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MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations

MSc (NFQ Level 9)
Scholarships Available

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

Duration:
1 Year
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Science
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Duration:
2 Years
Attendance:
Part-Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Science
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Apply Now
Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for immediate answers about the application procedure, required documents, and more.
World Top 100 in the QS Ranking 2026 in Politics | Oldest and Largest School of its Kind in Ireland.

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 MSc in Gender, Politics and International Relations is an intensive course that prepares you for a career in research, policy, or advocacy in international organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, or academia.

Gender is a fundamental aspect of both the international and domestic political systems. This programme facilitates students to become specialists in understanding how gender shapes both individual and group interactions with politics on the national and global level.

 

The programme focuses on combining in-depth sub-disciplinary knowledge with advanced methodological skills, across both established and emerging methods.

About This Course

  • To thoroughly familiarise students with cutting edge research in the broad area of gender, politics and international relations.
  • Allow students to connect theoretical debates on gender with real-world political issues and policymaking.
  • Facilitate students' professional development to work as gender experts.
  • Develop and apply advanced research methods skills.
  • Develop students’ independent research capabilities.
  • Enhance students’ writing skills.
  • Develop oral presentation skills.
  • Enhance teamwork skills.

Graduates of our Master’s programme in Gender, Politics and International Relations go on to work across a wide range of sectors, from international organisations and government to civil society, consultancy, and academic research.

International organisations and think tanks: A number of graduates have gone on to careers within leading international institutions and policy bodies, including the United Nations in New York and Geneva, the World Trade Organisation, the Asian Development Bank, and Eurasia Group, working on research, policy analysis, and institutional affairs.

Government and public bodies: Graduates have taken up roles across a range of government departments and public institutions, including the European Commission, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the Department of Justice, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Courts Service of Ireland, contributing to equality policy, legislative reform, and public administration.

Consultancy and advisory services: Several graduates have moved into consultancy and communications, with alumni joining EY Ireland and Hanover Communications, advising clients on public affairs, strategic communications, and policy.

NGOs and civil society: Reflecting the programme’s commitment to applied policy and advocacy, graduates have gone on to organisations including GOAL Global, the MacArthur Justice Center, Saoirse Domestic Violence Services, and the Men’s Development Network, working on human rights, justice reform, and gender-based violence.

PhD programmes: Graduates of the School of Politics and International Relations have continued into doctoral programmes at internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Oxford, Northwestern University, Ghent University, Trinity College Dublin, and University College Dublin.

Roles held by graduates span a broad spectrum, from Policy Analyst and Gender Adviser to Advocacy Officer, Researcher, and Public Affairs Consultant. Others have gone on to doctoral programmes or taken up positions in healthcare, international development, and the not-for-profit sector.

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
 POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL42310 Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Core Option (Group 1): Students should select POL40950 Intro to Stats unless they have previously completed a similar course. Students wishing to take POL50050 must contact the School to request permission.
 POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Core Option (Group 1): Students should select POL40950 Intro to Stats unless they have previously completed a similar course. Students wishing to take POL50050 must contact the School to request permission.
 POL50050 Quantitative Methods II Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 10CR:
Core Option (Group 2) : Students must select at least one module in this section.
 DEV40020 Gender and Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 10CR:
Core Option (Group 2) : Students must select at least one module in this section.
 POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 EQUL40310 Masculinities, Gender and Equality Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 GS40120 Decoloniality and Intersectionality Thinking Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40130 Poverty, Development and Global Justice Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40370 International Political Economy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL41860 Political Economy of Aid and Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42620 Global Governance & International Organizations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42640 Crisis of the Liberal World Order Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42650 Comparative Political Representation Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 DEV40040 Corruption, Governance & Dev Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 DEV42600 Global Affairs & Sust Futures Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 LAW42290 Gender, Conflict-related Harm & Transitional Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40100 Development and Postcolonial Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL41870 Political Economy of Institutions Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL41930 Psychology of Conflict in the Middle East Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42430 Conflict and Identity in International Relations Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42500 Politics of Authoritarianism Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42530 Politics of International Trade and Investment Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 10CR:
Option modules: Select the remaining modules here to bring your total credits to 90.
 POL42560 AI and Large Language Models Spring  10

Lucía Núñez Roncero

This Master's was perfect for me because it combines the three disciplines I am most interested in, and it looks at International Relations and Politics from a gender perspective. It also has an intersectional perspective and tackles structural inequalities and systems of power and privilege, which was very important to me.

This program allows you to pick from a wide range of electives and decide whether you want to engage in courses in the field of gender studies, International Relations theory, political theory, policy-making, European governance, etc., allowing you to craft your studies towards your ideal career, which was very useful to me and all my classmates. If you follow the MA path, the chance to do an internship instead of a thesis is fantastic if practical experience is what you are lacking, and you will still gain a lot of knowledge on how to conduct research during your studies. UCD and SPIRe provide a wide range of opportunities to their students. I have had the opportunity to attend multiple conferences and guest lectures of important figures in Ireland and around the world. I have also been hired as a Research Assistant by one of my professors for my internship, and I am fortunate to be learning directly what it is like to participate in a big research project on the field of Political Science

MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations (W525) Full Time
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600
EU          fee per year - € 10555

MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations (W526) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6710
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

 

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.

  • Non-EU citizens are ineligible for part-time study except for those holding a valid non-student residency visa.
  • UCD Global offers several graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students who have received an offer for a UCD graduate degree programme. For further details, please visit the International Scholarships.
  • SPIRe operates the  SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme. 

For further information, please visit our comprehensive FAQ page.

  • A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1). 2H1 is equivalent to 60 per cent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA.

  • Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.

  • English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 250 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement. Click here for further info. 

  • 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/ 
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. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

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


Application Deadlines




  • Deadline for EU applicants: Monday, 7 September 2026 (The first day of the term)

  • Deadline for non-EU applicants: The end of August, 2026 

  • Deadline for non-EU applicants who require an entry visa in advance: 

    • In some countries, it takes a few months to process visa applications. We strongly advise that you apply well in advance, ideally as early as March. Please contact the Irish Embassy in your country or the UCD Global Regional offices for further information.

    • Non-EU citizens who have been living in Ireland or the EU must go through the EU Fee Assessment process before their applications can be assessed. This process takes a few weeks. 







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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations:

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W525
MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Apply
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W526
MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations
Master of Science

Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsApply
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