politics

Off

Are you struggling with who to vote for in the 2019 UK general election? Read on as we simplify the policies outlined in the minority party manifestos that will affect you.

Click this link to register to vote.

Find out more about studying in the UK in our handy guide

Related Categories:

politics

where-to-study/europe/united-kingdom

ELSEVIER logo

Off

IREG logo

Off

Methodology Page

Off

How to Register to Vote in the 2019 UK General Election

chloe@qs.com — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:49:25 +0000

How to Register to Vote in the 2019 UK General Election

chloe@qs.com Wed, 11/20/2019 - 14:49

Wed, 11/20/2019 - 14:45

How to Register to Vote in the 2019 UK General Election main image

On the 12^th December 2019, there will be a general election in the UK, and the deadline to register to vote is fast approaching. Registering to vote only takes a few minutes and your vote will help determine the future of the UK.

When is the deadline to register to vote?

For every general election you have to register at least 12 days before the vote. This means the very last possible moment to register to vote is 11:59pm on Tuesday 26^th November (but it’s probably not a good idea to leave it right until the last minute!)

If you’re registering for a postal vote, this has to be done by 5pm on 26^th November if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland, you must register for a postal vote by 5pm on 21^st November.

Who can register to vote?

You can register if you are aged 17 or over, or 15 or over in Scotland, although you will not be able to vote in this general election if you’re under 18.

To register to vote you need to be a UK citizen, or an Irish, EU, or Commonwealth citizen with a UK address. You will also need to be a resident at a UK address, or a UK citizen living abroad who has registered in the last 15 years.

How do I register to vote in person?

You will only need to register once to get on the electoral register, so if you’ve already registered for another election or referendum, sit back and relax, you’re all sorted! If you haven’t previously registered (or you’ve moved from your last registered address) registering couldn’t be simpler.

You will need your national insurance number to hand. You will be able to find this on any paychecks, or on any letters about your tax, pension or benefits. If you’re unsure about what your national insurance number is, click here to find out what to do next.

Can I register at my university address and my home address?

Yes, as a student you can register at two separate addresses so that you can choose where you vote, depending on what is most convenient for you. However, as you might expect, it’s illegal to vote more than once.

What about if I’m studying on a year abroad?

If you’re a UK citizen who is 18 or older, but are currently living abroad, then you are entitled to a vote. As you are not in the country, you can register to vote by post or get someone else to vote on your behalf (vote by proxy).

How do I register by proxy or postal vote?

To register for a proxy vote (to get someone else to vote on your behalf) you will have to fill in a paper form and send it to your local Electoral Registration Office. To vote by proxy in the General Election in England, Scotland and Wales, you will need to apply by 5pm on 4^th December, by filling in this form. To vote in Northern Ireland, you will need to fill in a different form by 21^st November.

To apply for a postal vote, you will need to fill in this form by 5pm on 26^th November and the postal vote must arrive at your Electoral Office in the UK by 10pm on 12^th December if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. To apply to vote by post in Northern Ireland, fill in this form by 5pm on 21^st November.

Can someone else register me?

No, you will have to register for your own vote.

What is the open register, and should I be on it?

The open register is a version of the electoral register that is available to anyone who wishes to purchase a copy. It is up to you whether or not you decide to be on the open register – you can choose to opt out of this if you do not want your information used.

Off

UK & Ireland

Off

Find out how to register for the UK 2019 general election.

Find out more about studying politics at university

Related Categories:

politics

where-to-study/europe/united-kingdom

ELSEVIER logo

Off

IREG logo

Off

Methodology Page

Off

Scholarships to Study at the 10 Top Universities for Politics in 2019

sabrina@qs.com — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:49:52 +0000

Scholarships to Study at the 10 Top Universities for Politics in 2019

sabrina@qs.com Tue, 03/05/2019 - 15:49

Tue, 03/05/2019 - 15:15

Scholarships to Study at the 10 Top Universities for Politics in 2019 main image

Included in the QS World University Rankings by Subject is a ranking of the world’s 200 top universities for politics degrees, based on a methodology which assesses each institution on academic and employer reputations among other factors.

With expensive study destinations like the US and the UK dominating the rankings, it can be difficult to find funding. Luckily, we’ve compiled a range of scholarships to study at the 10 top politics schools, which are revealed in reverse order below. You can browse more scholarships to study abroad here, and the full 2019 politics ranking table can be viewed here.

10. Australian National University (ANU)

Ranked 10^th for its politics degrees, the Australian National University (ANU) is down slightly this year but is nonetheless consistently the highest-ranked Australian university for this subject, earning its best score for the academic reputation indicator (second in the world).

Annual international fees for its Bachelor of Political Science degree currently stand at AU$41,280 (~US$29,200). For domestic students, the course is a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), meaning that the government pays part of your fees, and you will only need to pay the student contribution amount (more info here).

While ANU doesn’t currently offer any scholarships specific to politics, it does offer a selection of scholarships, including those specific to studying at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences (in which politics is housed). Notable scholarships include the Academic Excellence Masters Scholarship, aimed at international students from China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong or Indonesia. You could also check our general list of scholarships to study in Australia.

9. Yale University

Heading to the US, Yale University is ranked ninth for politics and international studies in 2019, earning its best score in the citations per paper category, a measure of research impact.

Undergraduate tuition fees at Yale stand at US$55,500 for the 2019/20 academic year, and Yale estimates the total cost of studies per year (including room and board and other expenses) at a whopping $75,925. The university’s MA in International Relations/Global Affairs, offered at the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, had fees of $42,100 in 2018/19.

Fortunately, Yale is one of the five US universities to offer need-blind admission to all students, both domestic and international, meaning it won’t consider your ability to pay when deciding whether or not to offer you a place, and meets 100 percent of students’ demonstrated financial need, with an average of $52,800 awarded in 2018/19. Read more about financial aid at Yale here.

