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Future Students

Thank you for your interest in the MA or PhD Political Science graduate programs at Western University! Join a vibrant, globally connected academic community at Western University—ranked among the top 1% of universities worldwide!

We offer courses and supervision in six fields: Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Urban Politics and Local Governance, Political Theory, and Political Methodology. Our curriculum offers the best political methodology training in Canada. We want students who crave mentorship and are keen on becoming contributors and consumers of political science research during their degree. 

Discover the Advantages of Graduate Studies in Political Science at Western

Choosing where to pursue graduate studies is a defining decision, and Western’s Department of Political Science offers an exceptional environment for intellectual growth, professional development, and meaningful community. Our program combines rigorous training, strong mentorship, and outstanding resources to support students at every stage of their academic journey. Whether you’re preparing for an academic career, public service, or work in the private or non-profit sectors, Western provides the foundation you need to thrive.

We Offer Strong Training and Support Through...

  • Competitive funding packages set out in your offer of admission
  • Strong training in research methods
  • Theoretical and methodological diversity
  • Opportunities and financial support for quantitative and qualitative data collection activities
  • Excellent libraries (4th largest academic research library in Canada) and facilities
  • Strong intellectual community and a variety of seminar series
  • Career and Professional Development

Graduate Student Placement History

Our graduates have been very successful in securing positions at leading organizations in academic, industry, and government including:

Academic Outcomes

  • PhD, Carleton
  • JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School
  • PhD program in the School of Communication, SFU
  • PhD Western
  • MA Global Affairs, York
  • JD, Western
  • JD Candidate, 2021, uToronto
  • Law Student uToronto
  • uOttawa law 
  • PhD Waterloo
  • PhD Cambridge
  • PhD, University of Toronto
  • JD Candidate at the University of Melbourne
  • JD candidate, Michigan State
  • Queen's Law
  • PhD Program, History, Western
  • MA Public Health, University of Victoria
  • PhD Candidate - Social and Political Thought, York
  • PhD Candidate - Queens
  • PhD Media Studies Western
  • JD Candidate - University of Windsor
  • Juris Doctor Candidate, University of Ottawa
  • Windsor Law
  • MA Social Work, Chicago
  • J.D. Candidate at Queen's Faculty of Law
  • PhD program, Windsor
  • Master of Journalism candidate, Carleton University
  • J.D Candidate, University of Ottawa '25
  • J.D. Candidate 2025, University of Windsor Faculty of Law
  • Dual J.D. Candidate at Detroit Mercy Law and Windsor Law
  • Law Student at the University of New Brunswick | Summer
  • Student at MPAC
  • Student at Georgian College, Post Grad Research Analyst Program
  • Candidate in Master's of Peace and Conflict Studies - University of Waterloo
  • Contract Student Researcher, Western University
  • Master's Candidate, Clayton H. Riddell Graduate Program in Political Management
  • Senior Performance Analyst at Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Program Supervisor, Memorial University of Newfoundland 
  • Research Assistant, Balsillie School of International Affairs
  • NCA Candidate
  • LLB, University of Ottawa

Public Employers

  • Member's Assistant for House of Commons
  • Policy and Programs Assistant at Ministry of Natural Resources
  • Policy Analyst, Health Canada
  • Policy Officer at Government of Canada
  • Alberta Health Services
  • Data Scientist at Niagara Research, Enumerator at Statistics Canada
  • PhD Candidate, York & Junior Policy Analyst at Infrastructure Canada
  • Passport Officer - Service Canada
  • Junior Policy Analyst - Public Safety
  • Policy Analyst Development Program, National Resources Canada
  • Junior Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Canada
  • Foreign Language Teacher at Federal Ministry of Education, Germany
  • City of Brampton, Training Conductor
  • Manager, Research Services, Social Science, Western
  • Legislative Assistant and Issues Coordinator at City of Hamilton
  • Community Engagement and Policy Specialist, City of London
  • History Research Assistant, Armenian Museum of America
  • Project Facilitator and Researcher at St. Thomas Elgin Local
  • Senior Corporal Department of National Defence
  • Social Media Manager, ON Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
  • Service Experience Consultant at Government of Prince Edward Island
  • Social Justice Producer at the ON Canada Project
  • Coordinator, Strategy and Government Relations at the City of Richmond Hill
  • Customer Service Officer, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
  • Junior Analyst at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
  • Junior Policy Analyst Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • Evaluation Analyst at the Department of National Defence (DND)
  • Administrative Intake · Solicitor General
  • Community Engagement/Policy Specialist, City of London
  • Human Resources Assistant (CR-05) at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 
  • Special Assistant for the Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
  • Policy and Programs Assistant, Municipal Affairs and Housing
  • Government Relations Analyst | Policy and International Affairs Graduate, Ottawa
  • Public Policy & Government Relations Professional
  • Policy Analyst at Canada Mortgage and Housing
  • Policy and Operations Coordinator, Health Deputy Minister's Office
  • Lawyer and Government Relations Advisor
  • Residence Life Coordinator, St. Francis Xavier
  • Intern, Public Affairs at Hill
  • Researcher at Tanzania Development Trust
  • Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator, WELC, Western

