Ph.D. in International Relations and Security

PROGRAMME INFORMATION

3- 5 YEARS

ENGLISH

FULL TIME or PART TIME

AWARDED BY NEAPOLIS UNIVERSITY

Our vision

The vision and mission of the educational philosophy that guides the Ph.D. program in International Relations and Security at Neapolis University Pafos is the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and service to our community. In support of our mission, the University:

The Ph.D. in International Relations and Security reflects the priorities of the NUP’s mission. It is designed to meet, through research, local and national needs, to promote links with local and international communities and to embrace modern pedagogy and learning technologies based on the need to associate our students with a learning curve, that embraces critical thinking.

Our Ph.D. pursues excellence in research through pioneering and innovation in international political affairs and other multidisciplinary approaches with analyses and outcomes, that can serve the scientific and policy-related community.

Neapolis University:

  • Encourages and supports rigorous scholarship and innovative teaching in all the University’s academic areas.
  • Creates an academic environment that values and promotes free, active, and original intellectual inquiry among its faculty and students.
  • Fosters a Ph.D. program through its history, politics, and international studies department that responds to local, national, and international needs.
  • Strives continuously to promote activities that apply its intellectual and ethical heritage to work for the good of society as a whole.
  • Welcomes students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds, religious beliefs, and gender equality, where inclusivity is evident.
  • Enriches and creates a sense of community that facilitate their development and enhances their career aspirations.

Objective:

The Ph.D. in International Relations and Security reflects the priorities of the NUP’s mission and is completed in the Department of History, Politics, and International Studies of the Neapolis University Pafos.

  1. The Department is a full member of the Doctoral School of the European Doctoral School on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Initiative. As such, participates in the various programs and any call for Ph.D. application fellows (all consideration should occur through the head of the program in cooperation/communication with the European Doctoral School)
    Further information can be found here https://esdc.europa.eu/doctoral-school/
  2. The department fully complies with the rules, regulations and policy processes of NUP Doctoral Unit and conforms to all related scientific and administrative policies as decided by the related authority, where the Head of the Program participates.
  3. Neapolis University Pafos and our Department extend a range of taught and research programs at undergraduate, graduate and Doctorate levels.
  4. The Ph.D. in International Relations and Security program helps to build upon the capabilities of the School of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities at the level of primary scientific and academic research. 
  5. The Ph.D. program attracts students and academics from national and international backgrounds, who hold experience and knowledge, but also wish to pursue pioneering and excellence in international Political Affairs, Security and Strategy and other related interdisciplinary approaches in related fields.
  6. The Ph.D. in International Relations and Security offers students the opportunity to acquire extensive and in-depth knowledge based on the essential educational pedagogy and approach, as projected by Bloom’s taxonomy in combination with pioneering research outputs.
  7. The Ph.D. program is of practical value. It includes a wide range of issues related to the development of international affairs and its security, current implications and challenges, forecasting elements through factual analysis, while also pioneering policies for the future, applicable both in theory and practice.
  8. The program aims to provide potential Ph.D. candidates with a rigorous and constructive understanding of international relations and politics, of conflict and security issues, globally and regionally.
  9. The Ph.D. program is a scientific research focus on subjects of particular interest, on recent and contemporary processes, trends, challenges, and problematics through vast constant variables changes, examining efforts to respond to international and regional challenges in policy and practice.
  10. The program requires and combines in-depth scientific research (quantitative and qualitative), academic empirical support and mentoring approach, methodological engagement, comprehension of key concepts, theories, and primary analysis on case studies, alongside a structured process of engagement with contemporary debates and experience with leading results that can offer both to the national and international community as an expert analysis opinion with recommendations and lessons to be learned or to be applied

Advantages of the Programme

Institutional Reasons:

  • The international prestige and recognition of Neapolis University Pafos, an accredited university in the Republic of Cyprus, in the European Union.
  • The PhD Program is designed with the most up-to-date academic standards.
  • Excellent academic staff with strong expertise in the taught subjects.
  • Strong links and partnerships with globally renowned academic institutions, scholars, and professionals in international relations, security, and strategy, and related multidisciplinary approach subjects that can be combined with international affairs.
  • The use of advanced technology tools and resources.
  • The University is in one of Europe’s significant historical and cultural countries and regions. The City of Pafos is strategically located in a historical city between Europe and the Middle East at the heart of the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
  • Studying in an accredited university, which is human-centered, with competitive tuition fees.
  • Sense of a solid academic and cultural community.
  • An inclusive community that is also gender equal. A society that respects religious diversity.