You can view a list of general scholarships to study in the US here.

8. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is ranked eighth among the world’s top universities for politics degrees, again achieving its best score in the citations per faculty indicator.

As of the 2019/20 academic year, undergraduate fees at UCB are $14,184 for Californian residents and $43,176 for out of state students, including international students. At graduate level, fees are $14,132 for Californian students and $30,544 for all other students.

Scholarships on offer from the university’s Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science include the Travers Undergraduate Scholarship in Ethics and Politics, a merit-based scholarship awarding a stipend of $12,000 per year, aimed at all students planning to serve their country or community in a government capacity in the future. There are also numerous general scholarships and graduate fellowships available to study at UCB.

7. Princeton University

Down from third place last year but nonetheless ranking as one of the top 10 political science schools, Princeton University boasts a perfect score for the citations per faculty indicator, making it first in the world for this indicator.

Princeton currently charges $51,870 in undergraduate tuition fees, and it estimates the total yearly cost of attendance at $73,450.

Like Yale, Princeton is need-blind to all students (both domestic and international), allowing all students, regardless of family income, to attend. Students with a family income of $65,000 or less receive full financial aid including tuition, room and board.

Those interested in pursuing predoctoral research might be interested in applying for the Emerging Scholars in Political Science (ESPS) program, which aims to increase the participation of students from underrepresented groups in political science PhD programs.

6. Stanford University

Stanford University climbed an impressive 11 spaces in this year’s politics ranking, now placing sixth in the world for this subject and the second-best institution in the US. The university’s department of Political Science pursues research in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political methodology and political theory.

Tuition fees are currently $52,857 for all undergraduates and $52,479 for graduate politics degree students. The university has a limited amount of financial aid available to international students – so if you think you’ll need aid at any point during your studies, you must state this within your application. As well as using financial aid, many students fund their studies with a loan or part-time job.

5. University of Cambridge

Heading to the UK, the University of Cambridge is ranked fifth in this year’s politics ranking, with a very high score for the employer reputation indicator.

Those wishing to study politics at Cambridge at undergraduate level can expect to pay £9,250 (~€10,700) per year (if they’re a UK/EU student), or £19,197 (~US$25,200) per year (for overseas students). The university’s MPhil in International Relations and Politics costs £16,320 (€18,900) for UK/EU students and £29,220 (~US$38,300) for overseas students, while its PhD in Politics and International Studies costs £8,337 (~€9,660) for UK/EU students and £23,361 (~US$30,700) for overseas students.

Funding is available from sources such as the Cambridge Trust, which awards approximately 500 scholarships every year, and the Gates Cambridge program, which grants awards to outstanding postgraduate applicants from outside the UK. And for PhD students, the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) recently announced that five new merit-based PhD studentships are available, funding a full-time three-year doctoral degree in Politics and International Studies.

More scholarships to study in the UK can be found here.

4. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

A frequent feature at the top of ranking tables for social science subjects, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is ranked fourth among the world’s top universities for politics in 2019.

LSE charges the regular UK/EU fee for its BSc in Politics (£9,250), while the overseas fee was £19,152 (~US$25,150) for the first year in 2018. For its MSc in Global Politics, the 2019/20 will be the same for UK, EU and international students, at £23,328 (~US$30,600). However, the amount of financial aid you’re eligible for varies depending on what fee status you’re classified as.

LSE offers generous financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships, such as the Kadas Scholarship (aimed at undergraduates from specific European countries), the ICAP Undergraduate Scholarship (which covers the full tuition fees of a student from sub-Saharan Africa), and the LSE Master's Awards (awards ranging from £5,000 to a full award, with preference given to students from low and middle-income families).

3. Sciences Po Paris

Heading to France, Sciences Po is the highest-ranked institution for politics in mainland Europe, earning a perfect score for the academic reputation indicator. This university might be ideal for those looking for an international experience - Sciences Po’s three-year bachelor’s degrees conclude with a year abroad at one of its partner universities, and more than half of students are international.

Tuition fees for undergraduate students in the European Economic Area (EEA) vary from €0 to €10,540 (~US$11,940) depending on your household income, while non-EEA fees are €10,540 per year at undergraduate level and €14,500 (~US$16,400) for master’s programs.

To enable all students to pursue their studies at Sciences Po, the university offers substantial financial aid including the Emile-Boutmy scholarship, open to undergraduate or master’s students from outside the EEA, and the Sciences Po Europe bursary, open to all first-year EU/EEA/Swiss students.

2. University of Oxford

The University of Oxford retains its position of second, and is first among the top universities for politics and international studies in Europe, achieving a perfect score in the ‘H-index’ indicator (which measures the productivity and impact of the publication of a scientist or scholar).

Oxford’s BA in History and Politics degree costs £9,250 per year for UK/EU students and £26,235 (~US$34,450) for overseas students, while the university’s MPhil in Politics costs £17,745 (~€20,600) for UK/EU students and £26,960 (~US$35,400) for overseas students.

Oxford recently announced its intention to increase the bursaries available to students from low-income backgrounds in 2020. You can search for scholarships based on your fee status, study level and year of entry here – many of Oxford’s scholarships will not require a separate application.

1. Harvard University

Concluding our look at the top universities for politics and international studies, Harvard University retains its position of first in the world, receiving a perfect score for the employer reputation indicator. At Harvard, politics degrees are available as government degrees through the Department of Government, and the university also offers a PhD in Political Economy & Government.

For 2018, tuition fees for all undergraduate students were $46,340, and the university estimated yearly total expenses of at least $71,650. Luckily, as with fellow Ivy League schools Yale and Stanford, Harvard is need-blind to all students, both domestic and international. 55 percent of undergraduates therefore receive need-based scholarships, and families with household incomes of $65,000 or less are not expected to contribute anything. International students are eligible for the same amount of financial aid as US students.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

Off

Off

Discover a range of scholarships to study at the top 10 universities for politics and international studies in 2019.

