Admission Requirements

The Department of Political Science coordinates its admission process with Western’s School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS). Please review this information to ensure you have the knowledge necessary to succeed in your educational pursuits.

Master of Arts (MA) Program
Applicants to the MA program in Political Science must have a 78% average, or equivalent grade point average, calculated by using all courses taken within the final two years of an honors degree (four-year degree) in Political Science from an accredited university. Comparable four-year degrees are acceptable where applicants have taken some political science courses and have achieved good results in those courses. 

MA students who complete our one-year degree program, September start only, are well-equipped to start a PhD or seek employment in the public and private sectors.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Program
For admission to the PhD program in Political Science, applicants must possess an MA degree and provide evidence of research potential. The requirement for admission is an MA in Political Science with superior standing. Applicants to the PhD program must have a first class standing in a recognized MA program, excellent references and a statement of research interest that demonstrates compatibility with the strengths and supervisory capacity of our department. All applicants are required to submit a sample of their written work.

While you are welcome to identify potential supervisors in your application, you are not required nor expected to secure a supervisor prior to applying to our program. Choosing a supervisor should occur after you have entered the program, completed your coursework, and attended departmental seminars and workshops. 

Our full time, in-person program helps students learn how to publish articles in peer reviewed journals and to become successful teachers. Many PhD students work with faculty members to co-author papers. Students are also encouraged to work on a publishable research paper topic during their first year of courses and then to workshop it during the summer Publishing Workshop, which is designed to help first year PhD students learn about the publication process and work on producing a publishable paper by the end of the summer. Publications remain a major focus throughout the degree.

Senior PhD students also have opportunities to co-teach and teach their own undergraduate course. In this way, students are given mentorship and practical experience to improve their teaching abilities.

Language Requirement
The Political Science program requires a satisfactory achievement to meet our English language requirements (TOEFL or IELTS only): Graduate - English Language Proficiency.

Ready to Apply?
Visit our pages on the Application Process.