International Development

The Grad Dip in International Development is designed to provide you with an interdisciplinary understanding of the process of development by bringing together expertise in politics, economics, agriculture, political economy and other areas.

Oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland with over 150 years of experience in political studies
World-renowned staff drawn from many countries.

The Graduate Diploma in International Development is a 60-credit programme.

Full time students must take three 10-credit modules in the first trimester and three 10-credit modules in the second trimester.

Depending on their performance, aspirations and selection of modules, students may be able to transfer from the graduate diploma into the MA International Development after the first trimester.

Current Core and Option Modules for Graduate Diploma in International Development

These are the current modules for 2023/24 but are subject to change. Each of the following modules carries 10 credits unless otherwise specified.

Core Modules
POL40100 Politics of Development (Spring)
POL41860 Governance, Politics and Development (Spring)

Option Modules

Autumn
GS40100 Gender, Conflict-related Harm & Transitional Justice
LAW40760 NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change
POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment
POL40050 Theories of International Relations
POL40140 Theories of Global Justice
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy
POL40540 Comparative European Politics
POL40950 Introduction to Statistics
POL41020 Politics of Human Rights
POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa
POL41650 The Global Political Economy of Europe
POL41870 Political Economy of Institutions and Comparative Development
POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies
POL42040 Gender & the Political System
POL42070 Politics of (mis-)information
POL42330 Research Design
POL42470 Gender Identity & Difference

Spring
DEV40020 Gender and Development
POL40370 International Political Economy
POL40970 Politics of European Governance
POL41030 Theory of Human Rights
POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science
POL41720 Gender Peace and Security
POL41780 The Politics of Inequality
POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis
POL42060 International Security
POL42340 Programming for Social Scientists
POL42440 Political Economy of Security

This programme is intended for applicants at least a lower or upper second class honours (2.2) or international equivalent in their primary degree 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.

• Professional experience may also be taken into account

• Applicants whose first language is not English should have met the
English language requirements as listed on the following link. Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement.

The following entry routes are available:
Grad Dip International Development FT (W299)
Deadline: Rolling*

Grad Dip International Development PT (W300)
Deadline: Rolling*

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

W299: 1 year full-time
W300: 2 years part-time
Mode of delivery: Face-to-Face

Next Intake: 2024/2025 September.

Careers & Employability
Graduates of the programme have found employment with the official Irish aid programme, in Irish and international non-governmental organisations such as Trocaire, Goal, Action Aid and Oxfam, and with agencies of the European Union and the United Nations as well as in journalism, education, local community development, and many other areas such as:

• Public administration
• Journalism
• Media
• Civil society organisations
• Voluntary sector
• Academic institutions