View the full politics ranking

Related Categories:

subject rankings

politics

university-rankings-articles/university-subject-rankings

After #MeToo, College Women in America Are Organizing For Change

mathilde@qs.com — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 14:37:21 +0000

After #MeToo, College Women in America Are Organizing For Change

mathilde@qs.com Thu, 03/08/2018 - 14:37

Thu, 03/08/2018 - 14:30

After #MeToo, College Women in America Are Organizing For Change main image

While the fight for gender equality is far from over, in many ways 2017 felt like the start of a reckoning. Although the year started with the inauguration of President Trump, the next day saw over three million women march in over 300 US cities in protest.

Then, in October, the Harvey Weinstein allegations shone a light on the sexual assault and misconduct suffered by millions of women, not just in Hollywood but in politics, the music industry, the media, the Silicon Valley and the sciences too.

The flood of #MeToo declarations on social media since then has brought open secrets into the spotlight and forced several uncomfortable conversations about sexism within society. This push for change has also proved inspirational, with a record-breaking number of women choosing to run for political office in the US this year.

447 women are intending to run for office in the US Senate and the House of Representatives, according to new data from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University - more than twice the number of female nominees in 2016.

There may still be a long way to go before the boys’ club atmosphere in US politics, locker room talk and all, is gone completely, but the pessimism of early 2017 has given way to a determination that seems set to change the political landscape for good.

The power of #MeToo

When the first stories of sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault or rape started to be shared on social media as part of the #MeToo movement, few of those involved likely expected their words to inspire real political change.

However, for the current generation of female college students and activists, #MeToo was a call to arms, and an example of how social media can be used to organize disparate voices into a movement.

“#MeToo is absolutely something that I’ve seen directly inspire college women to get involved in politics”, says Jenna McGreevy, Communications Director for Pennsylvania College Democrats. “It’s helped women realize that there aren’t equal levels of representation for women in the United States. We’re actually much far behind other developed nations in terms of the percentage of women we have working in all levels of government.”

Jenna has seen this political awakening reflected in the new generation of college women getting involved by joining the College Democrats’ women’s caucuses and taking up student leadership positions.

Crucial to these efforts to increase awareness and representation is social media. As with #MeToo, sites like Facebook and Twitter have been vital tools for Jenna and others to organize students, particularly when it comes to elections.

“So many events happen within 24 hours’ notice, and special elections are sometimes confusing to people. They’re not sure they’re in the right district to vote or they may not even know that a special election is happening. Social media sites like Facebook or Twitter are a good way to spread the word and make sure people are registered to vote.”

Jenna is hopeful that this increased interest in politics from college women and signs of increased female representation in politics will be beneficial for democracy in more ways than one.

Citing a 2017 study, she says: “Female politicians are more collaborative and work on more bipartisan efforts, but they also tend to be less extreme in terms of what their actual ideological goals are. They’re less likely to vote on a bill that has a really negative top outcome for women or that’s super anti-environment, for example.”

The Trump effect

Of course, it’s not just #MeToo that’s responsible for this rise in political engagement among young women. A Politico survey of 2,000 people suggests the election of Donald Trump as US president sparked interest in what’s happening in politics, particularly among Democrats and women.

Unimpressed with the current commander-in-chief (Trump’s approval rating with women is a dismal 33 percent, according to a February 2018 poll), women have clearly decided to fix the problem themselves. Politico has even labelled this the “Trump effect”, saying: “Democrats – especially women – hold very negative feelings for Trump, and those feelings have indeed generated more political interest and activity.”

While the survey conducted in May last year noted that heightened interest in politics was in most cases not sufficient to convince women to run for office, it discovered that a small fraction of women, 28 percent, had considered running for office for the first time in the last six months.

The survey also discovered that organizations recruiting women to work on campaigns or run for office have seen a surge of interest, particularly from female Democrats.

One of these organizations is Running Start, a non-profit focused on providing high school and college women with the contacts, skills and confidence they need to run for office. Jessica Kelly, programs and leadership director at the organization, said: “Research here in the US shows that it’s around high school and college that the ambition drops off, particularly for women.

“[There is] a big disparity in the encouragement young girls get from everyone in their lives - parents, teachers, coaches, other authority figures - and we’re trying to be that voice, to step in and to say: ‘Yes, you have a place in politics. Here are some of the skills you’ll need to help build that confidence to pursue it.’”

As well as teaching young women the skills and confidence needed to run for office, organizations like Running Start also provide an invaluable support network for those entering the male-dominated environment of politics.

As the #MeToo movement showed, this ability to share stories publicly and find support easily is key, especially as stories of sexual misconduct and harassment at the upper echelons of government have made the headlines multiple times recently.

“If you don’t feel that you have anyone that you trust, call us at Running Start, and we’ll be those people for you,” says Jessica. “You definitely do not have to be in a position that makes you uncomfortable. You deserve to be in the room. Whether that’s at a job, an internship, or running for office, you deserve to be there and should not be made to feel uncomfortable.”

Thinking of getting involved?

It may be a long way from the White House, but it’s entirely possible the future leaders of America are young women currently studying somewhere in the US who are about to enter the world of politics for the very first time.

For Maggie Kautz, a student in optical sciences and engineering at the University of Arizona, that entrance into politics came after reading about a bipartisan student club called No Labels in the school newspaper.

At one of their sessions, she met members of the University of Arizona Young Democrats, an organization she is now president of. “I went to a Young Dems meeting and I got to meet the people involved and make some friends. We went to a luncheon for Planned Parenthood in the first couple of weeks I’d joined the club and we went up to Flagstaff to canvas for Ann Kirkpatrick who was running for senate at the time.”

