Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Information & Communication Studies

BA/BSc (NFQ Level 8)
I am an
Study Abroad

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

Contact UsContact Us

Information & Communication Studies (ICS) equips students with the knowledge, skills, and tools to help them make sense of a world where every aspect of human experience is affected by digital technology, communications media, data, and information in all formats. ICS analyses the effects of existing and emerging digital technologies on societies, culture, politics, privacy, health, education and the many spheres of public, private and personal life, and also helps students to develop the skills to be involved in the design of new technologies.

About This Course

Information & Communication Studies (ICS) equips students with the knowledge, skills, and tools to help them make sense of a world where every aspect of human experience is affected by digital technology, communications media, data, and information in all formats. ICS analyses the effects of existing and emerging digital technologies on societies, culture, politics, privacy, health, education and the many spheres of public, private and personal life, and also helps students to develop the skills to be involved in the design of new technologies.

ICS provides students with the skill-set and subject knowledge to develop career pathways into varying parts of the tech, communications and media industry specifically, and a range of careers more broadly. Ultimately, ICS is about people, and understanding how people and technology interact and influence each other in the 21st Century.

First Year

All first-year social sciences students study the core module, Societal Challenges in the Twenty First Century. Additional modules may include: Introduction to Communication & Media Studies • Digital Technology • Digital Judgement: Truth, Lies & the Internet • Information, Society & Culture • + 1 other subject • Elective module

Second Year

Students in ICS take the core module Critical Research Skills, and choose from additional option modules including: Core Competencies for Digital Citizenship • Social Media & Participation in an Online World • Exploring Text with Python • Computer- Mediated Communication • Social Studies of ICTs • Contextual Design Inquiry • Theories of Media & Communication • Critical Data Studies • + 1 other subject • Elective modules

Third & Fourth Year

ICS students deepen their disciplinary knowledge and understanding by choosing specialist and experiential modules to reflect their interests and career goals, including: • Digital Media Ethics • Digital Storytelling • Web Publishing • Web UX Evaluation • Gender, Race and Media • Digital Research Skills • Artificial intelligence • Research & Discovery (4th Year only) Technology and Human Rights • Digital Media & Climate Crisis • Personal Information Management • Information Architecture • Elective modules

Assessment

Students in ICS attend classes and undertake independent study and project work. Assessment is through a combination of continuous assessment, projects, and end-oftrimester written examinations.

Internship Opportunities

In third year, students can apply for an optional paid internship for one trimester in a range of organisations in the public and private sector, which help to inform future career decisions through real-world experience.

Study Information & Communication Studies (BSc Social Sciences)

Archaeology Sociology
Economics Mathematics
Geography Social Justice
Philosophy Statistics
Politics & International Relations

Music Irish/Gaeilge

Click To View The BSc Social Sciences Course Combination Grid


Study Information & Communication Studies (BA Joint Honours)

Linguistics English

Click To View The BA Arts Course Combination Grid

Students may study abroad for a year or a semester. Destinations include the USA, Australia, China and Canada.

Information & Social Computing is relevant for careers in: Web design and development, Social media, Social computing, User experience design, Investigative research, Publishing, Digital marketing and Business.

Graduates can progress to various Master’s courses:

  • MSc Communication & Media, which prepares students for public and private sectors careers in digital media industries, communication regulation and policy, media design, management and research.
  • MSc Human-Computer Interaction and MSc Information Systems, which prepare students in careers in human-computer interaction, usability, user experience, user research and information systems-related professions.
  • Master of Library & Information Studies (MLIS), which prepares students for careers including librarianship, information consulting and digital media management.

Graduates can also pursue research careers by studying for a PhD.

UCD School of Information and Communication Studies

e. socialsciences@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 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select Minimum 2 of:
IS10010 Introduction to Communication & Media Studies Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select Minimum 2 of:
IS10050 Digital Judgement: Truth, Lies, & the Internet Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select Minimum 2 of:
IS10040 Information, Society, and Culture Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Select Minimum 2 of:
IS10060 Digital Technology Spring  5

Information and Communication Studies (ICS) is a versatile and interesting course. It explores a broad range of topics such as data, communications, digitisation and social media and in turn how they all impact society. Some of my favourite modules have been information design, web UX evaluation and computer-mediated-communication. During my course, I have also taken elective modules that have complimented my studies including critical thinking, beginners Spanish, statistics and web design module. ICS also provides a good understanding of information, technology, social structures and digitisation in modern society and the skill skills I have developed will be highly sought after by employers.

Gráinne Brennan, Student

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Information & Communication Studies:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceInt SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Closed
showAudience-audienceInt BAU5
Arts
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Closed
showAudience-audienceInt SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Apply
showAudience-audienceInt BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Undergraduate Degree (Non EU)
Non EU Undergraduates
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU DN700
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO Apply via CAO
showAudience-audienceEU DN520
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Application through CAO Apply via CAO
* you can change options at the top of the page

Additional special entry route(s) to Information & Communication Studies:

These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt SBU3
Social Sciences
Bachelor of Science
Full-Time

Commencing September 2025
Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt BAU5
Joint Honours
Bachelor of Arts
Full-Time

Commencing September 2025
Access Progression Pathway
Access Progression Pathway
Application to this Non-EU Access Progression Pathway is by invitation only. If you are not currently enrolled on an Access programme at UCD, your application will be marked as invalid.
If you are not a current Access student, but you are a non-EU applicant seeking admission to an undergraduate degree, please submit an application via the "Undergraduate Degree (Non-EU)" course type.
Apply