The Master of Philosophy (Politics) — commonly abbreviated as MPhil (Politics) — is a research-intensive postgraduate degree designed for students who wish to conduct original, independent inquiry into political systems, governance, power, ideology, and international relations. Unlike coursework-based master's degrees, the MPhil is classified as a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) in Australia, meaning at least two-thirds of the program involves research activity culminating in the submission and examination of a substantial thesis, typically up to 60,000 words. Students work under the close guidance of an academic supervisor and an associate supervisor, developing deep expertise in a chosen area of political inquiry — from Australian federalism and electoral behaviour to Asia-Pacific security, comparative politics, or political theory. The MPhil sits at AQF Level 9 and typically spans two years of full-time study, or an equivalent part-time arrangement.

This degree is designed for graduates with a strong undergraduate background in politics, international relations, public policy, law, history, or a cognate social science discipline who wish to advance their research capabilities beyond the honours or postgraduate diploma level. It is particularly well-suited to students who have identified a specific political research question they want to investigate, and who are committed to contributing new knowledge to the field. Employers who value MPhil graduates in Politics include federal and state government departments, the Australian Public Service (APS), intelligence agencies, think tanks, international organisations, NGOs, diplomatic services, advocacy groups, research institutes, universities, the media, and private-sector organisations engaged in public affairs and policy consulting.

Australian universities offering research degrees in politics span a rich variety of specialisations, including international and strategic studies, Asia-Pacific affairs, national security policy, political economy, gender and identity politics, environmental governance, and democratic theory. The degree commonly serves as a stepping stone to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), but it is equally valued as a terminal research qualification that signals advanced analytical, writing, and independent research skills highly sought across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

Australian universities offering the MPhil in Politics typically require applicants to hold a completed three-year or four-year Australian bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) in a cognate discipline such as politics, international relations, public policy, law, history, or a related social science, with a minimum overall result at the level of upper second-class honours (H2A) or a GPA of at least 6 out of 7 on the Australian scale. Some institutions accept a postgraduate diploma or a one-year postgraduate degree with a strong GPA in place of, or alongside, an undergraduate qualification. A central and non-negotiable requirement at virtually all Australian universities is the prior identification and written agreement of a qualified academic supervisor who supports the proposed research project — applicants are generally expected to approach potential supervisors before or during the application process and to submit a detailed research proposal outlining their intended topic, research questions, methodology, and scholarly context.

English language proficiency is required for applicants whose primary qualification was completed in a non-English-speaking country. Most universities accept IELTS Academic scores of 6.5 to 7.0 overall (with no band below 6.0 or 6.5), or equivalent results in TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge Advanced English tests, with tests generally required to have been taken within two years of the application date. Prior research experience — such as an honours thesis, a research-focused honours year, or professional policy research experience — is highly regarded and may compensate for a borderline GPA in some cases. Australian citizens, permanent residents, and New Zealand citizens who are accepted into an MPhil program may be eligible for a full tuition fee exemption under the Australian Government's Research Training Program (RTP), which covers up to two years of full-time equivalent study for Master of Philosophy candidates.