Research degrees

Learn how to think critically

Consistently ranked top amongst the top in the country for the quality of our political science research, we're renowned for our expertise in political behaviour, comparative politics, ideology and discourse analysis, international relations and conflict resolution.

Whatever the field, politics at Essex is all about moving from opinions to systematic arguments and evidence. Always seeking out cause and effect, our research casts light on important questions across the political range, including some questions that you might never ordinarily connect to politics or government. For example, did you know that people who are more scared of spiders are more conservative?

We work with you to analyse and explain significant political outcomes such as war and peace, transitions to democracy, the way governments shape economy, and the results of the elections. We'll support you throughout your thesis, helping you answer your research question and achieve your potential.

Explore our postgraduate research degrees