Politics & International Relations

MA Politics & International Relations
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

The MA Politics and International Relations is designed to accommodate the scheduling needs of working professionals in government, journalism, the NGO sector and other areas who wish to deepen their education in politics and international relations whilst continuing their employment.

- 90 credit, part-time programme including six optional 10-credit modules (no particular module is required)

- MA students have the option of pursuing an internship in lieu of a thesis.

Vision and Values Statement
This programme aims to provide a comprehensive and critical grounding in key issues in politics and international relations and to allow students critically engage with cutting edge issues in the discipline.

Programme Outcomes
- develop oral presentation skills
- develop student's research and professional development skills
- develop students' presentational skills
- enhance group work skills
- enhance students' problem solving power
- equip students with the skills necessary to understand and critically assess issues in politics and international relations

Student Internships
SPIRe's MA Internship opportunities.

Related Programmes
MA Politics FT

Subjects taught

The MA Politics and International Relations is a 90-credit programme.

Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. It is advisable for students to take any core modules in Year 1. As the Research Design module is provided to support students writing their thesis, it is advised to take this in the second year of study.

MA students have the option of pursuing an internship in lieu of a thesis.

Core and Option Modules for MA Politics and International Relations (credits in parentheses).

Please note these are subject to change.

Autumn Trimester:
Core Modules:
POL42330 Research Design (10)
(Should be completed in Year 2)

Option Modules:
GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Policy (10)
POL40050 Theories of Internat.Relations (10)
POL40100 Politics of Development (10)
POL40140 International Political Theory (10)
POL40950 Introduction to Statistics (10)
POL40970 Politics European Governance (10)
POL41020 Politics of Human Rights (10)
POL41650 Global Political Econ ofEurope (10)
POL41800 Theories of Int'l Rels Stream2 (10)
POL41860 Governance, Pol, Dev 10cr (10)
POL41910 Political Violence (10)
POL41930 Psychology of Conflict in MENA (10)
POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists (10)

Spring Trimester:
Option Modules:
GS40100 Gender, Harm and Justice (10)
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy (10)
POL40370 International Political Econom (10)
POL40540 Comparative European Politics (10)
POL40610 EU Foreign and Security Policy (10)
POL41030 Theory of Human Rights (10)
POL41640 Qual Research Methods for Pol (10)
POL41780 The Politics of Inequality (10)
POL41870 Econ & Policy Analysis 1 10cr (10)
POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies (10)
POL42000 Political Theory and the EU (10)
POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis (10)
POL42060 International Security (10)
POL42070 Politics of (mis-)information (10)

Summer Trimester (Year 2):
POL42300 SPIRe Internship (30)
or
POL42310 Thesis (30)

Entry requirements

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.

Application dates

How to apply?
The following entry routes are available:

MA Politics & International Relations PT (W292)
Duration 2 Years
Attend Part Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised.

Duration

2 years part-time.

Post Course Info

Careers & Employability
Graduates work with a wide variety of international private-sector employers, government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations such as:
Public Affairs Consultant
Government Social Researcher
Diplomatic Advisor
Public Relations Officer
Political Advisor

Recent graduates of UCD School of Politics & International Relations now work in:
European Parliament
OSCE
European Institute for the Media
Korean Delegation to the OECD
KPMG Management Consulting
Queen's University Belfast

More details
  • Qualification letters

    MA

  • Qualifications

    Degree - Masters (Level 9 NFQ)

  • Attendance type

    Part time

  • Apply to

    Course provider