Study political science abroad
An in-depth guide to studying political science as an international student.
Political science degrees abroad
A degree in political science aims to give you an understanding in the fundamentals of political thought, government, international relations, and political systems. It should provide you with all the tools you’ll need to understand political institutions and processes, and prepare you for a career working in government or a related field.
As constant political change and upheaval dominate our headlines and lives today, studying political science will help you understand the structures and ideas that shape global politics. If you have an inquisitive mind and passion for understanding how governments work, a degree in political science could be right for you.
Political science programs are available all over the world, however they are most common in the US. In many countries, including the UK, a similar program will be offered as a politics degree, which will cover many of the same areas.
Political science program structure
Political science degrees are offered at all levels, including bachelor’s and master’s. At undergraduate level, you can study political science as a BA, and you will often study it as part of a liberal arts model over four years. This means you can either major or minor in political science along with other academic subjects.
Political science is more common as a taught master’s program in some countries, and can be studied as an MA or MSc over one or two years. Some universities also offer research led master’s programs and doctorate level degrees.
The learning and assessment methods of each program will be slightly different, but you can expect to be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials and workshops. Assessment of your progress will usually be essays, written exams, and a research based dissertation.
The program structure and content of each course will differ based on things like the country and university you choose to study in and the level of degree you take. Some of the most common subjects and modules political science programs can cover include:
- Public administration and policy
- Political theory
- International relations
- Social justice
- Comparative politics
- Diplomatic history
- Political economy
- International politics
Types of political science degrees
Best universities to study political science
How to study political science abroad
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Political science study abroad programs
Political science undergraduate programs
Bachelor's in political science
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Political Science - BA Keiser University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 33,120 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Political Science and International Affairs - BA Bay Atlantic University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 15,900 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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History & Political Science - BSc Greenville University, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 27,580 USD
- Start date
- January, August
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Political Science and Public Administration - BA Altinbas University, Turkey
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 8,500 USD
- Start date
- February, September
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Political Science (Comparative Politics) - BA St. Francis College, USA
- Program type
- Bachelor's
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 26,688 USD
- Start date
- January, May, September
Associate in political science
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Political Science - AA Santiago Canyon College, USA
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 8,304 USD
- Start date
- February, June, August
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Political Science - AA Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Canada
- Program type
- Associate
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 21,383 CAD
- Start date
- September, January, May
Political science graduate programs
Master's in political science
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Political Science and International Relations - MSc Altinbas University, Turkey
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 3,450 USD
- Start date
- February, September
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Political Science & International Studies - MA Long Island University Post, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 44,100 USD
- Start date
- January, September
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Political Science - MA Arizona State University, USA
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 24,318 USD
- Start date
- August
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Political Science: European and International Governance - MSc Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 2 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 3,850 EUR
- Start date
- September
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Political Science - MA/MSocSc University of Waikato, New Zealand
- Program type
- Master's
- Duration
- 18 months
- Tuition fees per year
- 30,095 NZD
- Start date
- February, July
Doctorate in political science
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International Relations and Political Science - PhD Koç University, Turkey
- Program type
- Doctorate
- Duration
- 3 years
- Tuition fees per year
- 0 USD
- Start date
- January, August
Future political science careers
Many political science graduates are eager to pursue a career in politics or government, however you’ll also gain a number of transferable skills that most employers value. Some of the most popular careers for political science graduates include:
- Policy analyst
- Political journalist
- Political risk analyst
- Politician’s assistant
- Government researcher
- Public relations executive
- Political consultant
You will develop strong writing, research and communication skills, which are applicable to a wide range of sectors, so don’t restrict your job search to politics roles.