These initial experiences of the world of politics inspired Maggie to get even more involved, and she’s currently working on a voter registration campaign on campus ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

2018 will be particularly interesting year for Arizona politics. Republican Rep. Trent Franks’ seat will be up for grabs in April after he resigned following allegations of sexual harassment, and the two women hoping to turn his seat blue are physician Hiral Tipirneni (D) and transgender activist Brianna Westbrook (D), who received Chelsea Manning’s official endorsement.

Maggie says she’s cautiously confident of a positive outcome. “Women have a really good shot at taking senate seats and house seats in Arizona. Arizona almost went blue during the 2016 elections, and Hillary actually won Pima County where the University of Arizona Young Dems are working.”

Of course, Arizona isn’t the only place with an important election this year (you can find a handy rundown of key 2018 election dates here, courtesy of the New York Times). Wherever you’re studying and whichever party you support, your efforts could make the difference and, as Maggie’s story shows, it’s really easy to get started.

If you want to learn more about Running Start, click here. Find College Democrat chapters in your area by clicking here.

Off

United States

US - Student Experiences

Off

Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, we spoke to some of the women and organizations encouraging greater female involvement in US politics.

United States

Achieve your goals with the help of these scholarships for women

Related Categories:

politics

where-to-study/north-america/united-states

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2017

sabrina@qs.com — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 09:53:18 +0000

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2017

sabrina@qs.com Fri, 03/24/2017 - 09:53

Fri, 03/24/2017 - 09:45

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2017 main image

Click here to discover scholarships to study at the top 10 universities for politics in 2019, or view the full 2019 table here.

If you’re thinking of establishing a career in politics or international relations, you may be wondering which university is for you. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 can help, featuring a ranking of the world’s top political science schools.

You can click here to find out how the ranking is compiled, and view the full interactive ranking table here.

Top 10 Universities for Politics & International Studies Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017
Rank	Name of Institution	Location
1	Harvard University	United States
2	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
3	London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	UK
4	Sciences Po Paris	France
5	University of Cambridge	UK
6	Australian National University (ANU)	Australia
7	Yale University	US
8	Princeton University	US
9	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	US
10	Columbia University	US
See the full political science school ranking >

Top universities for politics & international studies in the US & Canada

The US has a large presence in the political science ranking, with 45 institutions featured in the ranking, including 16 in the top 50. Outside the five US universities in the top 10 (above), other leading entrants include Georgetown University (11^th), the University of Chicago (13^th), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (14^th) and Johns Hopkins University (16^th).

Canada hosts 12 more of the world’s top political schools, including four new entries this year. Its three highest ranked universities for politics and international studies are the University of Toronto (ranked 12^th, up 12 places from last year), McGill University (34^th) and the University of British Colombia (37^th).

Top universities for politics & international studies in Europe

The UK has 31 top universities for politics, 18 of which are in the top 100. Outside the three UK institutions in the top 10, other leading universities include King’s College London (KCL) (32^nd), the University of Essex (36^th) and SOAS – School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (39^th).

Looking at the rest of Europe, Germany offers nine of the world’s top political science schools, including Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in the top 50. Italy meanwhile has seven top universities for politics, including two in the top 100. Belgium’s six entrants include two with top-100 positions, one of which is KU Leuven.

The Netherlands is the next-best represented country in Europe with five top political science schools, including Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam in the top 50. Sweden and Switzerland offer four top universities each, with Switzerland’s ETH Zurich featured in the top 50.

Elsewhere, France, Denmark, Norway, Ireland and Russia are each home to three top universities for politics and international studies. Of these five nations, France has one institution in the top 10 (above), while two of Denmark’s entrants are in the top 50 – the University of Copenhagen (25^th) and Aarhus University (47^th). Two of Russia’s representatives are in the top 100.

Finally, Spain has two top political science schools, while Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Poland have one each. Of these, Hungary’s Central European University achieves the highest rank (=42^nd).

Top universities for politics & international studies in Australia & New Zealand

Australia has 10 top universities for politics and international studies, including seven in the top 100. Joining Australian National University (ANU) in the top 50 are the University of Sydney (23^rd) and the University of Melbourne (38^th).

New Zealand claims three of the world’s top political science schools, with the University of Auckland the highest ranked of these at 51-100.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Asia

South Korea is home to the largest number of top universities for politics in Asia with eight institutions featured this year, including two in the top 50 - Seoul National University (SNU) (29^th) and Korea University (=42^nd).

Next up is Japan with seven entrants, four of which are in the top 100 for politics and international studies, led by the University of Tokyo at joint 17^th.

China offers five more top political schools, including three in the top 50: Peking University, Fudan University and Tsinghua University, while Hong Kong also performs well – all of its three top universities for politics are in the top 100, led by the University of Hong Kong at 31^st.

Singapore and Taiwan each have two institutions featured, including one each in the top 50: Singapore has the National University of Singapore (NUS) (15^th) while Taiwan is home to National Taiwan University (NTU) (49^th).

Lastly, India is home to one top political science school: Jawaharlal Nehru University, ranked 101-150.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Latin America

Of the nine top political science schools in Latin America, four are found in Brazil, including the highest ranked in both the region and the country: Universidade de São Paulo (51-100).

Colombia has two entries, led by Universidad de Los Andes Colombia at 101-150, while Mexico’s sole entrant, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) is also placed 101-150.

Argentina and Chile also each have one school featured in the ranking, both placed 101-150: Universidad de Buenos Aires from Argentina and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile from Chile.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Africa & the Middle East

Heading to the Middle East, Turkey is home to three top political science schools, including Bilkent University (151-200).

Lastly, South Africa offers three entrants in the politics ranking, including the University of Cape Town and the University of Witwatersrand, both ranked 101-150.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

Off

Off

Discover the world’s top universities for politics and international studies with the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017.

