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Digital & AI Policy

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

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

The MSc Digital & AI policy is designed to offer graduates the opportunity to study some of the core topical, theoretical and methodological Digital & AI Policy issues arising today. 

With support from Microsoft Ireland, UCD School of Information and Communication Studies has established our Digital & AI Policy Programmes with the goal of building digital policy training and capability.

These are designed to offer graduates the opportunity to study some of the core topical, theoretical, and methodological issues that arise in all dimensions of life. We investigate the institutional and public policy dimensions of the prevalence of digital technologies, infrastructures, production, capture, and analysis.
Our programmes also study the underlying social conditions (economic, political, and cultural) that give rise to such technologies and their governance, as well as the multiple public sector and commercial contexts where policy is made and enacted.


In addition to face-to-face environments for our MSc and graduate diploma, we offer online learning options for some programmes.


Choose from:

MSc Digital & AI Policy - Full Time W622, on campus.

MSc Digital & AI Policy - Part Time W623, on campus.

Graduate Diploma Digital & AI Policy - Full-time W624 and Part-Time W625 options, on campus.

Professional Certificate Digital Policy - W569. Online, in the autumn terms, Wednesdays 2pm - 4pm.

For further information contact the Programme Director and the Director for UCD Centre for Digital Policy Dr Elizabeth Farries elizabeth.farries@ucd.ie

About This Course

Knowledge and understanding

• Understand both theoretical and applied issues in digital & AI policy

• Demonstrate advanced conceptual knowledge of digital technologies and their implications for socio-political life

• Understand the dilemmas and tensions involved in regulating digital technologies
 

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Critically appraise evidence from research papers concerning topics in digital & AI policy

• Critically evaluate existing digital & AI policies and policy proposals and their limitations

Making judgements

• Systematically analyse the research literature in a key area of digital & AI policy as part of their dissertation

• Decide, under guidance, on appropriate methodology and materials to be analysed for their dissertation
 

Communications and working skills

• Articulate theoretical concepts, current debates and research findings to both specialist and non-specialist audiences from a digital policy perspective

• Work effectively with peers in learning, research, and presentation

Learning skills

• Collect or source data using research methodologies taught on the programme

• Engage in independent research and analysis under supervision

• Write to a high academic standard

Our MSc degree aims to produce future professionals with a deep understanding of both theoretical and applied issues in digital & AI  policy. On graduating, our students will be able to embark on a variety of careers in IT and the Tech industry, government and civil society roles and non-governmental organisations in Ireland, the EU and globally.

The degree paves the way towards a PhD in this area or careers in government, civil society and tech industry. We also encourage and help our students to turn their theses into publications.

Our Digital & AI  Policy programme is designed to prepare graduates for careers in evaluating, implementing, and studying core topical, theoretical, and methodological issues that arise in digital  & AI policy today.

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
 IS40820 Research Theory and Practice Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS40910 Digital Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS41810 Cultures of Digital Media Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS40960 Digital Policy II Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS41770 Future Tech: Speculation and Information Technology Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS41860 New Tech & Regulation Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS41290 Digital Policy Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS40730 Quantitative Data Analysis Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
POL42540 Applied Data Wrangling and Visualisation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS40640 Research Methods Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS40970 AI & Ethics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS41050 Platform Governance Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS41820 Digital Methods Research Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 Research Methods and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS41850 AI & Digital Cultural Heritage Spring  5

Dr Elizabeth Farries -  Programme Director of the MSc, Graduate Diploma and Professional
Certificate programmes in Digital & AI Policy.

Dr Farries is an assistant professor in the UCD school of Information and Communication Studies and co-director in the UCD Centre for Digital Policy. She is a fellow with the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Canada, and is project lead on an EU Horizon Funded research in successful AI regulation (2025 - 27).

 

MSc Digital & AI Policy (W622) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9515
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MSc Digital & AI Policy (W623) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6140
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Applicants should present with a primary (bachelor’s) degree in any subject with an overall score of 2.1 or higher.
• Names and contact details of two referees who can assess their intellectual ability, maturity and motivation.
• 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.
• While applications are accepted up to August of the year of entry, offers are made to suitably qualified candidates on a first-come-first-served basis. Early application is recommended as entry to the programmes is very competitive and the number of places is limited.

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


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Digital & AI Policy:

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W622
Digital & AI Policy
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W623
Digital & AI Policy
Master of Science

Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsApply
* you can change options at the top of the page
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