European University at St. Petersburg, PhD, Political Science and Sociology

PhD program in Political Science and Sociology is a U.S.- standard program with a minimum of 3 years of on-campus study. It includes a substantial course load, comprehensive examinations in the Major and Minor fields, and a gradual progress toward a PhD thesis under the supervision of a committee of 4 professors. Theses are written in English. The program includes a semester (or at least 2 months) abroad spent in leading international universities.

Primary fields of concentration in the PhD program

• Comparative Politics
• Social and Political Philosophy
• Gender Studies and Sociology of Health
• STS
• Russian and Eurasian Studies

Both the PhD and MA programs offer student fellowships assigned on a competitive basis.

Comprehensive exams
Comprehensive exams consist of two parts: a written work on a given academic topic and an oral interview exam. During the first year, students take an exam in their primary field of study (Major); during the second year, students take an exam in their secondary field of study (Minor). Students choose their fields of study with the consent of the dissertation committee and with the approval of the Department council.

Research seminar
During the course of study, students must take part in a Department of Political Science and Sociology research seminar for PhD students and second year Master's students.

Teaching
During the course of study, students must take part in the Department of Political Science and Sociology research seminar.

Study abroad
During the course of their studies, students must spend at least 60 days abroad carrying out a study in one of the top 300 world universities. According to the Department Council's decision, the study can be substituted with intensive field work of the same amount of time. The department assists students in the organizing study or field research.

Publishing articles
During their studies, students must publish at least one article in a leading international academic journal.

Thesis
The thesis should be no less than 300,000 characters and written in English. At the end of the first year, students present a prospectus of their thesis research, including an annotated table of contents and annotated bibliography, as their year-end report. The prospectus must be at least 30,000 characters.
At the end of the second year, students present a draft of a chapter (or chapters) of their thesis research in English as their year-end report. It should be at least 100,000 characters.
At the end of the third year, students present a draft of their thesis in English (at least 300,000 characters, including title page, citations, and illustrative materials) as their year-end report.
When the thesis outline has been approved of by the dissertation committee and the student has completed all of the 3-year program requirements, the student is presented with a "PhD Candidate, EUSPB" certificate, and is considered to have successfully completed the program. After this, the student, under the guidance of the dissertation committee, works on completing the dissertation and must defend it within 3 years of receiving the aforementioned certificate.