Explore UCD

UCD Home >

BSc in Politics and International Relations  (PTS5)

BSc (NFQ Level 8) · Academic Year 2025/2026
School
School of Politics and International Relations
Attendance
Full Time
Level
Undergraduate
NFQ Level
8
Award
Bachelor of Science
Mode of Delivery
On Campus
Programme Director
Professor Jos Dornschneider-Elkink
Overall Programme Credits:
180
Programme Credits:
Stage 1
Core/Option: 55 Electives: 5
Stage 2
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Stage 3
Core/Option: 50 Electives: 10
Major/Minor Core & Option Credits:
Stage 1: 55
Stage 2: 50
Stage 3: 50

Curricular information is subject to change.

UCD School of Politics & International Relations is the oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland with over 150 years of experience in political studies and a world-renowned faculty drawn from many countries.

The BSc in Politics and International Relations draws on this experience and its diverse faculty to provide a specialised programme for goal-oriented students who have a defined interest in the discipline.

The course contains primarily core modules in the first year with a wide range of option modules in later years. A dedicated capstone module in the final year will help students to develop their skills in research, writing and presentation, as well as their ability to work in teams and to communicate effectively.

  • apply knowledge and understanding to the analysis of contemporary political issues
  • develop critical thinking skills that will help to evaluate different sources of information
  • learn skills to analyse quantitative and qualitative data
  • understand the political forces that play a role in decision-making processes
  • learn to present ideas in a coherent and logical manner 
  • work with people from different backgrounds, communicate effectively with people from different cultures and engage in dialogue with people who have different opinions

Graduates will be well-placed to continue into a specialised Masters programme, or to work in government, non-profit organisations, international organisations and the private sector.

Stage 1

Students are required to take 45 credits in Core modules and 10 credits in Option modules. The remaining 5 credits should be selected from a list of elective modules which will be made available at registration.

Stage 2

Students are required to take 35 credits in Core modules and 15 credits in Option modules. The remaining 10 credits should be selected from a list of elective modules which will be made available at registration.

Stage 3

Students are required to take 10 credits in Core modules and 40 credits in Option modules. The remaining 10 credits should be selected from a list of elective modules which will be made available at registration.

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
 INRL20160 Introduction to European Union Politics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL10160 Foundations of Contemporary Politics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL10170 Foundations in Political Research Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 SOC10020 Introduction to Sociology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 STAT10050 Practical Statistics Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 INRL10020 Foundations of Intl Relations Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL10120 Foundations in Global Development Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL10180 Foundations of Pol Theory Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL20050 Research Methods in Political Science Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Students must take 10 credits from the Option modules listed.
 INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Students must take 10 credits from the Option modules listed.
 POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Students must take 10 credits from the Option modules listed.
 DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 DEV20010 Topics in Intl Development Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 INRL20040 International Relations: Introduction to Theories and Empirics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 POL20010 Individuals and the State: The Idea of Freedom in the History of Political Thought Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 ECON20120 The Economics of the European Union: Institutions, Policies and Crises Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 LAW10440 Law in Europe Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 POL20020 Comparative Politics Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
 POL20250 Irish Politics Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 DEV30010 Sustainable Development through the Lens of Gender Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 INRL30330 Integration and Fragmentation in the Global System Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics Autumn  5
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL36160 Northern Ireland Politics Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL36180 Politics of Care Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL30680 Gender and Politics Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL30690 Introduction to Asian Politics Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL30730 Political Activism in the Middle East Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL36110 Comparative Political Theory Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL36150 Power, Identity, and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A)15CR:
Students must take 15 credits from the option modules listed.
 POL36170 Respecting Diversity Spring  10
Stage 3 Core Modules
 POL30660 Data Analytics for Social Sciences Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 DEV30010 Sustainable Development through the Lens of Gender Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 INRL30330 Integration and Fragmentation in the Global System Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 INRL30400 EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL36160 Northern Ireland Politics Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL36180 Politics of Care Autumn  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL30680 Gender and Politics Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL30690 Introduction to Asian Politics Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL30730 Political Activism in the Middle East Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL30780 Justice in Education Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL36110 Comparative Political Theory Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL36150 Power, Identity, and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 3 Options - A)40CR:
Students must take 40 credits of modules from the Option list
 POL36170 Respecting Diversity Spring  10

See the UCD Assessment website for further details, including worked examples of how degree award GPAs are calculated

Module Weighting Info
 
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHSOC020 Stage 3 - 80.00%
Stage 2 - 20.00%
 Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20
Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67
Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07
Pass

2.00

2.47
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.