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Doctoral programme

ESPOL offers doctoral courses in political science in association with the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France.

ESPOL, which is part of the Université Catholique de Lille and associated with the Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, draws on the academic wealth of more than 500 lecturers, over 200 of whom are qualified to direct research, to offer doctoral programmes in political science. As one of 9 host laboratories, ESPOL-Lab offers a stimulating environment for its doctoral students.

Overview

The research centre

Your dissertation in political science is carried out in Lille at ESPOL Lab, ESPOL’s research laboratory. It brings together teaching and research academics focusing on the analysis of political issues, exploring the boundaries and interactions of politics with society. It focuses on three areas of research: the quality of democracy, the reconfiguration of the international and the politics of the Anthropocene.

ESPOL-Lab lecturers authorised to supervise theses

  • Sara Dezalay, Professor of International Law and International Relations
    Disciplines: Transnational law, political sociology of the international, international political economy, global history
    Research areas: Southern Africa, ‘green’ transition, international justice, legal elites
  • Andrew Glencross, Professor of Political Science
    Disciplines: European Studies, International Relations
    Research areas: European integration, Brexit and EU-UK relations, International relations of the European Union, Geopolitics of EU foreign policy
  • Johannes Karremans, Professor of Political Science
    Disciplines: Comparative Politics, Political Economy,
    Research areas: Multilevel Governance, Representative Democracy
  • Raul Magni-Berton, Professor of Political Science
    Disciplines: Comparative Politics, Political Economy
    Research areas: Democratic Institutions (in particular Direct Democracy), Political Violence

The Polytechnique Hauts-de-France Doctoral School is multidisciplinary. It is authorised to operate in 7 scientific fields: Information and Communication Sciences and Technologies; Mathematics and its Interactions; Chemistry; Biology, Medicine and Health; Humanities and Social Sciences; and Engineering Sciences. For more information, visit the Université Polytechnique des Hauts-de-France website.

Theses in progress at ESPOL:

  • Kim Graves, (Direct Democracy)
  • Jana El-Amine, (Media, public opinion and terrorism)
  • Lucas Miailhes, (Critical raw matters)

How do I apply? 

Contact your chosen supervisor. If they are interested in your project, they will guide you towards putting together your thesis and its funding.

Contact: Raul MAGNI-BERTON

Financing

ESPOL gives priority to co-financed theses, which include joint supervision with other universities or partnerships with public or private institutions, NGOs, local authorities or international organisations. 

ESPOL offers financial support throughout the thesis period for attending conferences and training courses. It also offers the possibility of a one-year full-time contract after the 3-year funded thesis. Funding is required to write a thesis, apart from rare cases of self-financing, which are compatible with writing a thesis.

Job opportunities

ESPOL’s doctoral programme aims to train academics, teachers and researchers in the field of political science, in France or abroad. A doctorate in political science also gives you the opportunity to continue your career as a professional, with expertise in all areas of politics.

Course catalog

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