Political science examines society and governance, from local institutions to international relations. Because the field covers power, public policy, political behavior, law, political theory, and global affairs, students should expect wide reading, careful research, and evidence-based analysis.
Many universities approach political science differently. Some offer broad political science programs, while others emphasize politics through interdisciplinary degrees, research tracks, regional studies, or public policy. The schools below are among the strongest options for students interested in politics and related fields, based on their academic programs and their current standing in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Politics.
Here, we talk about some of the best political science schools in the world.
Top Political Science Schools in the World
1. Harvard University
Harvard University is one of the world’s leading universities for the study of politics. Its Government program introduces students to political science, the study of power in its many forms, and its Department of Government covers areas such as American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, quantitative methodology, and formal theory.
Harvard is highly selective. For the Class of 2029, Harvard College reported 47,893 applicants and 2,003 admitted students, which is an admit rate of about 4.2%. Harvard also has a long history of educating public leaders, including U.S. presidents John F. Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, and Barack Obama. Theodore Roosevelt and Barack Obama later received the Nobel Peace Prize.
Students who choose Harvard for government and political science will find a rigorous academic environment with opportunities to study politics through both theoretical and empirical approaches.
2. Sciences Po
- Study Program
- Location: France | Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.
Sciences Po is one of Europe’s strongest institutions for political science and social sciences. It reports that international students make up about 50% of its student body, with 150 nationalities represented and more than 400 partner universities around the world.
Sciences Po offers a wide range of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral options in political science and related fields. Its School of Research offers a Master in Political Science as well as a Doctorate in Political Science, while its broader graduate schools offer numerous two-year master’s programs and dual-degree options.
The university is also known for its international outlook. Students may find opportunities through exchange partnerships, dual degrees, multilingual study, and regionally focused campuses, making Sciences Po a strong option for students interested in politics from a global perspective.
3. The London School of Economics and Political Science
London School of Economics and Political Science is a world-leading social science university and a major center for the study of politics and government. LSE’s Department of Government offers undergraduate programs, master’s programs, and an MRes/PhD in Political Science.
LSE is also active in equity, diversity, and inclusion work. Its Race Equity Framework focuses on education, research, and people, while its wider EDI strategy supports a more inclusive university community. This makes LSE especially relevant for students who want to study political science in a diverse social science environment.
The school’s work extends across social sciences and global policy issues. For example, the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa supports research, teaching, and public engagement related to Africa, while the Firoz Lalji Global Hub was created to expand LSE’s events and extended education programs on campus, online, and around the world.
4. University of Oxford
University of Oxford is a prestigious university with a long-standing reputation in politics and related fields. Undergraduate students who want to study politics can choose joint-honors degrees such as Philosophy, Politics and Economics, or History and Politics. The PPE degree is a three-year BA that allows students to study politics alongside philosophy and economics.
Oxford students also have many ways to build a life beyond academics. The university has more than 400 clubs and societies, covering a wide range of interests.
On the academic side, Oxford remains highly competitive and highly ranked. Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2026 placed Oxford first overall for the tenth consecutive year, and QS ranked Oxford second in the world for Politics in 2026. Oxford’s most recent undergraduate admissions statistics show that 3,302 students were admitted in 2025, with 79% of admitted undergraduate students from the UK.
5. Princeton University
Princeton University offers strong undergraduate and doctoral training in politics. Its Department of Politics includes areas such as American politics, comparative politics, international relations, formal theory and quantitative methods, political economy, political theory, public law, and race, ethnicity, and identity.
Princeton’s graduate program in politics leads to the Ph.D. and does not offer a separate master’s degree. The Ph.D. is designed as a five-year program that includes coursework, a general examination, research, teaching, and a final public oral examination.
Princeton’s informal motto is “In the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity,” reflecting the university’s emphasis on public service. The university also has a long record of distinguished alumni and faculty, including Nobel Prize honorees in multiple fields.
6. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge offers politics through its Human, Social, and Political Sciences BA, a three-year undergraduate degree that includes politics and international relations, sociology, and social anthropology. Students interested in graduate study can also pursue programs such as the MPhil or Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies.
Cambridge’s mission emphasizes education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. The university also identifies freedom of thought and expression and freedom from discrimination as core values.
Cambridge remains one of the most competitive and academically respected universities in the world. For students interested in political science, its strength lies in combining politics with the wider study of human society, social structures, international relations, and research methods.
7. Stanford University
Stanford University takes a broad approach to political science. Its department states that students balance quantitative and qualitative methods while studying political behavior, public policy, governance systems, and institutional design.
Stanford’s Department of Political Science offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science. Its Ph.D. program trains scholars across fields such as American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and political methodology. Stanford also lists an M.A. in Political Science, but the department states that it is not a coterminal or terminal master’s degree and is available only to eligible current Stanford doctoral or professional students.
The department also highlights community and diversity-related opportunities, including the Diversity Student Recruitment Program, the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute, a Diversity Fellowship Program, and mentoring programs for political scientists.
We hope this guide on the world’s best political science schools was helpful. To know more information on studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
