Political ideas

Politics and International Studies (POLIS) researchers focus on political theory and ideologies, including critical, post-structuralist and normative theory; theories of citizenship; agonistic politics; international relations theory; and research on the ideas and actions of social movements and environmental justice campaigns. In terms of political concepts, POLIS staff can supervise students working on citizenship, justice, rights, duties, governance, power, community, and democracy, to name a few.

We also encourage research in continental political philosophy and the intellectual history of political thought. We supervise on a range of political ideologies including transnational discourses and movements (cultural, ecological, gender, human rights, labour and emergent political subject positions), as well as conservative, liberal, labour and utopian discourses in the UK – especially those drawing on empirical cases, institutional practices and lived experience.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English. 

Potential supervisors

• Dr Geoff Andrews
• Dr Agnes Czajka
• Dr Richard Heffernan
• Dr Daniel Taylor
• Dr Edward Wastnidge

Fees and funding

Research students can apply for funding via the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership with Oxford and Brunel, or the Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP in collaboration with Oxford and Cambridge universities. The Citizenship Studies pathway of the Grand Union DTP is hosted within the Department. Alternatively, many of our students are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

• Politics and International Studies at The Open University 
• Postgraduate Research in Politics & International Studies (POLIS)