduct your own research and learn how to become an independent researcher. Throughout this process, you are closely supervised and strongly supported by your colleagues. Apart from being outstanding academically, the department is also exceptionally social. Being part of a big PhD group comes with many social activities both inside and outside the university. This is a great way to build good relationships with your colleagues and provides an opportunity to make new friends. Aarhus is therefore a great place to grow both academically and personally, and I would choose to do a PhD at the department again anytime"
PhD student Lea Pradella, Germany
