- Address:
- Department of Politics and International Studies (map)
First Floor
17 Mill Lane
Cambridge CB2 1RX - Telephone:
- +44 (0)1223 767235
- Fax:
- +44 (0)1223 767237
- Email:
- enquiries@polis.cam.ac.uk
- Website:
- http://www.polis.cam.ac.uk/
- See also:
- Institution admissions pages, Graduate Studies Prospectus Entry.
The Department of Politics and International Studies was established in 2009 by the merger of the Centre of International Studies and the Department of Politics. At present, the information below relates only to International Studies.
The Centre of International Studies, established in 1967, at Cambridge is recognised world-wide as a centre of excellence in International Studies in both research and teaching. It has among its ranks leading experts in international history and international law, as well as in international relations, which is why it attracts some of the ablest postgraduates in the global market. While the average ratio of applicants to seats in Cambridge University is 4 to 1, in the CIS, it is 11 to 1. The Centre does provide them with significant added value. Of the 2000 who have qualified so far, most have built successful careers in government and non-governmental organisations, in multinationals, the media and higher education.
There are three one-year Masters of Philosophy programmes; the three modules are called International Relations, International Studies and, the lately added since 2004,Contemporary European Studies. The total intake in all the three modules combined was 73 for the academic session 2005-06. In addition, there is a two-year Master’s degree programme called the Master of Studies (M.St) in International Relations. The M.Phil courses are quite demanding and tough and include a lengthy dissertation and many research essays. The M.Phil courses in the CIS are hard and carry a lot of workload even by Cambridge standards.
In addition, around 85 students are registered as candidates for the Ph.D, who work with Centre members and others in the rich intellectual soil of Cambridge on a wide range of subjects, many of them interdisciplinary. The Centre benefits from a constant stream of high-level visitors, from the world of practice as well as from universities, and from the outstanding research facilities of a great university.
The Centre aims to develop significantly in the next few years. It has already made new appointments in international political economy, in international theory and Chinese foreign policy. It intends to expand further through posts in sub-areas such as the international relations of the regions, foreign policy analysis and international organisation. This will make it possible to cover a wide range of subjects and to take up more of the heavy demand for places.
The Centre encourages innovation and creativity, making it the ideal catalyst to foster productive collaboration within the University and build effective links with policy-makers across the world. The Centre needs an independent purpose-built building for itself, and resources too the tune of five million pounds may need to be generated for the purpose. It is difficult but not unachievable, especially since the CIS graduates are distinguished for the top positions they reach in politics, international civil service and the academia.
The experience at the Centre, whether one is in one year course (M.Phil), two year courses (M.St) or three year ones (Ph.D) is memorable and enlightening one. The centre equips its students with all the necessary tools to understand the six focus areas of the Centre, namely, international politics, international history, international law, international economics, international security and international thought and theory.