Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge
 The Alison Richard Building, in which the department is located | |
Parent institution | Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | University of Cambridge |
| Head | Jude Browne (2021-) |
| Undergraduates | 612 |
| Postgraduates | 439 |
| Location | , England |
| Website | www |
The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge (abbreviated POLIS) is the department at the University of Cambridge responsible for research and instruction in political science, international relations and public policy. It is part of the Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science.
History[edit]
POLIS, formed in 2009 by the merger of the former Department of Politics and the Centre for International Studies, is administratively housed at the university's Alison Richard Building on the Sidgwick Site and is part of the Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science.[1] Its primary predecessor, the Department of Politics, was formed in 2004, prior to which political science had been spread across other departments.
Centres and programmes[edit]
Nine specialised programmes and research centres are housed within the department: the Centre of Governance and Human Rights, the Cambridge Centre for Political Thought, the Centre of Development Studies, the Centre for Geopolitics, the Centre for Gender Studies, the Centre of South Asian Studies, the Centre of Latin American Studies, the Centre of African Studies, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy and YouGov-Cambridge Centre for Public Opinion Research. The department also publishes the Cambridge Review of International Affairs.
Degrees and reputation[edit]
Politics and International Studies are taught at the undergraduate level through either the Human Social and Political Sciences Tripos[2] or the History & Politics Tripos[3]. At the postgraduate level, the department offers 9 Masters' programmes including the MPhil in Politics and International Studies[4], an MPhil in Public Policy[5], and MSt in International Relations[6] as well as 4 PhD programmes including the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Politics and International Studies[7].
The University of Cambridge is currently ranked top in the UK for politics by both The Guardian[8] and the Complete University Guide [9]The University is also ranked in the top 5 for international relations[10] and public policy[11].
Incidents and controversies[edit]
In 2016, POLIS PhD student Giulio Regeni was killed while carrying out research in Cairo, Egypt,[12] and the following year a second student died, in a terror attack in Burkina Faso.[13] This resulted in widespread accusations of negligence, as well as failure to cooperate with investigators.[14] In 2018 the department was accused of paying less than national minimum wage for examination work and supervision in a report that was conducted by the Cambridge branch of the University and College Union.[15]
References[edit]
- ^ "Welcome to POLIS". Department of Politics and International Studies. University of Cambridge. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ "Human, Social, and Political Sciences - HSPS Tripos, University of Cambridge". Human, Social, and Political Sciences - HSPS Tripos, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "History and Politics BA (Tripos), University of Cambridge". University of Cambridge Faculty of History.
- ^ "MPhil in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "MPhil in Public Policy, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "MSt in International Relations, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "PhD in Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge". Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge.
- ^ "Best UK universities for politics – league table 2023". The Guardian: News provider of the year.
- ^ "Politics: SUBJECT LEAGUE TABLE 2025". The Complete University Guide.
- ^ "63 Best universities for International Relations and Diplomacy in the United Kingdom". EduRank. 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Public Policy: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024". QS Top Universities.
- ^ "Giulio Regeni: Cambridge University tribute five years after murder". Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "'Exceptional' Caius PhD student killed in Burkina Faso restaurant attack". Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Italian newspaper stands by criticism of Giulio Regeni's supervisor". Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Cambridge UCU calls for end to Cambridge's 'gig economy' contracts and unfair pay". Retrieved 3 June 2024.
