The Ph.D. in Political Science at Franklin Switzerland is a four-year, full-time doctoral program designed to train future scholars in rigorous, original, and impactful research.
Rooted in Franklin’s interdisciplinary liberal arts ethos and international academic community, this structured program includes coursework, teaching experience, and the writing and public defense of a doctoral thesis.
This Swiss-accredited doctoral program* offers a stimulating and supportive academic environment, engaging candidates in cross-disciplinary conversations and professional development alongside personalized faculty mentorship.
*This program is accredited in Switzerland only.
QUICK FACTS
| Program: Ph.D. in Political Science |
| Institution: Franklin Switzerland |
| Language: English (exceptions possible with approval) |
| Credits required: 12 ECTS (plus mandatory uncredited coursework if required) |
| Start date: Fall 2025 |
| Duration: 4 years full-time + possible 2-year grace period |
| Application deadline: Rolling admissions |
CURRICULUM AND COURSEWORK
To earn the Ph.D., candidates must complete a total of 12 ECTS credits, along with research milestones and a final dissertation. The program is divided into four academic years:
Years 1 and 2: Coursework, Research Design, and Teaching Preparation (9 ECTS)
- Admission interview (precondition)
- Research proposal (1 ECTS)
- Internal presentation (1 ECTS)
- Methodological and substantive courses in political science – 2 ECTS must come from Ph.D.-specific courses (3 ECTS)
- Courses in philosophy of science, ethics, languages, or similar – at least 2 ECTS must be Ph.D.-level (3 ECTS)
- Teaching pedagogy (1 ECTS)
By the end of the first year, PhD candidates must submit and present a project proposal outlining their planned research. The proposal should include:
- A clear research question and objectives.
- A brief review of relevant literature.
- An outline of the methodology, including data sources and analysis methods.
- A timeline with major milestones for the research.
- A discussion of the expected contributions and feasibility of the project.
Approval by the doctoral committee is required to proceed with the second year.
In addition, candidates may be required to take up to three supplementary courses at Franklin Switzerland to fill academic gaps. These courses are mandatory but do not count toward the 12-credit requirement.
Year 3: Research Progress and Teaching Practice (3 ECTS)
- Submission of a progress report (1 ECTS)
- Presentation at an external academic conference (1 ECTS)
- Supervised teaching experience (1 ECTS)
Year 4: Dissertation Completion and Defense
- Submission of the full doctoral thesis
- Public defense of the dissertation before the doctoral committee
- Publication of the dissertation within one year of successful defense (print or digital)
Doctoral Thesis
The doctoral thesis must make a significant, original contribution to political science research and may take one of two forms:
1. Monograph
- A single, coherent academic study written independently by the candidate
- Co-authorship is not permitted for monographs
2. Cumulative Dissertation
- A collection of at least three peer-reviewed journal articles, thematically related and accompanied by an introduction and concluding synthesis
- Must include:
- At least one single-authored article
- At least one article where the candidate is lead or principal author
- No more than one article co-authored by a committee member
- A self-declaration must accompany any co-authored work, outlining the candidate’s individual contribution
- Candidates must also confirm in writing that any rights to data used have been appropriately assigned
All theses must be written in English, unless otherwise agreed by the doctoral committee. The dissertation must be published within one year of the successful defense.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for the Ph.D. program, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Master’s degree in Political Science or a closely related field
- Awarded by an accredited Swiss university or recognized foreign institution
- Must have earned a final grade of “good” or better (or equivalent)
- MAS, EMBA, MBA and other non-research-focused Master’s degrees are not eligible
- Faculty supervision
- A ranked professor at Franklin Switzerland must declare intent to supervise the candidate
- English language proficiency, if applicable
- Admission interview with the Ph.D. Program Director and a supervising faculty member
- Depending on the academic background, additional coursework may be required before or during the first two years of the program
Supervision and Doctoral Committee
Each doctoral candidate is supported by a Doctoral Committee composed of 3 to 5 professors, the majority of whom must be Franklin faculty. All committee members must hold doctoral degrees.
Key roles and responsibilities:
- The committee appoints a main supervisor to serve as the primary academic contact
- A Ph.D. Agreement is signed at the start of the program, outlining:
- Research subject
- Supervisory structure
- Deadlines and timelines
- Thesis format and language
- Coursework and data rights
The Ph.D. Program Director oversees compliance, supervises procedures, and ensures academic integrity across the program.
A Moderator (independent from the committee) is appointed to mediate any conflicts between the candidate and the committee.
Examination and Completion
Thesis Defense
- A public presentation of the dissertation, followed by a faculty discussion and evaluation
- Grading is based on both the written thesis and oral defense
- Candidates are informed of their final doctoral grade, calculated on the Swiss 1–6 scale, where 4 is the passing threshold
Distinctions
| Grade | Distinction |
| 6.0 | Summa cum laude |
| 5.5 | Insigni cum laude |
| 5.0 | Magna cum laude |
| 4.5 | Cum laude |
| 4.0 | Rite |
Candidates who do not pass may revise and resubmit the thesis once. A failed defense may also be repeated once.
Grace Period
- If the dissertation is not completed within 4 years, a grace period of up to 2 additional years may be granted
- During this time, the candidate may use the status ABD (All But Dissertation), but not the Ph.D. title
- If the work is not completed within the grace period, the candidate is formally withdrawn from the program
Application and admissions process
Admission to the Ph.D. in Political Science is not processed through the university’s general application portal. The process is as follows:
- Secure a supervising faculty member at Franklin willing to support your research project
- Participate in an admission interview with the Program Director and supervising professor
- If accepted, you will receive a formal offer
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early inquiry is strongly recommended to allow sufficient time for supervisor matching and proposal development.
Contacts
Academic Contact
David Mills, President
Franklin Switzerland
Via Ponte Tresa 29, 6924 Sorengo (Lugano), Switzerland