Students are required to complete 18 units (6 half courses) of course work beyond the MA level.

They then prepare to write comprehensive examinations in their two fields – Political Theory and a second field drawn from one of Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, Comparative Public Policy or International Relations. Exams are written in August of their first year and December of their second year.

Students also fulfill a language requirement to demonstrate their competency in a language other than English which is relevant to their research. This is normally done before the approval of the thesis proposal.

The remainder of the program involves preparing a thesis proposal, and then completing and defending the dissertation.

A thesis proposal will normally be submitted in April of the student’s second year. The thesis should normally be no more than 60,000 words long, and it is expected that the thesis will be finished about two years after the proposal is approved. Overall, then, full-time students are expected to take about four years to complete the program. Part-time students may take up to eight years to complete the degree but are encouraged to finish in less time.

Admission to the PhD program will normally require a Master’s degree in political science with an average of at least an A– (A minus).

Applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members in the Department of Political Science regarding potential supervision.

Required Application Documents

Graduate Studies Online Application

Applicants are required to complete the Graduate Studies Online Application which opens October 1st each year. In addition to the online application, applicants must also submit the required documents listed below. Most required documents must be submitted through the online application.

Statement of Interest

• An electronic statement of interest (approximately 500 words, single or double-spaced, maximum of 1 page).
• The statement must be uploaded as a PDF attachment only through the online application system.
• Your statement of interest is a crucial element of the application process. Canadian Politics applicants should describe the analytical problem or question about the Canadian political system that their dissertation will pursue. Comparative Politics applicants should emphasize the comparative elements of their project compared. Comparative Public Policy applicants should highlight the comparative nature of their research and policy area which concerns them. International Relations applicants should identify the international, transnational or global elements of their research projects. Political Theory applicants should identify the philosophical traditions, concepts, or figures that they wish to study at the doctoral level.
• All applicants would benefit from indicating particular faculty members that overlap with their projects.

CV/Personal Resume

• An electronic copy of your CV/Resume must be uploaded as a PDF attachment through the online application system.

Official Academic Transcripts

• Upload a scan of ALL official university transcripts completed to date to the application system. Remember to include a copy of the transcript key/legend or scale from the transcript.
• Transcripts from institutions where you completed courses on Letter of Permission and/or as part of a Student Exchange Program must also be included.
• If the official language of instruction at your institution is not English, please include both the original language document and a certified English translation.
• DO NOT submit an unofficial transcript or a student record prints.
• If you receive an offer of admission further instructions will be given on how to submit formal official transcripts.

Academic Reference

• Three (3) confidential e-reference reports from instructors most familiar with your academic work.
• All referees are required to complete the e-Reference.
• You will be required to include contact information and an email address for each referee.
• The electronic referencing system will send an e-Reference request on your behalf.

English Language Proficiency (if applicable)

• If English is not your native language, an official copy of your English Language Proficiency score or other evidence of competency in English is required. Such applicants are required to supply this evidence as part of your application. Applicants whose university studies were complete at an institution where English is deemed the official language of instruction may be exempted from this requirement (an official letter from the institution is required).
• The English Proficiency exam must have been completed within 2 years of the application due date.
• This requirement must be met prior to an offer of admission. There will be no exceptions to the language requirement.
• The most common evidence is a score on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• TOEFL: minimum score is 92 (iBT-internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based). The McMaster University TOEFL/TSE Institution Code is 0936 and the Department Code for Political Science is 89.
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score is 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section.

NOTE: International students wishing to enter Canada on a study permit should also contact the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate for further information.

Application Fee

The system will charge a non-refundable application fee. Please have a valid credit card ready to pay the application fee. The fee will not be refunded or waived.

ANY LATE OR MISSING DOCUMENTS WILL DELAY YOUR APPLICATION AND NOT BE REVIEWED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S ADMISSION COMMITTEE.

Application Deadline

January 14, 2024 (for September 2024 admission)
We do not offer a Winter (January) or Spring (May) start date.

The Political Science Travel Grant

To support research and professional development by assisting graduate students with costs related to doing field-work or attending academic conferences. This grant is open to both MA (thesis option) and PhD students. There are two rounds of applications each year with the deadlines being October 15th and January 30th.

The William Coleman Fund

The William Coleman Fund was established in 2011 by Dr. William Coleman. To support Ph.D. students in the Department of Political Science who are conducting field research.

To see additional information regarding awards and funding, please visit our Awards & Funding page.