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Master of Public Policy

MPP (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Available

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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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 Master of Public Policy is a 90-credit programme. The duration is one year full time or two years part time. A 60-credit version of the programme is available as a Graduate Diploma without thesis.

About This Course

  • Understand the political, ethical, social and economic factors that influence policymaking, along with the challenges associated with effective policy implementation and regulation
  • 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
  • Demonstrate advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge of public policy and governance
  • Develop an understanding of current debates within public policy and governance
  • Critically appraise and reflect on the role of the policy analyst within the democratic and policy-making process
  • Apply advanced theory to problem-solving and public policy challenges, drawing on a range of disciplinary approaches and analytical tools
  • Systematically analyse public policies comparatively in an international, national, and subnational context, to apply the latest in public policy research
  • Critically appraise and reflect on the role of the policy analyst within the democratic and policy-making process
  • 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
  • Articulate concepts, knowledge, debates and research to peers, specialist and non-specialist audiences, from an interdisciplinary perspective
  • Contribute to evidence-based policy-making
  • Source and synthesize different kinds of data, textual and source material 
  • Engage in independent research and analysis
  • Write to a good academic standard

MPP graduates work in the public sector, across a variety of businesses, and in voluntary sector bodies. The positions they have gone on to, in Ireland and internationally, include policy analysts, policy advisors, communications and public affairs managers, policy officers, among many others.
A number of MPP graduates have joined the Irish public service, some through the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) stream. Among the organisations in which MPP graduates have gone on to work with are the Health Services Executive (HSE), the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), Apple Ireland, Morgan McKinley, the Peter McVerry Trust, The Wheel.

The internship opportunity is available to students on the Master of Public Policy programme in lieu of writing a research thesis during the summer months. The module is designed to provide students with an opportunity to gain in-work experience relevant to their academic studies; to apply their academic knowledge and insights; and to begin to build their career profile.



The module runs in Trimester 3 (Summer) but has meetings in earlier trimesters.



Contact the module co-ordinator for more information: Dr Matthew O'Donoghue matthew.donoghue@ucd.ie


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
SPOL41020 Data & Methods for Policy Analysis Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
SPOL41060 Public Administration & Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
SPOL40450 Evidence-Based Policy Making Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - 3)1 of:
Students who would like to register for the Internship module must consult with the Programme Director in advance.
SPOL41040 MPP Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - 3)1 of:
Students who would like to register for the Internship module must consult with the Programme Director in advance.
SPOL41050 MPP Internship Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON41820 Econometrics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON41840 Microeconomics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON42600 Development Economics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON42650 Experiments in Economics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON42660 Behavioural Economics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ENVP40100 Environmental Economics & Climate Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
PLAN40080 Economic and Property Markets Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON42190 Health and Welfare Economics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ECON42360 Energy Economics and Policy Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
EQUL40390 Critical Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
HRM40770 International HRM Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Economics Policy Stream. Admission to ECON modules requires prior training in Economics. Students wishing to take an ECON module must consult with the Module Coordinator and MPP Programme Director first. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
ENVP40100 Environmental Economics & Climate Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
ENVP40180 European Environmental Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
GEOG40860 Practical Environmental Assessment Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW40120 Foundations of Environmental Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PLAN40230 Governing Nature Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
ENVP40040 Tools for Sust Development Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PLAN40200 Nature-Based Solutions Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SOC41120 Human Development Challenges in the Global South Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Environmental Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL41120 Sustainable Futures and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
ENVP40180 European Environmental Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
GEOG40450 Critical Geopolitics and Diplomacy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
LAW40120 Foundations of Environmental Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
LAW40360 Advanced Issues in European Competition Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
LAW40780 Law of the ECHR Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
HRM40770 International HRM Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the European Union Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30. As spaces are limited, any student wishing to take HRM40770 MUST contact Dominic Shellard in the School Office for manual registration. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Regulatory Governance Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW40120 Foundations of Environmental Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Regulatory Governance Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW40760 NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Regulatory Governance Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Regulatory Governance Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW41150 Online Regulation Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
IS40840 Data & Society Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL42540 Applied Data Wrangling and Visualisation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SOC40330 Workshop in Qualitative Research Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SOC40640 Social Simulation: Methods and Models Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - E) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Research Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
STAT40150 Multivariate Analysis Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SOC41160 Global Solutions and Applied Social Change Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL40470 Comparing Healthcare Systems Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL41130 Drugs & Drug Policy Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
EQUL40390 Critical Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PHPS40040 Public Health Practice and Policy Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PHPS40300 Health Promotion Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - F) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Community, Drugs, Health Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL40440 Housing and Social Cohesion Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
GEOG40860 Practical Environmental Assessment Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
GEOG41050 Globalization, Empire and Race: Economic Geography Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PLAN40060 Urban and Regional Development Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PLAN4000W Gov the City: Admin & Transp Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
PLAN40390 Sustainable Cities Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - G) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Urban Policy Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL40440 Housing and Social Cohesion Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW40620 Punishment, Prisons & Public Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW40640 Advanced Criminological Theory Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW40760 NGOs: Law, Governance and Social Change Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW42280 International Refugee Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL41110 Ideas, Ideology in Public Pol. Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
LAW42270 International Migration Law Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - I) Min 0 of:
Only for students in the Citizenship Stream. The total credit amount of option modules must be 30.
SPOL40440 Housing and Social Cohesion Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - J) Min 0 of:
These modules are available as option modules for all students regardless of study track and would replace track options. Maximum number of option module credits is 30
POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - J) Min 0 of:
These modules are available as option modules for all students regardless of study track and would replace track options. Maximum number of option module credits is 30
SPOL41110 Ideas, Ideology in Public Pol. Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - J) Min 0 of:
These modules are available as option modules for all students regardless of study track and would replace track options. Maximum number of option module credits is 30
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - J) Min 0 of:
These modules are available as option modules for all students regardless of study track and would replace track options. Maximum number of option module credits is 30
SPOL41120 Sustainable Futures and Public Policy Spring  10

Charlotte Olhausen- Graduate of Master of Public Policy
(30% Club Scholarship Awardee 2018)

The Master of Public Policy programme has given me great training and career preparation. It offers students foundational
knowledge of public policy as well as the chance to specialise in their chosen area of policy. I specialised in environmental policy:
climate justice is a true passion of mine, but more importantly, it is one of the biggest challenges our world faces. My studies have
deepened my skills and capacities, and as a result I am well placed to take the next steps in my career development.
The 30% Club Scholarship has given me a great platform from which to move onto the career path I wish to follow. I feel very
encouraged as a woman to aim that much higher, with a view to eventually securing a leadership role in the policy sectors I’m most
interested in.

Master of Public Policy (W279) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9100
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

Master of Public Policy (W289) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5460
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Each application is considered on its individual merits. The applicants should have earned a honours bachelors degree (NFQ Level 8)  from a recognised university in a relevant social science subject such as Political Science, International Relations, Social Policy, Sociology, Geography, Economics, Global Studies, Public Policy, Public Administration, EU Studies, Law/International Law, Accounting & Finance, Business etc. with at least Upper Second Class Honours, or its equivalent (an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher in the American system). Relevant professional experience will also be taken into account. 


Note that meeting the requirements do not guarantee admission. Applicants in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted conditional on satisfactory completion of their undergraduate degree.

N.B. Click here  for the admission requirements for the Economics Policy Stream.

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 

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Master of Public Policy:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W279
Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Policy
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W289
Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Policy
Part-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page