Summary
A Policy Researcher works within the Political Science and International Relations field in India. The role applies the specialist training of this stream to real problems — in industry, in public service, in institutions or in independent practice. Students usually enter through the Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject route after Class 12, then specialise through work experience or a master's degree. This page brings together the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes and the day-to-day reality of the job, using the same exam and institute records published elsewhere on HBK Careers.
Core skills
- Scientific reasoning and statistics
- Laboratory or field technique
- Scientific writing
- Patience with long timelines
Where you can work
- National research laboratories and institutes
- Universities and colleges
- Government scientific departments
- Industry R&D divisions
Professional Opportunities
National research laboratories and institutes
Universities and colleges
Government scientific departments
Industry R&D divisions
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Any stream in Class 11–12 (subject requirements vary by programme) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject | 3–4 years |
| After Graduation | Master's degree / PG diploma in a specialisation | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | M.Phil. / Ph.D. for research and teaching roles | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: Bachelor's degree in the relevant subject.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jawaharlal Nehru University — School of International Studies | CUET-PG | jnu.ac.in |
| 2 | University of Delhi — Department of Political Science | CUET | du.ac.in |
| 3 | St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi | CUET-UG | ststephens.edu |
| 4 | Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi | CUET-UG | lsr.edu.in |
| 5 | Hindu College, University of Delhi | CUET-UG | hinducollege.ac.in |
| 6 | Presidency University, Kolkata | CUET | presiuniv.ac.in |
| 7 | Jadavpur University — International Relations | University Test | jadavpuruniversity.in |
| 8 | Ashoka University, Sonipat | Ashoka Aptitude Test | ashoka.edu.in |
| 9 | Tata Institute of Social Sciences — Public Policy | TISSNET | tiss.edu |
| 10 | Symbiosis School of International Studies, Pune | SET / SNAP | ssis.edu.in |
| 11 | Jamia Millia Islamia — Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace | JMI Entrance | jmi.ac.in |
| 12 | Banaras Hindu University — Political Science | CUET | bhu.ac.in |
| 13 | University of Hyderabad — Department of Political Science | CUET-PG | uohyd.ac.in |
| 14 | Gujarat University — Department of Political Science | Merit | gujaratuniversity.ac.in |
| 15 | Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi | IIPA Selection | iipa.org.in |
| 16 | O. P. Jindal Global University — Jindal School of International Affairs | JSAT | jgu.edu.in |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | www.cam.ac.uk/ |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUET-UG | Common University Entrance Test (UG) | BA (Hons) Political Science and International Relations. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| CUET-PG | Common University Entrance Test (PG) | MA Political Science, International Relations, Politics. | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| UPSC CSE | Civil Services Examination | Indian Foreign Service and allied services. | upsc.gov.in |
| JNU Entrance (via CUET) | JNU School of International Studies Admission | MA and MPhil/PhD in international studies. | jnu.ac.in |
| UGC NET (Political Science) | UGC National Eligibility Test | Lectureship and JRF. | ugcnet.nta.nic.in |
| TISSNET | TISS National Entrance Test | MA in Public Policy and Governance. | tiss.edu |
| Ashoka Aptitude Test | Ashoka University Admission Assessment | UG in Political Science and International Relations. | ashoka.edu.in |
Work Description
- 01Frame research questions and design experiments or field studies.
- 02Collect, clean and analyse data using statistical and computational tools.
- 03Interpret results and publish findings in journals or technical reports.
- 04Present work at conferences and to funding bodies.
- 05Supervise students, lab staff and instrumentation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Intellectually rewarding, frontier work
- Stable government scientist cadres
- International collaboration and fellowships
Cons
- Long qualification path, usually up to Ph.D.
- Funding and publication pressure
- Fewer positions than applicants
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Policy Researcher matches your interests and aptitude.