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Political Science Scholarships

30 verified programs · 27 fully funded · Top destinations: United Kingdom, Australia, United States

Study governance, international relations, public policy, and political theory. Compare 30 scholarship programs in political science from top universities worldwide, including 27 fully funded opportunities that cover tuition, living expenses, and more.

30

Scholarships

27

Fully Funded

6

Countries

3

Degree Levels

Top Countries for Political Science

🇬🇧 United Kingdom 7 🇦🇺 Australia 3 🇺🇸 United States 2 🇩🇪 Germany 2 🇳🇱 Netherlands 2 🇨🇳 China 2

Political Science Scholarships Worldwide

DAAD Scholarship

🇩🇪 Germany
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Monthly stipend (€934 for master's, €1,300 for PhD)
  • Health insurance subsidy
  • Travel allowance
Deadline: October 15 (varies by programme)
High
View Details Apply

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

🇳🇱 Netherlands
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Participation costs including tuition
  • Monthly living allowance (€1,400/month)
  • Travel and installation costs
Deadline: January–March (varies by programme)
Very High
View Details Apply

Stipendium Hungaricum

🇭🇺 Hungary
Fully Funded
Undergraduate Masters PhD
  • Tuition-free education
  • Monthly stipend (HUF 43,700–140,000)
  • Free accommodation or dormitory contribution
Deadline: January 15
Medium
View Details Apply

Rhodes Scholarship

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Full university and college fees
  • Personal stipend (£19,092/year)
  • Return economy airfare
Deadline: Varies by country (June–October)
Very High
View Details Apply

Émile Boutmy Scholarship

🇫🇷 France
Partial Funding
Undergraduate
  • Tuition waiver or significant reduction (up to €13,190/year)
  • Some grants include living cost contribution (€5,000/year)
Deadline: Varies by intake (December–April)
High
View Details Apply

Why Study Political Science Abroad?

Political science programmes at international universities focus on comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, and political economy. Master's and PhD programmes at top institutions are research-intensive and increasingly quantitative. International applicants benefit from access to faculty studying their home regions, archival sources unavailable elsewhere, and methodological training in causal inference and formal theory.

Career Paths in Political Science

International graduate study in political science opens the following career trajectories. Scholarships often align with one of these tracks — pick programmes that match where you want to end up.

Academic Researcher

Faculty positions at universities — competitive but well-defined research career pathway.

Think Tank Researcher

Brookings, RAND, Chatham House, ODI, Carnegie, IISS — research roles in policy think tanks.

Government Policy Advisor

Foreign ministries, defence ministries, intelligence services, legislative offices.

International Organisation

UN system, EU institutions, OSCE, World Bank governance teams, regional development banks.

Election Analyst / Political Consultant

Polling firms, political consultancies, electoral assistance organisations.

Conflict Resolution Practitioner

International Crisis Group, USIP, Carter Center, peacebuilding NGOs.

Top Universities for Political Science

These programmes lead the field globally and serve as the destination universities for the funded scholarships listed above. Where your supervisor matters more than the institution, prioritise faculty fit.

Harvard Government

Cambridge, USA

International relations, comparative politics, political theory

Stanford Political Science

Stanford, USA

Quantitative methods, comparative politics, IR

Princeton Politics

Princeton, USA

Comparative politics, political theory, American politics

Yale Political Science

New Haven, USA

Political philosophy, comparative politics, international relations

LSE Government Department

London, UK

Public policy, political economy, comparative politics

Sciences Po

Paris, France

Public policy, European politics, international relations

University of Oxford (DPIR)

Oxford, UK

International relations, political theory

ANU School of Politics

Canberra, Australia

Asia-Pacific, comparative politics, IR

Where Funding for Political Science Comes From

Political science PhD funding at top-50 programmes is fully funded — tuition waiver plus $30k–$45k stipend. For Master's degrees (MPP, MPA, MIA), Chevening and Fulbright are the most common funders, alongside Schwarzman Scholars, Yenching Academy, Rotary Peace Fellowships, Open Society Foundation, and the World Bank's JJ/WBGSP. SPP-specific awards include Kennedy School Belfer Scholarships, Princeton SPIA awards, Sciences Po PSIA scholarships, and SAIS/HKS/SIPA-specific aid. PhD funding outside top-30 institutions can be tighter; verify before accepting.

How to Write a Strong Political Science Application

Political science SOPs vary by sub-field. For comparative-politics applicants, describe a specific country, region, or comparison case you've studied; reference scholarship from area-studies experts. For IR applicants, propose specific empirical or theoretical research questions and reference relevant scholarly debates. For political theory, demonstrate engagement with primary texts. Quantitative methodological preparation (statistics, R/Stata, causal inference) increasingly differentiates strong applicants. Field experience (election observation, policy work, NGO research) substantially strengthens SPP and MIA applications.

Test and Language Requirements for Political Science

IELTS Academic 7.0–7.5 (TOEFL iBT 100–110) is standard for top political science programmes. GRE General has been dropped by many programmes post-2020 but Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, Chicago Political Science still recommend it. Strong undergraduate transcript in political science, history, economics, or related fields is the most important credential.

Explore Other Fields of Study

Discover scholarship opportunities in related academic disciplines.

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FAQs: Political Science Scholarships

Yes, there are 27 fully funded political science scholarships listed on TheScholarSphere. These cover tuition fees, living expenses, and often include health insurance, travel costs, and research allowances. Government-sponsored programs and prestigious university fellowships are the most common sources of full funding for political science students.

Top destinations for political science scholarships include United Kingdom, Australia, United States. Each country offers unique strengths in political science education, from cutting-edge research facilities to industry partnerships. The best choice depends on your specific sub-field, language preferences, and career goals.

Political Science scholarships are available at undergraduate, master's, and PhD levels. Master's programs tend to have the most funding opportunities, while PhD scholarships often include additional research allowances. Some programs also offer combined or fast-track degree options.

Competition varies significantly. Prestigious programs like Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, and Fulbright are extremely competitive. However, there are many country-specific and university-level scholarships with moderate competition. Strong academic records, relevant experience, and a compelling statement of purpose improve your chances.

Many countries offer post-study work permits that allow international graduates to seek employment. Some scholarships, however, include return-to-home-country clauses. Check the specific terms of each scholarship and the immigration policies of the host country for post-graduation work options.
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