Politics - Conversion Course

Course Outline
The Higher Diploma in Arts (Politics) is intended for those who already have a degree and who want to study politics intensively over one academic year full time or two academic years part time (by day). This is a conversion course so you would not normally have studied politics to honours degree level previously.

It is aimed at graduates who may wish to be considered for a master's course in politics subsequently (but do not have an honours degree in the relevant area) or who may want to add politics to their qualifications.

The Higher Diploma in Politics consists of modules to the value of 60 credits. You must take two classes that teach core research and analytical skills:

PO2001 – Political Analysis (5 credits)
PO3001 – Dissertation (10 credits)

You must also take 5 credits from each of the Department's subject groups in second year (15 credits) and 5 credits from each of the Department's subject groups in third year (15 credits). The remaining 15 credits can be taken from any of the second or third year modules, subject to timetable constraints. This allows you considerable flexibility to build your diploma around your personal interests in politics.

Why Choose This Course
The Higher Diploma in Politics at UCC is an interdisciplinary course taught jointly by staff from the Department of Government, School of History and School of Philosophy. The course staff are drawn from a broad range of specialist backgrounds and this contributes to a diverse and creative learning environment for our students.

Over the course of the diploma, you can participate in field trips to Irish and international political institutions, contribute to national policy analysis by making submissions to policy reviews, publish your own work in the student online journal Government and Politics Review and attend and speak at a wide range of conferences organised by staff across the course.

The list of available modules is a long one, but representative modules include:

Issues in Irish Politics
Ethics and Moral Psychology
Violence and War
Comparative European Politics
Feminist Philosophy
Politics in Northern ireland
Gender Perspectives on Politics
Politics of an individual country (including China and the USA)
International Relations
Citizen Participation
Global Governance
Conflict and Conflict Resolution

If you are applying for this course to gain a teaching subject please consult with the Teaching Council Subject Declaration Form to view specific requirements for this subject.

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

Requirements
It is intended for those who already have a 3 or 4 year primary degree, preferably in the area of Arts or the Sciences, and who wish to study the subject Politics intensively over one academic year. The Higher Diploma in Arts is a conversion programme and applicants would not normally have studied the relevant subject to Honours Degree level previously.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland:
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements.

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

For more information please contact the International Office.

How Do I Apply

1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Note: Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
- Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates below.

Questions on how to apply?
Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please detail your computing/technical/IT skills.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 15 June.

Assessment

Students will participate in a wide range of challenging assessment methods over the course of the diploma. Core research and communication skills are developed through traditional methods such as reviews and essays but the focus of assessment has moved to creative techniques and you will design posters, write policy reports, make individual and group presentations, participate in negotiation simulation exercises designed around international institutions, write opinion editorials and complete funding applications. The varied assessment profile is designed to ensure that you acquire diverse skills during your degree

60 Credits

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

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
During your time on the Politics course, you develop a broad set of skills which you can apply in a variety of employment contexts. Varied teaching and assessment styles are used to ensure that you develop critical thinking abilities, hone your analytical capabilities and build effective communication skills, including both written and presentation elements.

In recent years, our Politics graduates have gone into a wide range of professions. They have become administrators; recruitment consultants; business analysts; campaign coordinators for charities, interest groups and political parties; policy analysts; and officials in international organisations, to name just some.