About Us

Political Science and International Relations is a leading academic department located within the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations. We teach over forty undergraduate courses and offer a number of graduate degrees. Our academic staff are active researchers in a variety of fields whose expertise is sought nationally, often in media commentary, and shared internationally at conferences and through our publications.

Established in 1939 by Professor Leslie Lipson, it is the oldest department of political science in New Zealand. Today the programme has nineteen academic staff teaching and researching in the broad fields of international relations, comparative politics, New Zealand politics, and political theory. Public administration was introduced as a subject within the department in the 1940s, but today public policy is taught in the Faculty of Commerce and Administration within a separate School of Government.

Unique to Victoria, we are the only programme in New Zealand where undergraduates can major in International Relations as distinct from Political Science for their BA. With fourteen hundred majoring students this year, political science and international relations are amongst the most popular majors in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Our courses cover topics like political ideologies, international political economy, human rights, diplomacy, Latin American dictatorships, the European Union, Southeast Asia, Chinese politics, U.S. presidential campaigns, U.S. foreign policy, African politics, Māori politics, and much else.
 
The research projects pursued by academics in political science and international relations are many and varied. The Programme has particular strengths in the following areas because of collaborations and overlapping interests: China/East Asia/Pacific; Conflict and Security; Europe/North America; Global Governance; Immigration, Citizenship and Political Representation; New Zealand Politics; Political Economy; Political and International Relations Theory.

China has long been a focus of teaching and research in the programme. In April 2009 the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre was officially launched, with Professor Xiaoming Huang as the Director. Located within the Programme, the Centre's mission is to enhance New Zealand's knowledge of and engagement with China of the 21st Century.

Study trips to China have been made by our students since 2006, as part of our exchange partnership with the School of Political Science and Public Administration at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing. In 2007 the Programme hosted its first group of Chinese exchange students from CUPL. The China Field Study course is a regular offering amongst the Programme's summer courses.

Being the University of the capital city of New Zealand, Victoria is the place to study New Zealand politics. Elections, political parties, political leadership and parliamentary processes all come under the careful scrutiny of several staff within the Programme. Some students will take advantage of our Parliamentary internship Honours course, where Vic students are given a placement in the office of a Member of Parliament and experience the rough and tumble of New Zealand politics first-hand.

We offer the largest Honours programme in the University. The BA in New Zealand is a three year degree. Top students elect to return for a fourth year and enrol in our Honours Programme. Entry into the Honours Programme is highly competitive. This year over sixty Honours students are enjoying the smaller seminar teaching settings and the in-depth investigation of specialised topics.

After Honours, the best students are well-prepared for Masters-level research. Academic staff supervise thesis students on a wide range of topics. In addition to one-on-one supervision, MA students attend a seminar series and workshops organised by the Post-Graduate Studies Director. Many post-graduate students are also employed as tutors. Not merely assisting their studies financially, the facilitation of small group discussions, the grading of essays and the mentoring undergraduates is a rewarding and valuable experience for advanced students.

For those graduates who have not previously studied international relations at the Honours level, the Programme offers a Master of International Relations. This is a twelve-month taught Masters degree that attracts international students and professionals returning to University study.

The PhD is the highest degree awarded by any University. The doctoral dissertation is a substantial and original piece of research that is the culmination of three years of full-time study. While the PhD is a prerequisite for those wishing to pursue an academic career, many mature students who have non-academic jobs also enrol part-time because of the challenge of undertaking and the satisfaction of achieving such a qualification. The Programme has a number of distinguished PhD graduates.

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