PhD at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Undertaking doctoral research allows you to develop in-depth knowledge, while making a meaningful contribution to your chosen field.

With guidance from our expert supervisors, you'll carry out extensive independent research culminating in a thesis of up to 100,000 words. Broadly speaking the focus of research degrees has increasingly been on the humanities and cognate social sciences, particularly on the subjects of human rights, globalization and development, politics, and Commonwealth history.

This degree presents the opportunity to gain expertise in your area of interest while also honing a range of transferable skills. On completing this course, you'll be well prepared for specialist career paths both within academia and beyond.

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS) is the only postgraduate academic institution in the UK devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. The Institute has been supervising interdisciplinary doctoral degrees for over half a century.

The focus of research degrees has increasingly been on the humanities and cognate social sciences, particularly on the subjects of human rights, globalization and development, politics and Commonwealth history.

You'll pursue academic interests in the friendly and supportive environment of the Institute, where your research will be enhanced by the outstanding libraries of the University of London, including the Institute’s own prestigious collection. The Institute offers a unique scholarly environment and you'll be able to draw on the wide-ranging expertise of our staff. 

Subject areas

The Institute of Commonwealth Studies offers doctoral research supervision in the following broad areas:

• Human rights
• Ecocide, environmental destruction and human rights
• Genocide studies
• African politics, governance and development
• Ethnicity: conflict and accommodation in plural societies
• Protection of refugees
• Minority and Indigenous rights protection
• Dynamics of armed conflict and forced displacement
• Twentieth-century British and Commonwealth History
• Globalisation, security and conflict
• The Commonwealth as an international organisation
• British Imperial history, including decolonization
• European colonialism in comparative perspective
• Post-colonial legacies in the Commonwealth and beyond
• Non-governmental public actors, civil society and development
• British and Commonwealth intelligence communities

Before submitting an application you are advised to contact a member of the Institute's academic staff who has interests in your proposed field of study to discuss your proposal. A list of academic staff and their interests can be found here.

Course dates

8 January 2024

Location

Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Course duration

3-4 years (full-time); 5-6 years (part-time)

Application deadlines

Applications will open in October 2023 for January 2024 entry.

Level of study

MPhil/PhD

Mode of study

Full-time On Campus, Part-time On Campus, Full-Time Distance Learning, Part-time Distance Learning

Funding Opportunities

Scholarships and bursaries - Fund your PhD at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Contact Us

If you have specific questions about this research degree, please make an enquiry.