Academic & Scientific Purposes:

  • Involvement with national and international institutions and market industries and organizations.​
  • Engagement with key experts in academic, market, and policy affairs.
  • Exposure to a multi-cultural diversity​.
  • Strengthens research collaboration, providing pioneering results.
  • Access to exemplary facilities and resources​.
  • Extend international mobility for both students and faculty for research and continued training development.​
  • The research environment is supportive and inclusive for PhD candidates and allows for more faculty from NUP and around the world to be engaged in the research, advising, and tutoring process.
  • Skills training for PhD Students and Faculty.
  • Research students are afforded opportunities for professional development throughout their studies and beyond.
  • Professional and academic training is constant, inclusive to both faculty and PhD candidates.
  • Upon completion of the NUP PhD program, graduates become members of the NUP alumni and can be provided an opportunity to continue their scientific career in the respective institution upon request and need.
  • The Ph.D. program adjusts yearly to constantly updated scientific and academic trends and market requirements.
  • Engagement of NUP faculty and PhD candidates with public and ongoing discourse events and conferences.

Programme Structure

 Program Learning Outcomes

PLO1 Develop theoretical knowledge and provide empirical evidence based on quantitative and qualitative research showcasing comprehensive PhD level scientific knowledge in the discipline of International Relations and Security.
PLO2 Critically embed political/sociological/cultural/economic patterns in the international ‘ecosystem’.
PLO3 Conceptualize and analyze primary and secondary data.
PLO4 Forecast international affairs options and resolution related with international relations and security.
PLO5 Pioneer and recommend solutions for ongoing multifaceted international issues.
PLO6 Synthesize principles of international relations and security, proposing solutions for complex problems considering real-time needs.

Break Down of the ECTS

1st semester- first year /Research Methods Course: 13 weeks​   7.5 ECTS
Thesis writing & defence ​    60 ECTS
Overall Research 112.5 ECTS ​
Total Ph.D.  180   ECTS

Throughout the Ph.D. Candidature, each student will:

  • Take part in university and induction week/per semester.
  • Yearly scientific and training tutorials.
  • Take part in lectures and public discourse events.
  • Take part in seminars and conferences.
  • Present research outcomes.
  • Apply for various funding and scientific research projects.
  • Develop innovative qualitative and quantitative research skills and knowledge.
  • Take the lead in in-class lectures and presentations or organized events based on scientific specialization.
  • Publish two Scopus scientific papers throughout the period of the completion period to the PhD program.

Admission Requirement & Process

  • To be admitted to the Ph.D. Program, candidates must possess both the general admission criteria and specific criteria as required below.
  • Applicants should showcase overall both written and verbal skills and knowledge. It holds empirical research-led capacities, capabilities, and the will to conduct innovative research. Applicants should be able to showcase and defend their Ph.D. proposals and guide the reader to the proposal’s timely importance and combination of work.
  • Applicants are advised to check the academic and professional portfolio of the faculty to check the faculty’s research interests.
  • They are expected to showcase overall suitability for the program of study they apply for.
  • In all cases, each applicant’s file will be considered on its own merit.
  • Excellent knowledge of English is essential as a minimum requirement since the PhD is completed in English.

Register your interest and one of our admissions consultants will contact you with guidance and additional information.

OUR FACULTY & STAFF

Pantelis Sklias

Professor of International Political Economy

Rector of Neapolis University Pafos

Pantelis Sklias (1969) is a Professor of International Relations and International Political Economy (IPE) and since September 2018 Rector of the University.

Ben D. Mor

Professor in International Relations and Security

Ben D. Mor is Senior Research Fellow in International Security and head of the Graduate Program in Negotiation Management and Decision-Making at the University of Haifa, Israel, where he was also head of the International School..

Marios Panagiotis Efthymiopoulos

Associate Professor in International Security and Strategy

Head of the Department of History, Politics and International Studies

Coordinator of the PhD Program in International Relations and Security

Coordinator of the BSc in International Relations & Security

Dr. Marios Panagiotis Efthymiopoulos is the Head of Department of History, Politics and International Studies and former senior research fellow at the Neapolis University Pafos....

