Politics

UCD School of Politics & International Relations is the oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland with over 150 years of experience in political studies and a world-renowned faculty drawn from many countries.



The MA Politics degree was developed for those who wish to understand the role of politics in shaping the great issues of our day including power and conflict, distribution and inequality, relations between nations, and the new challenges of globalisation, financial crisis, national security, and climate change.



This course is highly flexible, allowing students to select modules from Comparative Politics, Research Methods, Development Studies, Political Theory, and Public Policy, according to their specific interests.

Stage 1 Core Modules

POL42330 Research Design Autumn 10



Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:

Select five of

GS40110 Gender, Sexuality, and the Body; The Politics of Belonging Autumn 10

POL40100 Politics of Development Autumn 10

POL40130 Poverty, Development and Global Justice Autumn 10

POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Autumn 10

POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn 10

POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn 10

POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn 10

POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn 10

POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn 10

SPOL41060 Public Administration & Policy Autumn 10

SPOL41110 Ideas, Ideology in Public Pol. Autumn 10

DEV40020 Gender and Development Spring 10

GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Public Policy Spring 10

POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring 10

POL40370 International Political Economy Spring 10

POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring 10

POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring 10

POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring 10

POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring 10

POL42430 IR Theory: Conflict and Identity Spring 10

POL42500 Politics of Authoritarianism Spring 10

POL42580 Arab Perceptions of Conflict Spring 10

SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring 10

SPOL40450 Evidence-Based Policy Making Spring 10



Stage 1 Options - B)30CR:

Students must pick either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis as a core module

POL42300 SPIRe Internship Summer 30

POL42310 Thesis Summer 30

A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1) in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law. 2H1 is equivalent to 60 per cent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA.



- Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.



- English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 250 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement. View

https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/undergraduate/entryrequirements/



- Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/



- These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes



Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

You will be assessed by in-course or continuous assessment (essays, report writing, projects, mid-term tests, presentations) and a final examination.

90

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

MA Politics (W023) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 8525

nonEU fee per year - € 19900


MA Politics (W111) Part Time

EU fee per year - € 5600

nonEU fee per year - € 9950


***Fees are subject to change


Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.

W023 MA Politics

Master of Arts Full-Time

Commencing September 2026



W111 MA Politics

Master of Arts Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Careers & Employability

Graduates work with a wide variety of international private-sector employers, government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations, in roles that include:



Government Social Researcher

Diplomatic Advisor

Public Affairs Consultant

Public Relations Officer

Political Advisor



Recent graduates of UCD School of Politics & International Relations now work in:

United Nations, New York and Geneva

World Trade Organisation

IMF

OSCE

Asia Development Bank

Saatchi & Saatchi

Credit Suisse First Boston