View the full politics & international studies ranking

Related Categories:

subject rankings

politics

university-rankings-articles/university-subject-rankings

9 Signs You’re a Politics Student

staff.writer@qs.com — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:51:50 +0000

9 Signs You’re a Politics Student

staff.writer@qs.com Wed, 04/13/2016 - 10:51

Wed, 04/13/2016 - 06:45

9 Signs You’re a Politics Student main image

Are you studying politics, or know someone who is? How many of these tell-tale signs do you recognize? If you’re really a politics student, we know you’ll have an opinion to share – so please join the debate in the comments below, or on our YouTube channel.

Planning to study politics? As well as familiarizing yourself with these key character traits, you may also be interested in our ranking of the world’s top universities for politics and international studies…

Video by Kai Song for TopUniversities.com

Off

Does this sound like you, or someone you know? See how many of these 7 signs of being a politics student you recognize!

Videos

Discover the top universities for politics in 2016

Related Categories:

politics

student-info/videos

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2016

sabrina@qs.com — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:08:21 +0000

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2016

sabrina@qs.com Wed, 04/06/2016 - 10:08

Wed, 04/06/2016 - 10:45

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2016 main image

Click here to discover scholarships to study at the top 10 universities for politics in 2019, or view the full 2019 table here.

Planning a career in the political arena? Want to help shape the future of national or international policy? Start out by studying at one of the world’s top universities for politics and international studies, as highlighted in the QS University Rankings by Subject 2016.

You can click here to find out how the ranking is compiled, and see the full interactive ranking table here.

Top 10 Universities for Politics & International Studies Based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016
Rank	Name of Institution	Location
1	Harvard University	United States
2	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
3	London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	United Kingdom
4	Sciences Po Paris	France
5	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
6	Yale University	United States
7	Stanford University	United States
8	Australian National University (ANU)	Australia
9	Princeton University	United States
10	University of California, Berkeley (UCB)	United States
See the full political science school ranking >

Top universities for politics & international studies in the US & Canada

A total of 46 US universities are ranked in the top 200 for this subject, of which 24 are in the top 100 and 17 in the top 50.

Outside of the five US entries in the top 10 (listed above), the next four leading US representatives are Georgetown University (11^th), Columbia University (12^th), the University of Chicago (14^th) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, 15^th).

Meanwhile Canada has nine entrants in the ranking, including three among the world’s top 50: the University of Toronto, McGill University and the University of British Colombia.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Europe

The UK is another hub of top political science schools, with 30 institutions featured in the ranking. Outside of the top 10 (see above), these include King’s College London, SOAS – School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and the University of Essex, as well as three more UK entries in the top 50.

Across the rest of Europe you’ll find nine top universities for politics and international studies in Germany and a further six in Italy. Of these, Germany’s Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Italy’s European University Institute, are all featured within the top 50. Also with six entries is Belgium, of which two are in the top 100.

The Netherlands and Switzerland each offer five leading political science schools, the highest ranked of which are the Netherlands’ Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam, as well as the Swiss ETH Zurich, all of which are in the top 50.

Nordic Europe meanwhile lays claim to 13 top political science schools, with four each in Sweden and Denmark, three in Norway and two in Finland. While the University of Copenhagen is the only Nordic school within the top 50 for this subject, it’s joined among the top 100 by fellow Danish institution Aarhus University, Sweden’s Lund University and Uppsala University, Finland’s University of Helsinki and Norway’s University of Oslo.

Also with four offerings is Spain, including the Universidad Complutense de Madrid in the 101-150 range. In France, Sciences Po Paris (4^th) is joined by the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in the 51-100 range. Russia has three top universities for politics and international studies, including Lomonosov Moscow State University in the top 100.

Next up is Ireland with two top political science schools: Trinity College Dublin in the top 50 and University College Dublin in the top 100. Each with one representative in the ranking are Austria, Hungary and Poland. Among these, Hungary’s Central European University is the highest ranked, placed 40^th in the world for politics and international studies.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Australia & New Zealand

The ranking features 11 top political science schools in Australia, including seven within the top 100 worldwide. Australian National University, in 8^thplace, is joined in the top 50 by the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne. Also in the top 100 are Griffith University, Monash University, the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland.

Of the three universities in New Zealand featured in this ranking, the University of Auckland is the highest ranked at 51-100.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Asia

The leading countries in Asia for politics and international studies are South Korea and Japan, each with six entries in the ranking. Of these, the leaders are Japan’s University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, as well as South Korea’s Seoul National University, all of which are in the top 50. South Korea and Japan each have two more entries in the top 100.

Of the four universities in mainland China featured in this ranking, three are within the top 50: Peking University, Fudan University and Tsinghua University. Of the three universities in Hong Kong featured, the highest ranked is the University of Hong Kong (23^rd), with the remaining two both within the top 100.

Singapore and Taiwan each have two top political science schools within the world’s top 100, led by the National University of Singapore (13^th).

Lastly, India also has one entry in the ranking, Jawaharlal Nehru University, in the top 100.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Latin America

Of the 12 leading political science schools in Latin America, five belong to Brazil. Of these, the Universidade de São Paulo is the highest ranked at 51-100. Colombia has three entries, with Universidad de Los Andes Colombia leading the way, at 101-150.

Mexico takes two spots in the ranking, with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) at 101-150 and the Tecnológico de Monterrey at 151-200.

Argentina and Chile each have one school featured in the ranking. These are the Argentinian Universidad de Buenos Aires at 51-100 and the Chilean Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile at 101-150.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Africa & the Middle East

Three top universities for politics and international studies are claimed by Turkey, including Bilkent University (101-150). The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s only offering, in the 151-200 range.

South Africa is the only African country featured in this ranking, with the University of Cape Town at 51-100 and the University of Witwatersrand at 151-200.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

Off

Off

Video

Discover the world’s top universities for politics and international studies with the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016.

