Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge
The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge (abbreviated POLIS) is the department at the University of Cambridge responsible for research and instruction in political science, international relations and public policy. It is part of the Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science. History. POLIS, formed in 2009 by the merger of the former Department of Politics and the Centre for International Studies, is administratively housed at the university's Alison Richard Building on the Sidgwick Site and is part of the Faculty of Human, Social, and  Political Science. Its primary predecessor, the Department of Politics, was formed in 2004, prior to which political science had been fragmented across other departments. Notable teaching staff include Andrew Gamble, Peter Nolan, Brendan Simms, Marc Weller, Duncan Bell, Baroness Smith of Newnham and Ayşe Zarakol and current head of department Jason Sharman. Centres and programmes. Nine specialised programmes and research centres are housed within the department: the Centre for Governance and Human Rights, the Cambridge Centre for Political Thought, the Centre of International Studies, the Centre of Development Studies, the Centre for the Study of International Relations of the Middle  East and North Africa, the European Centre at POLIS, the Forum on Geopolitics, Cambridge Public Policy, and the "Cambridge Review of International Affairs". Degrees and reputation. POLIS grants a Bachelor of Arts degree in politics and international studies. At the postgraduate level, the department offers a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree in public policy, an MPhil degree in international relations and politics, a Master of Studies degree in international relations, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in politics and international studies. The 2016 edition of the QS World University Rankings named the department the fifth best in the world in  its subject area. The 2014 "Ivory Tower Survey", published by "Foreign Policy", rated the department's master's programme 18th in the world for quality, and its doctoral programme 16th in the world. POLIS' master's degree programmes were ranked 16th in the world for study in international relations by "The Christian Science Monitor".