Thomas Nektarios Papanastasiou

Associate Professor of International Economic Law - Law of International Organizations and Law of Energy

Coordinator of the Distance LLM (DLLM) in International & European Business Law

Director of the Legal Clinic

Thomas-Nektarios Papanastasiou is an Associate Professor of International Economic Law - Law of International Organizations and Law of Energy. He holds a doctorate (PhD), specialized in International Investment Law and a Master’s degree (MA) in International Relations...

Georgios D. Pavlidis

Associate Professor Of Private International Law & European Law

Jean Monnet Chair

UNESCO Chair

Coordinator in Greek Law

Dr. Georgios Pavlidis is Associate Professor of Private International Law & European Law at the School of Law of Neapolis University in Cyprus. Since 2020, he is holder of a Jean Monnet Chair funded by the European Union (Project: “Tracing Criminal Assets in the European Union”).
Floros Flouros

Floros Flouros

Assistant Professor in International Political Economy: Energy, Security and Climate Change

Floros Flouros is a post-doc researcher at the University of Aegean researcher with main focus on security, energy security and climate change in the Mediterranean and Middle East region. He defended his PhD Thesis at the University of Peloponnese...

Marina Eleftheriadou

Assistant Professor in International Relations & Security

Coordinator of the MSc in International Relations, Strategy and Security (Distance Learning)

Marina Eleftheriadou is Assistant Professor of International Relations & Security at the Department of History, Politics and International

Antonis Klapsis

Visiting Researcher in Diplomacy and International Organization

Assistant Coordinator of the MA in Modern and Contemporary Greek and European History (Distance Learning)

Antonis Klapsis is Assistant Professor of Diplomacy and International Organization at the Department of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Peloponnese.

Carmela Lutmar

Visiting Scholar

Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Political Sciences, University of Haifa

Carmela Lutmar has a BA in Political Science and Philosophy (1993) from the University of Haifa, and MA in Peace Science from the University of Notre Dame (1995), and a PhD in International Relations (2004) from NYU. Research interests include leadership...

Liakouras Petros

Visiting Scholar

Professor of International Law Department of International and European Studies School of Economics, Business and International Studies University of Piraeus

A policy-oriented academic, expert and advisor of international law.A graduate of Yale, Temple and Athens Universities and of Harvard’s Program on Negotiation.Teaches International Law, Law of the Sea, International Institutions, Negotiation...

Julian Richards

Visiting Scholar

Associate Dean Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Buckingham

Convenor of Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS) Research School

Professor Julian Richards gained a PhD in political violence in Pakistan, at Cambridge University, in 1993. He then spent nearly 20 years working in intelligence and security for the British Government, returning to academic life as a Research Fellow with Brunel University’s Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies in 2006...

Frederic Lemieux

Senior Research Fellow Cyber-Security and Intelligence

University of Georgetown, USA

Dr. Frederic Lemieux currently serves as Professor of the Practice and Faculty Director of the MPS programs in Applied Intelligence, Cybersecurity Risk Management, Technology Management, and Information Technology Management...

Michael Kobi

Senior Research Fellow in International Strategy and Security

Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Israel

Prof. Kobi Michael is a senior researcher at INSS and editor in chief of "Strategic Assessment" and a professor at the International Centre for Policing and Security University of South Wales UK...

Efstathios Fakiolas

Visiting Fellow, Associate Professor of International Relations,Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of the Peloponnese

He earned his Ph.D. from the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. He holds a M.A. in

Georgios Maris

Research Fellow in in Political Economy of International Relations, University of Aegean

Georgios Maris is Associate Professor in Political Economy of International Relations at the University of the Aegean (Department of Mediterranean Studies).

Victoria Pistikou

Visiting Fellow ,Assistant Professor, International Economic Relations, Democritus University of Thrace, Department of Economics

  More Info: https://econ.duth.gr/author/vpistiko/
Our Ph.D. pursues excellence in research through pioneering and innovation in International Political Affairs and other multidisciplinary approaches with analyses and outcomes, that can serve the scientific and policy-related community

EVALUATION, RECOGNITION & COLLABORATIONS