Visit the full politics & international studies ranking

Related Categories:

subject rankings

politics

university-rankings-articles/university-subject-rankings

你可以用政治学学位做什么？

sabrina@qs.com — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:51:19 +0000

你可以用政治学学位做什么？

sabrina@qs.com Thu, 02/25/2016 - 10:51

Thu, 02/25/2016 - 10:30

你可以用政治学学位做什么？

如果你学习了政治，你将获得在公共和私营部门都有用的技能，这些职位的种类可能比你预想的要多。继续阅读，了解你可能感兴趣探索的政治工作。

政府内的政治职业

议会成员（MP

对政治学毕业生来说，最显而易见的职业道路可能就是在政府内部工作，比如成为议会成员（MP）。议会成员代表他们本地社区在国家事务中的利益，首先他们需要竞选以获得选举，可以作为一个政党的成员，也可以作为一个个体。要在这个角色中取得成功，你需要对影响你的本地区和整个国家的问题有很好的了解。你还应该有积极上进、坚定和自信、有说服力的公众演讲者的特质。作为议会成员，承诺也是成功的一个重要因素；为了证明这一点，你可以从为你选择的政党做志愿者开始。

政治助理

政治助理是由当选的议会成员或政治候选人雇佣的，他们负责进行行政和秘书任务。他们还帮助竞选，研究和宣传，可能会回应来自媒体或公众的询问。其他任务包括在选举前后协助竞选，保持对时事的了解，参与报告和演讲的撰写，以及管理和与政治家团队的其他成员合作。要成为一名政治助理，有相关经验是必要的，例如从政客身边学习或在地方或国家政府办公室实习。

政府社会研究官员

政府研究官员帮助告知部长们的政策决策。为此，他们进行研究和评估活动，为政府部门和地方政府制定、执行和评估政策提供所需的证据。如果你的学位期间学习了社会或公共政策，那对于这个职位非常有帮助，因为你需要有深厚的社会研究知识，以及这方面的良好技能。

公务员职位

如果你想在公务员系统内工作，你可以从政府部门、机构或非部门政府机构的各种政治工作中选择。这个政治职业涉及帮助执政机构每天制定和实施政策。你的责任通常包括贡献政策发展，回答其他政府部门或公众的信息请求，生成分析和报告，以及管理资源。在英国，毕业生可以遵循公务员快速通道，快速在公务员系统中积累经验，包括在外交方面的职位（见下文）。

其他政治职位

外交服务官员

这个政治职业非常适合对外交事务感兴趣，思维敏捷且擅长解决问题的人。特别适合国际关系毕业生。作为一个外交服务官员，你将在另一个国家生活，代表你的祖国和公民的利益。你还会为制定外交政策的部长提供建议和支持。要在这个角色中取得成功，你应该是一个良好的沟通者，能够与所有社会和文化的人们相处。这个政治职业的竞争非常激烈，通常需要经过一系列的测试。你不需要为这个角色流利地说一门外语，但这肯定是一个优势。

公共事务顾问

这个角色常被称为"说客"，但公共事务顾问的工作比这个词表达的含义要广泛。公共事务顾问使用他们对政治系统的知识，以及媒体资源和个人联系，为客户提供有价值的政治和公共政策指导。他们可以被公共和私营部门的组织雇佣，比如慈善机构，政府和联合国等国际机构。要进入这个政治职业，工作经验再次是必不可少的。这可能来自政治办公室、慈善机构、压力团体或公共事务咨询公司的实习，或者来自与政党或你的大学学生会的参与。

政治记者

如果你对国内和国际政治事务有强烈的兴趣，想参与提供对最新政治事件的深度新闻和分析，这个政治职业可能适合你。你也会覆盖争议、竞选和辩论，并提供关于可能的结果、激励和趋势的洞见。你可能只在新闻业的一个领域工作（印刷、在线、电视、广播），或者在这些领域的组合中工作，甚至可能成为这个领域公认和受尊敬的观察员。要在这个职业中取得成功，你应该有侦查的头脑，有决心，是一个好的作家，能在严格的截止日期内产生事实准确的内容。要成为政治记者，有相关经验是必要的，比如在本地或国家报纸的办公室，以及建立专业联系。你也可以考虑攻读新闻学的研究生学位。

公关执行专员

你从政治学学位中获得的技能也可能在公关领域的角色中有所应用。作为一个公关帐户执行员，你将使用各种形式的媒体为你的雇主（一个人或组织）及其预期的观众建立并维持良好的形象和声誉。你的任务还包括规划公关策略和活动，监控和分析媒体覆盖率，以及委托市场调研。要成为公关帐户执行员，你可能会发现完成相关主题的研究生学位和/或完成相关工作经验是有帮助的。

人权和慈善事业的职业

如果你对其他使用你的政治学位做出改变的方式感兴趣（可能在国际层面上），那么在人权和慈善部门有大量的职位供你选择。寻找在中央和地方政府机构；全球政府和非政府组织；慈善机构，压力团体和运动组织；学术界和法律界的职位。你可能会在通讯和活动方面工作，帮助提高人们对人权问题和侵犯的认识。或者你可能会参与管理旨在改善不同人群生活条件的项目。你可能感兴趣的其他慈善工作包括政策发展，公共关系和筹款等职位。

'你能用现代语言学位做什么？' 是我们的 '你能用……做什么？' 系列的一部分。

我们也涵盖了艺术、生物学、商业、通信、计算机科学、英语、工程学、时装、历史、地理、法律、营销、数学、表演艺术、哲学、政治学、心理学、社会学、化学、经济学和物理学。

Off

Careers advice

Off

Video

不确定拿到政治学位之后该做什么？探索一系列的政治领域的职业，并获取提升就业前景的建议。

Careers Advice

Read more about studying a politics degree

Related Categories:

politics

careers advice

graduate jobs

student-info/careers-advice

ELSEVIER logo

Off

IREG logo

Off

Methodology Page

Off

QS Stars logo

Off

Politics Vs International Relations: Which Should You Study?

sabrina@qs.com — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 11:54:57 +0000

Politics Vs International Relations: Which Should You Study?

sabrina@qs.com Tue, 02/23/2016 - 11:54

Tue, 02/23/2016 - 11:45

Politics vs International Relations: Which Should You Study? main image

Are you unsure about whether you should study politics or international relations? These similar subjects suit different interests, and can each be useful for entering different political careers. Read on to find out more about how they compare, and which one could be the right choice for you!

