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INRL20160

Academic Year 2026/2027

Introduction to European Union Politics (INRL20160)

Subject:
International Relations
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Alona Dolinsky
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module draws on a range of political science research on European integration and European Union politics to analyse the development of the EU and how it operates today. The module addresses one of the most important questions in the study of European politics and international organisations: Why did a diverse group of states construct what is currently the world’s most extensive example of international integration? The module provides an extensive overview of the contemporary EU, including its institutions and policy-making processes using approaches from modern political science. We will assess how the EU is coping with economic and political challenges to its prosperity and legitimacy. By the end of the module, students will have a thorough grounding in EU politics and the manner in which EU institutions function and cooperate to make policy.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Substantive knowledge

By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- Understand and apply the major theories of European integration.
- Understand the contemporary politics of European integration.
- Display knowledge of the objectives and functioning of key EU institutions and policies.
- Critically assess the successes and failures of EU policies.

Skills (Intellectual and Transferable)

The lectures will encourage you to:
- Listen carefully and critically to orally-presented arguments.
- Develop selective and efficient note-taking methods.
- Make links between material presented at different times, on different issues.

The assessments in the course (one-hour mid-term closed-book multiple-choice exam and end-of-term examination) will require you to:
- Follow lecture content and read the assigned literature.
- Understand, analyse and assess that material.
- Distinguish between closely related concepts, institutions, and processes with precision.
- Write in a concise and cogent style.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Lectures

22
Total

122

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- Lectures
- Project-based learning
- End of year exam

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

This is a stage two class. Thus, students should have attended and successfully passed the core stage 1 classes prior to taking this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Politics of the EU (POL20160)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Final exam (essay questions) End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
60
 No
Exam (In-person): In-class closed book multiple-choice exam Week 5 Graded No
40
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
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