Department of Political Science, Trinity College Dublin

The Department of Political Science at Trinity College, University of Dublin, is one of the top Political Science departments in Europe. In the 2013 QS rankings it was rated number 1 in Ireland, number 8 in Europe, and number 31 in the world. It is a vibrant, outward-looking department that combines intensive research activity with the strongest commitment to high quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. The PhD programme combines an intensive set of courses on the substance and methodology of research along with a traditional emphasis on conducting original research. In the first year students follow a number of courses in the qualitative and quantitative aspects of research, a course in political behaviour and comparative politics, which reflects the expertise and interests of most members of the Department, and develop a research proposal for the final thesis. Trinity College Dublin