MPhil Political Science

An MPhil in Political Science is a two-year research master’s in the study of power, government and political behaviour, combining advanced theory and methods coursework with an original research thesis.

Research Areas

Common specialisations include comparative politics, political theory, Pakistani politics and political development, democratisation and authoritarianism, political parties and electoral behaviour, civil-military relations, political economy, and public policy.

Civil-military relations, electoral behaviour, party organisation and federalism are areas where Pakistani political science can generate original empirical work, and where systematic evidence is notably thinner than commentary.

MPhil or MS?

Pakistani universities use both titles for the two-year research master’s that follows a four-year bachelor’s, and HEC treats them as equivalent 18-year qualifications. MPhil is the more traditional and usually more thesis-weighted designation. Confirm which applies to your discipline and whether a thesis is compulsory, since that governs PhD eligibility.

Career Scope in Pakistan

University teaching is a primary destination, with an MPhil the minimum qualification for lecturing and political science departments present at most universities. Other paths include policy research institutes and think tanks, election observation and governance programmes, development organisations, journalism and political analysis, government policy roles, and doctoral study.

Methodological capability — survey design, quantitative analysis, or rigorous qualitative comparison — is what distinguishes political science research from commentary, and correspondingly distinguishes candidates in the job market.

Admission Requirements

A minimum of 16 years of education in a relevant discipline, plus the university’s subject test and usually an interview. Check the specific programme page for current requirements and deadlines.