Overview

The Political Science and International Affairs program at University of California, San Diego prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, or as international affairs researchers and specialists in policy analysis.

Program Overview

The program builds on the considerable strength that each unit possesses and offers a unique focus within the context of the Pacific region.

The program has a required first-year curriculum in which students focus on coursework in politics and research methods. During the second year, students begin to focus their coursework on their chosen area of research, completing the 18 required courses for advancement to candidacy.

In addition, candidates are expected to finish a seminar paper and sit for their general comprehensive exam.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Analytic Theory

Research Design

Field requirement or skills course

Integrated Workshop

Quantitative Methods

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-23 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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PTE Academic

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IELTS

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Diego, United States

Disciplines

International Business Public Policy Political Science View 92 other PhDs in Public Policy in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

For International applicants, the U.S. GPA equivalencies will be determined. Applicants with strong quantitative coursework in their undergraduate degree are encouraged to apply.
Personal Statement
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Three Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Test
Transcripts
Demonstrate proficiency in the English language

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

36477 USD / year

≈ 36477 USD / year
Out-of-State

36477 USD / year

≈ 36477 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

21375 USD / year

≈ 21375 USD / year

Living costs

San Diego

United States

1400 - 2455 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Political Science and International Affairs.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Program Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

San Diego

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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