History & Politics

History and Politics is a classic combination of subjects for students looking to investigate the workings of government and society in contemporary and historical perspectives. You will examine why society has changed and seek to understand the issues facing societies across the globe today.

Through both subjects, the course will teach you the essential skills of writing, critical thinking, evaluating evidence, and assessing data. This course offers excellent interdisciplinary preparation by combining historical research with political science.

You will study Irish, European and world history, engaging with political, cultural, social and economic aspects of history, and investigating historical change from the impact of ideas to the role of class, gender and race. You will also study methods and theories in political science, including international relations and development, while covering a range of areas such as political conflict, sustainability, human rights, political systems and political economy.

First Year

The core first year module is an interdisciplinary module fusing historical and political science approaches to a chosen case study. You will take foundational courses in both History and Politics.

First year modules allow you to explore both your chosen subjects widely. In Politics, you will get an opportunity to study contemporary politics, political research, political theory and international relations. History modules range from the medieval to modern and allow you to study Irish, European and global history. This broad approach allows you to explore the full breadth of your subjects and will assist you in specialisation and subject choices in subsequent degree years.

Second Year

In your second year, you will begin to deepen your knowledge by taking core and elective modules in History and Politics. In History, these modules will allow you to focus on particular countries, themes and periods, alongside the core module History Today. In Politics, you will study modules ranging from international relations to political theory and research methods module.

Third Year

You will choose from a range of options that will enable you to broaden your horizons and enrich your academic experience: • Apply for a competitive internship in an area that interests you and/or relates to your area of study • Study abroad for a trimester/year to develop your language skills and immerse yourself in a new culture • Deepen your knowledge by studying a dedicated range of History and Politics modules

Fourth Year

Students take option modules in both subjects in fourth year. The culmination of the course is a capstone project, where eligible students can choose to work closely with a supervisor to complete a dissertation in history, politics or an interdisciplinary mix of both.

Students may apply for study abroad opportunities in universities across Europe and worldwide. Both subjects have a network of exchange agreements with partner Universities including: France, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, United States, Italy.

Graduates of History and Politics have key skills in research, analysis and communication that are highly valued by employers. History & Politics graduates work across: International Organisations, Broadcasting and Journalism, Business, Civil Service, Law, NGOs, Publishing, Public Relations, Politics, Research, Teaching, Marketing, Policymaking, Tourism, Heritage.

Graduates are eligible to apply for UCD MA and MSc programmes in either History or Politics and International Relations. For more information see www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies.

• Level 5/6 QQI-FET
• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route
• University Access

UCD School of History
p. +353 1 716 8375
e. history@ucd.ie

By joining the UCD College of Arts and Humanities you will be part of a vibrant community of students and faculty who are committed to creating a more sustainable, just and equitable future. Our courses are designed to equip students with the best education in their chosen arts and humanities subjects. Our research and teaching and learning connect with many of the SDGs, most notably:

• SDG 4: Quality Education -Promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality - Advances gender equality by addressing social norms, histories, and cultural practices that contribute to gender disparities.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Encourages understanding and action against social, economic, and political inequalities.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities - Enhances cultural understanding and heritage preservation, fostering sustainable communities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promotes peace, justice, and strong institutions through critical inquiry into human rights, ethics, and governance.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - Encourages global partnerships and collaboration by fostering international understanding and dialogue.

Our programmes equip students with critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness, essential for addressing complex global challenges.

“Studying history and politics in UCD has been a fantastic opportunity. The subjects combine extremely well together, making each module truly intriguing. They also form a positive balance so that you are not just focusing on one specific topic. What I have enjoyed most about this course so far is taking part in mock elections, which developed my growing passion to pursue a career in politics in the future.”

Sophie O’Leary, Student

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.