Doctoral Program in International Politics (DPIP)

School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION

Fudan University, situated in Shanghai—China’s most vibrant and international metropolis—is a world-class comprehensive university. In the QS World University Rankings (2025), Fudan is ranked 39th globally, reflecting its academic excellence and international reputation. The School of International Relations and Public Affairs (SIRPA) stands as a leading institution in the fields of politics and public affairs. Its Politics discipline is ranked 20th worldwide in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2025), highlighting SIRPA’s global influence and academic distinction.

The English-instructed Doctoral Program in International Politics (DPIP) is a four-year, full-time program fully taught in English. It is designed to cultivate outstanding scholars and practitioners in the field of international politics. The program primarily enrolls international students, offering a global learning environment and cross-cultural academic exchange. DPIP aims to provide students with a strong theoretical foundation, rigorous research skills, and profound knowledge of both historical and contemporary issues in public and international affairs. Graduates are well prepared to contribute to academia, diplomacy, and policy-making at the global level. The curriculum combines advanced coursework with doctoral dissertation research, covering a wide spectrum of thematic areas, including: International Relations Theory, International Political Economy, International Security, Great-power Diplomacy, Chinese Foreign Policy, International Organizations, BRICS Studies, Global Governance, Religion and International Relations, and so on.

CURRICULUM

Overview:

Students must complete a minimum of 29 credits of courses. In order to fulfill the course requirements, students must take all required public courses (10 credits), required courses (15 credits), and elective courses (4 credits). Besides completing coursework, students must write a dissertation and pass the oral defense. A student is also required to conduct research leading to quality publications to at least one national or international peer-reviewed journal (which has ISSN).  Students must also successfully complete a comprehensive exam at the beginning of the third semester.

Curriculum:

Public courses (10 credits)

PhD Program - Political Development in Modern China (3 credits)

Chinese Society: Past and Present (3 credits)

Chinese Languages I (2 credits)

Chinese Languages II (2 credits)

Required Courses (15 credits)

PhD Program - International Politics and Theories (3 credits, core course)

International Political Economy (3 credits, core courses)

Research Design in Political Science (3 credits)

International Security and Strategies (3 credits, core courses)

PhD Program - Research Methods (3 credits)

Elective Courses (4 Credits)

China-EU Relations (3 credits)

China’s Foreign Economic Policies (2 credits)

PhD Program - Chinese Diplomacy (3 credits)

Global Governance (2 credits)

A Comparative Perspective on International Regions (2 credits)

East Asian Politics (2 credits)

APPLICATION AND REQUIREMENTS

The program admits degree students. Applicants should have master’s degrees in related fields.

Application portal:

1. Log into the website (https://istudent.fudan.edu.cn/apply/#/user/login)

2. ) to register and complete the application form online, upload the application documents and submit the application.

2. Pay application fee RMB 800 (Degree) online after preliminary review. Afterwards any application information cannot be modified.

Application documents:

(1) Printed online barcode. Application Form with personal signature and a photo.

(2) Copy of valid passport identification page, and it should be an ordinary passport and be valid until Mar. 1^st, 2027.

(3) Certificates of at least one bachelor’s degree and one master’s degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited international institution. Each certificate in the original language, accompanied by an official or certified English translation. Applicants from countries where English is the official language of instruction need only submit the English versions of their certificates.

(4) Transcripts of all post-secondary (after high school) education. Each transcript in the original language, accompanied by an official or certified English translation. Applicants from countries where English is the official language of instruction need only submit the English versions of their transcripts. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) equivalent to at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B grade) in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework is required.

(5) Resume. Applicants must submit a detailed and updated resume that highlights your academic background, work experience (if applicable), research projects, internships, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, and relevant skills (e.g., language proficiency, computer skills).

(6) Statement of purpose. Applicants must submit a statement of purpose written in English, no longer than 1,000 words, addressing the following:

i. Preparation for pursuing the Ph.D. program;

ii. A description of one research project you would like to undertake for your doctoral research (most important);

iii. Your future career plans;

iv. Reasons for choosing the DPIP program at SIRPA;

v. Names of two potential supervisors.

The statement must be written clearly in English, contain all the five parts, and remain strictly within the word limit.

(7) Writing sample. Applicants must provide a formal academic writing sample in English (approximately 20 pages). Acceptable submissions may include: a published/unpublished research article, a course assignment, a portion of a master’s thesis, etc. The writing sample should demonstrate the applicant’s research ability and academic writing skills. Applicants are encouraged to submit their strongest academic work.

(8) Two recommendation letters. The letters of recommendation can be submitted online in two ways:1. Students can upload the recommendation letters as PDF files; 2. Students can enter the names and email addresses of their evaluators directly into the online application and invitations will be sent directly to the evaluators.

(9) Evidence of English language proficiency. Applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the following English proficiency criteria: