About PhD Program,
The MA in Political Science is a full-time, one year program that emphasizes the development of strong research skills. You do not need to contact a supervisor prior to admission. Classes in Canadian and Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Urban Politics and Local Governance introduce students to the latest debates and theories in political science. Western also offers the best political methodology training in Canada, and MA students can take advantage of this training by taking introductory and advanced PhD courses in quantitative and qualitative methods. Students who complete our MA program are well-prepared for PhD programs and jobs in the public and private sectors that require advanced research and communication skills.
As an MA student, you will have access to:
- Office space in the Department;
- One-on-one interactions with faculty members;
- Opportunities to be a Research Assistant;
- Opportunities to fast-track into our PhD Program;
- Small class sizes;
- Strong funding packages, including the opportunity to serve as a Teaching Assistant;
- Untapped data sets for publishing new and original research.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- The MA is three full-time semesters (Fall, Winter and Summer)
- There are two options:
- Research Paper option:6 courses in Fall/Winter, and a Research Paper in Summer
- Coursework Intensive option:3 courses in Fall, 3 courses in Winter, 1 course in Summer
PhD Funding Coverage,
The basic funding package for MA and PhD students is normally a combination of Graduate Teaching Assistant salary (which requires being at Western during the academic year) and the supplementary Western Graduate Research Scholarship (WGRS) which is automatically applied toward tuition. The funding package is set out in the offer of admission. PhD students should be aware that Western and the Department of Political Science cannot offer funding beyond the fourth year. Based on funding determined each year, PhD students may be eligible to apply to a fund within the Department. The Research, Training and Development Fund (RTDF) is designed to support current PhD students in terms of collecting data, accessing specialized methods training, and attending conferences. For more information, see awards and scholarships information below.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships are a 10 hour per week, or 140 hours per term appointment during the academic year and is governed by the Collective Agreement between the University and the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
Application Requirement,
- An application fee of $150.00 CDN paid upon submission of your application
- Referees’ email addresses (two academic references required)
- Western accepts digital academic records within your application; however, if you are offered admission you are required to provide one official academic transcript from each post-secondary institution attended
- Applicable supporting documents – e.g., writing sample
- Electronic References
- Transcripts
Application Deadline,
Feb 01, 2025
Application Fee,
- An application fee of $150.00 CDN paid upon submission of your application