What is politics?

Politics degrees typically focus on national affairs, domestic policies, and the philosophical background behind political theories, concepts and ideologies. Politics also touches on other subjects such as history and economics – usually with a focus on a particular country, though courses are also available which focus on larger world regions or international policies.

You should study politics if…

You’re interested in the philosophical theories behind political ideologies, for example human rights.
You’re interested in the political affairs of a particular country or region.
You’re aiming for a political career which is focused on your home country, for example as a member of parliament or a civil servant.

What is international relations?

International relations (also known as international affairs or global politics, amongst other course names) focuses on the political issues and foreign affairs affecting the world today. It’s an interdisciplinary subject, touching on history, economics, anthropology and sociology as well as politics. You’ll gain an understanding of how relations between different countries are structured and maintained.

You should study international relations if…

You’re more interested in acquiring contemporary political understanding on a global level, looking at issues which affect the world at large.
You want a political career related to this subject, for example in diplomacy.
You have an interest in specializing in a particular area of international relations, for example international security.
You’re interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the course.

Typical politics specializations

Fields of politics you could study a specialized degree in, or study a module in as part of a political degree, include:

Public policy –Ideal if you’re interested in how political policies affect people, this subject focuses on the processes by which various forms of policies and regulations that affect members of the public are produced and applied.
Development politics – Focuses on the role of politics in social and economic development, including both national and international policies.
Peace and conflict studies – This will appeal to students who particularly interested in how politics relates to domestic and international conflicts, and the strategies for avoiding or resolving conflict.
Democracy and elections – This specialization is for students who are interested in issues such as party and non-party engagement, associations between the elected and the electors, and the regulated foundations of democracy.
Human rights and social justice – This focuses on the ethics behind political practices and policies. It may also include the study of democracy.

Typical international relations specializations

Environmental politics/ sustainable development – A good option for students who are concerned about global environmental issues, and who want to help bring about positive changes to increase sustainability and respond to global warming.
Conflict resolution and mediation – This specialization enables you to gain an understanding of how to mediate, peace-keep and help find a solution to international problems and incidents.
International law – Focuses on the ways in which the law informs, guides or influences the world of global politics and international relations. This may appeal to students who want to combine law and politics in their career.
International security – This concentration will consider recent events to focus on how international security is affected by changes in affairs, and vice versa.
Cross-cultural communication – This specialization combines the study of language and linguistics with international relations, focusing on intercultural and international communications in politics.

BA/MA vs BSc/MSc

You may see different universities offer their politics and/or international relations degrees with slightly different titles – either Bachelor or Master of Arts (BA/BA) or Bachelor/Master of Science (BSc/MSc). There are often very few differences between the two, but BSc/MSc degrees are naturally more likely to include a strong focus on political theory, while BA/MA degrees might be more empirical.

Politics and international relations careers

As mentioned earlier, if you’re sure you’d like your political career to be based in and focused on your home country, both degrees are useful, but a politics degree may be slightly more relevant for roles such as Member of Parliament (MP), political assistant, and careers in the civil service of your home country.

Careers more closely related to international relations include roles in organizations such as the European Union or the United Nations (you’ll need to gain a good deal of work experience for these), or in a role as a diplomat, representing your country in foreign affairs.

Studying either politics or international relations will also train you to research and analyze information from a range of sources, possibly in different languages, and these skills will make you attractive to employers in many sectors – beyond the traditional political sphere.

Other careers popular among both politics and international relations graduates include roles in human rights activism, political journalism, social research, charity, human resources, marketing and more.

Off

Off

Struggling to decide whether to study politics or international relations? Discover how these two similar subjects compare.

Discover the top universities for politics and international studies

Related Categories:

politics

choosing a degree

courses/politics

Yes

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2015

laura.tucker@qs.com — Mon, 11 May 2015 09:55:20 +0000

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2015

laura.tucker@qs.com Mon, 05/11/2015 - 10:55

Mon, 05/11/2015 - 11:30

Top Universities for Politics & International Studies in 2015 main image

Click here to view the latest version of this article, based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017.

Click here to find out how the ranking is compiled, and see the full interactive ranking table here.

Top 10 Universities for Politics & International Studies Based on the QS World University Rankings 2015
Rank	Name of Institution	Location
1	Harvard University	United States
2	Princeton University	United States
3	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
4	London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	United Kingdom
5	Sciences Po Paris	France
6	University of Cambridge	United Kingdom
7	Australian National University (ANU)	Australia
8	Stanford University	United States
9	Yale University	United States
10=	Columbia University	United States
10=	Johns Hopkins University	United States
See the full political science school ranking >

Top universities for politics & international studies in the US & Canada

The US is a popular destination for politics students, particularly Washington DC. Almost a quarter of the world’s top 200 political science schools are based here, with 49 US universities in the table. Some 27 of these are ranked within the top 100, and 17 within the top 50.

Outside of the top 10 (listed above), the leading US representatives are Georgetown University (200^th in the QS World University Rankings® 2014/15), the University of California, Berkeley (27^th in the world rankings), New York University (NYU, 41^st in the world rankings), Cornell University (19^th in the world rankings), the University of Chicago (11^th in the world rankings), Massachusetts institute of Technology (MIT, 1^st in the world rankings), University of California, San Diego (UCSD, 59^th in the world rankings), University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA, 37^th in the world rankings), George Washington University (300^th in the world rankings), the University of Michigan (23^rd in the world rankings) and Duke University (25^th in the world rankings).

