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Geopolitics & the Global Economy

MA (NFQ Level 9)

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

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The MA in Geopolitics & the Global Economy equips students with an in-depth understanding of international relations, war, and conflict resolution as well as national, local and regional economic development, global economic processes, global political events and the knowledge economy.

​The course includes fieldwork in an overseas location such as Berlin or Madrid. Students acquire a solid grounding in the key knowledge and skills required by a geographer specialising in political or economic geography. Students can choose whether to study the political geography of Europe or US foreign policy in detail and can select a number of optional courses to focus on subject areas that interest them. These optional courses introduce the opportunity for interdisciplinary study with courses offered in political science, history and American studies.

About This Course

  • Develop writing skills in the form of academic articles and a thesis.
  • Establish contacts with political and economic actors and policy-makers.
  • Gain critical reading skills in the area of Geopolitics and Global Political Economy.
  • Learn field-based investigation methods and techniques.
  • Learn research techniques and methodologies.
  • Obtain knowledge of current affairs and historical events as related to international affairs.

Graduates work in government agencies, international aid agencies, global multilateral agencies, human rights institutions, think-tanks, research bodies and private firms in roles such as researchers, lecturers, aids workers, GIS specialists, planners and local government officials.

Graduates now work in organisations such as:

  • UN
  • World Bank
  • UNICEF
  • Amnesty International
  • Human Rights Watch
  • Deloitte & Touche

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
 GEOG41140 Dissertation 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)  35
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOG40390 Research Design Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOG40450 Critical Geopolitics and Diplomacy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOG40700 International Fieldwork Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose at least 10 credits from the below list - you can choose up to 30 credits.
 GEOG40760 Development and the Global South Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose at least 10 credits from the below list - you can choose up to 30 credits.
 GEOG40820 GIS Principles and Applications Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:
Students must choose at least 10 credits from the below list - you can choose up to 30 credits.
 GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 AMST40030 Media and US Foreign Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 AMST40310 Challenges in US Foreign Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 AMST40580 News Media Today Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 AMST40590 Trump's America Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 ECON42600 Development Economics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 GEOG41050 Globalization, Empire and Race: Economic Geography Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 PLAN40060 Urban and Regional Development Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 AMST40560 The Global Politics of Cyber Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 ECON42730 Global Economic History Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 GEOG40830 Global South Fieldwork: Vietnam Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 GEOG41120 Geopolitical Risks and Crises Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL40610 EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
Remaining credits can be chosen from the below list.
 POL42060 International Security Spring  10

Natalie Norris
Aon Ireland
Client services for global cyber solutions

“The MA Geopolitics & Global Economy programme was one of the few master’s programs that let me tailor the program and modules specifically to my passions and career goals, allowing me to take an interdisciplinary approach to a new field of study. I was eager to have the opportunity to build off of my politics and security background and expand further into the field of geography by studying not only geopolitics but also GIS, the economy and pursuing fieldwork.”

Ryan McCarrel, US,International Research Fellow at The Caucasus Research Resource Center – Azerbaijan

Getting my MA in Geopolitics and the Global Economy at UCD gave me an opportunity to study with some leading academics in their field. Lectures were engaging and thoughtprovoking, challenging me to think critically about some of the most prescient issues confronting the world today.

MA Geopolitics & the Global Economy (W262) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9330
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MA Geopolitics & the Global Economy (W420) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5600
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on www.ucd.ie/fees. Please note that the costs of travel and subsistence for some fieldwork modules are borne by the student. 

UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD masters programme. Please see www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/ or https://www.ucd.ie/geography/study/scholarships/ for further information.

  • This programme is intended for applicants with an honours bachelors degree (NFQ Level 8) or international equivalent in any discipline including geography, political science, history, anthropology, economics and sociology, or professionals working in related fields.
  • Applicants should have a minimum of an upper second class honours (2:1) degree or international equivalent at bachelors level. Applicants with a 2.2. may be considered after interview in exceptional circumstances.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
  • 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 
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No


Applications are welcome from graduates from any discipline, though undergraduate disciplines with a thematic link to geography, political science, history, economics or sociology may be advantageous. The programme would also be suitable for those with a professional background in related fields who might wish to develop and broaden their skillset.



Please be aware that the modules for the part-time route are only available during working hours, from Monday to Friday. This course is not offered in the evenings or online. Instead, it is designed to spread your learning requirements over two years, which is ideal for those who are currently employed and can only attend campus for one day per week. If you are worried about managing your work and study commitments, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Geopolitics & the Global Economy:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W262
Geopolitics & the Global Economy
Master of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Graduate Taught Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W420
Geopolitics & the Global Economy
Master of Arts
Part-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsClosed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W262
Geopolitics & the Global Economy
Master of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W420
Geopolitics & the Global Economy
Master of Arts
Part-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply
* you can change options at the top of the page
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