Private Employers

  • Lawyer at Cortland Credit Group Inc.
  • CEO, Great Canadian Logistics
  • Analyst, Governance and Regulatory Solutions at RBC
  • Business Development Associate at Simalam
  • Associate Case Worker at Western Law Community Legal Service
  • Account Manager at Foodee
  • Financial Security Advisor at Freedom 55 Financial
  • Account Executive at Planswell
  • Analyst at Deloitte
  • Payments Policy Analyst at Canadian Credit Union
  • Communications Associate, Global Corporate Citizenship at TD
  • Commercial Director at Info-Tech Research Group
  • Procurement Analyst at RBC
  • FinTech Analyst at FinTech Growth Syndicate
  • Analyst at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton
  • Associate Lawyer, Henein Hutchison Robitaille, LLP
  • Account Manager at Royal Bank of Canada
  • Head of IoT - North America, Fox Net Inc.
  • Market Access Intern, AstraZeneca
  • Finance Manager, General Motors
  • Web Content Assistant, Let's Talk Science
  • Global Graduate Next Generation Products
  • Recruitment Consultant at Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge
  • Associate at RBC Dominion Securities
  • Research and Policy Analyst, PSD Research Consulting
  • Customer Service Supervisor, Scotia Bank
  • Project Manager at Advocates
  • Entrepreneurship Coordinator, City of Vaughan
  • Proposal Writer at Union Supply Group, LA
  • Operations Intern, Action Against Hunger
  • Industry Outreach Coordinator at Adbank Inc.
  • Global Collaboration Specialist at Toda Network
  • Policy Advisor, Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians
  • IUHPE/NARO VP for Communications & Representative to UN
  • Mortgage Agent at Bespoke Mortgage Group 
  • Global Partnership Consultant, Grant Advance Solutions Inc.
  • Director at Sanctuary RVA
  • Compensation Claims Specialist, Windley Ely
  • Educational Director, Scholars Education
  • Business Development Specialist, HR Downloads
  • Commercial Lines Account Associate, Cyber/Professional
  • Liability/Complex Risk at HUB International
  • Business Development Specialist, PSD Research Consulting Software
  • Legal Fellow, Research Intern at Foundation for Human Research
  • CI Global Asset Management Financial Services Rep
  • Cambridge World Bank
  • Operations Coordinator at York Property Management
  • Associate Relationship Manager, Computershare Canada
  • Intern, Public Affairs at Knowlton
  • Research Coordinator at IIR Lab
  • Research Assistant at the Centre for Health Law, Policy
Academic Employers
  • Assistant Professor at Durham University, in the UK
  • Assistant Professor, Centre for Global Studies, Huron College
  • Assistant Professor, Local Government, Western
  • Assistant Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Lecturer at King's University College at Western
  • Lecturer, King's College
  • Adjunct Faculty, Brescia University College and King's University College
  • Post-Doctoral (Senior Researcher) University of Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Lecturer, University of British Columbia
  • Tenure-Track, Purdue University
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow - Calgary
  • IRC Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow, Philosophy Department, Trinity College Dublin
  • Sheridan College

Public Employers

  • Policy Advisor at Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
  • Director of Policy, Office of the Ministry of Education
  • Senior Advisor to Afghanistan's Minister of Defence
  • Senior Learning Specialist at Global Affairs Canada
  • Community Engagement Advisor at Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Private Employers

  • Research consultant, Health & Life Sciences
  • Research Director, Global Foundations of Canada
  • Senior Data Analyst at Homewood Health
  • Author and Political Analyst
  • Research Specialist at Info-Tech Research Group
  • Senior Policy Analyst, Canadian Lutheran World Relief Synergy Group
  • Senior Workshop Director at Info-Tech Research Group
  • Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Data Analyst
  • Manager, Corporate Initiatives - City of London, Canada
  • VP Corporate Support Services and CFO, Manitoulin Health Centre
  • Chief Operating Officer and Senior Consultant, RJ Dominion Canada
Ready to Apply?
Visit our pages on Admission Requirements, and the Application Process.

Want to Learn More?
We invite you to explore our website and to contact Teresa McLauchlan, our Graduate Program Administrator, or Professor Mathieu Turgeon, our Graduate Chair for more information on our program. You may also write or email any faculty member about research plans or interests.