University College Dublin

GradDip Public Policy


Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 60)


The Graduate Diploma is aimed primarily at students who have an undergraduate qualification in a non-cognate discipline. However, for those students who feel that they did not quite reach their full potential in their undergraduate degree, the programme also offers the opportunity to acquire an additional 'top-up' qualification.


They can choose modules from the broad list of Master of Public Policy Course. Depending on their performance, aspirations and selection of modules, students can transfer from the graduate diploma into the Master of Public Policy in the stream in which they specialised.


Vision & Values Statement

Public policy making has become more challenging in recent years in the context of the increasing complexity of clients' needs, growing expectations regarding appropriate service quality and diminishing public spending in many countries. The Master of Public Policy is specifically designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills to meet these challenges.

We examine the socio-economic changes and political issues which influence policy making, the challenges associated with effective regulation and administration of public services and ensuring that policy decisions are evidence based. If you are interested in public policy research you can take a number of specialist modules on this issue. We also provide a number of optional streams which will enable you to examine different policy fields in depth.


The Graduate Diploma is aimed primarily at students who have an undergraduate qualification in a non-cognate discipline. However, for those students who feel that they did not quite reach their full potential in their undergraduate degree, the programme also offers the opportunity to get transferred to the Master of Public Policy after Semester one.


Programme Outcomes

- Take a critical view of policy analysis, recognizing the variety of considerations that shape policy outcomes and the variety of ideas, expectations, and norms that shape debates about appropriate policy solutions and the assessment of policy outcomes.

-Critically appraise and reflect on the role of the policy analyst within the democratic and policy-making process.

-Demonstrate advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge of public policy and governance, developing their understanding of current debates within public policy and governance.

-Understand the political, ethical, social and economic factors which influence policymaking, along with the challenges associated with effective policy implementation and regulation.

-Systematically analyse public policies comparatively in an international, national, and subnational context, to apply the latest in public policy research.

-Apply advanced theory to problem-solving and public policy challenges, drawing on a range of disciplinary approaches and analytical tools.

-Articulate concepts, knowledge, debates and research to peers, specialist and non-specialist audiences from an inter-disciplinary perspective, contributing to evidence-based policy-making.

-Exercise effective group and team-based approaches to learning, research, and presentation