Meanwhile Canada has 11 representatives in the ranking, including three among the world’s top 50: the University of Toronto (20^th in the world rankings), McGill University (21^st in the world rankings) and the University of British Colombia (43^rd in the world rankings).

Learn more about studying in the US and Canada with our country guides.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Europe

Another hub of top political science schools is the UK, with 30 featured institutions. Outside of the top 10 (see above), these include SOAS – School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (331^st in the world rankings), King’s College London (16^th in the world rankings), the University of Edinburgh (17^th in the world rankings), UCL (University College London, 5^th in the world rankings) and the University of Warwick (61^st in the world rankings) – all ranked within the world’s top 50 for politics and international relations.

Across the rest of Europe you’ll find eight top universities for politics in Germany and a further six in Italy. Of these, Germany’s Freie Universität Berlin (150^th in the world rankings) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (134^th in the world rankings) are both featured within the world’s top 50 for politics and international relations.

Each with five leading political science schools are Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. While Belgium and Switzerland each offer one representative within the world’s top 100, the Netherlands has two within the top 50: Leiden University (75^th in the world rankings) and the University of Amsterdam (50^th in the world rankings).

Nordic Europe meanwhile lays claim to 12 top political science schools, with four each in Sweden and Denmark and two each in Finland and Norway. While the University of Copenhagen (45^th in the world rankings) is the only Nordic school within the top 50 for this subject, it’s joined among the top 100 by fellow Danish institution Aarhus University (96^th in the world rankings), Sweden’s Lund University (60^th in the world rankings) and Stockholm University (182^nd in the world rankings), and Norway’s University of Oslo (101^st in the world rankings).

Also with four offerings is Spain, including the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM, 212^th in the world rankings) in the 51-100 range. In France, aside from Sciences Po Paris in 5^th place (222^nd in the world rankings), the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (228^th in the world rankings) is also ranked 51-100.

Next up is Ireland with two top political science schools: Trinity College Dublin (71^st in the world rankings) in the top 50 and University College Dublin (139^th in the world rankings) in the top 100. Each with one representative in the ranking are Austria, Hungary, Poland and Russia. Among these, Hungary’s Central European University is the highest ranked, placed 29^th in the world for politics and international relations.

To prepare for studying abroad in Europe, see our range of European country guides.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Australia & New Zealand

The ranking features 11 top political science schools in Australia, including seven within the top 100 worldwide. Australian National University, in 7^th place, is joined in the top 50 by the University of Sydney (37^th in the world rankings) and the University of Melbourne (33^rd in the world rankings). Also in the top 100 are Griffith University (324^th in the world rankings), Monash University (70^th in the world rankings), the University of New South Wales (UNSW, 48^th in the world rankings) and the University of Queensland (43^rd in the world rankings).

Of the three universities in New Zealand featured in this ranking, the University of Auckland (92^nd in the world rankings) is the highest ranked at 51-100, followed by the University of Otago (159^th in the world rankings) and the Victoria University of Wellington (275^th in the world rankings) at 101-150.

Learn more about studying in Australia and New Zealand with our country guides.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Asia

The leading country in Asia for politics and international relations is South Korea, with seven institutions in this ranking. Seoul National University (SNU, 31^st in the world rankings) and Yonsei University (106^th in the world rankings) both appear in the top 50, followed by Korea University (116^th in the world rankings) in the 51-100 range.

Of Japan’s six entrants, three are within the world’s top 50: the University of Tokyo (31^st in the world rankings), Kyoto University (36^th in the world rankings) and Keio University (197^th in the world rankings). Likewise, of the four universities in China featured in this ranking, three are within the top 50: Peking University (57^th in the world rankings), Fudan University (71^st in the world rankings) and Tsinghua University (47^th in the world rankings).

Of the three universities in Hong Kong featured, two are within the top 50: the University of Hong Kong (HKU, 28^th in the world rankings) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK, 46^th in the world rankings). Singapore and Taiwan each have two top political science schools within the world’s top 100, led by the National University of Singapore (NUS, 22^nd in the world rankings), at 14^th in the world.

Lastly, with one representative each are India and the Philippines. India’s Jawaharlal Nehru University appears in the 101-150 range, while the University of the Philippines (367^th in the world rankings) ranks 151-200.

For more information on studying in Asia, see our range of Asian country guides. Or, to discover more top universities in the region, check out the latest QS University Rankings: Asia.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Latin America

Of the 10 leading political science schools in Latin America, half belong to Brazil. Of these five, the Universidade de São Paulo (USP, 132^nd in the world rankings) is the highest ranked at 51-100, while the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp, 206^th in the world rankings) is placed 101-150.

As for the remaining five, Mexico takes two spots, with the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM, 175^th in the world rankings) at 101-150 and the Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM, 253^rd in the world rankings) at 151-200.

Argentina, Chile and Colombia each have one school featured in the ranking. These are the Argentinian Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA, 198^th in the world rankings) at 101-150, the Chilean Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (167^th in the world rankings) at 51-100 and the Colombian Universidad de Los Andes Colombia (262^nd in the world rankings) also at 101-150.

Read more about studying in Latin America with our range of country guides, or find more top universities in this region with the latest QS University Rankings: Latin America.

Top universities for politics & international studies in Africa & the Middle East

Three top universities for politics and international studies are claimed by Turkey, including Bilkent University (399^th in the world rankings) at 101-150. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (138^th in the world rankings) is Israel’s only offering, at 151-200.

South Africa is the only African country featured in this ranking, with the University of Cape Town (141^st in the world rankings) at 51-100 and the University of Witwatersrand (318^th in the world rankings) at 101-150.

---

To learn more about the above world regions, see our where to study homepage. To explore the world’s leading universities in 35 more subjects, see the QS World University Rankings by Subject homepage.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

Off

Off

Discover the world’s top universities for politics and international studies with the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015.