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INRL30400

Academic Year 2026/2027

EU Foreign Policy: understanding how the European Union and its member states engage with the world (INRL30400)

Subject:
International Relations
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Ben Tonra
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 explores the origins, development and contemporary practice of the European Union as an international actor. Particular attention is given to the challenges confronting EU foreign policy in an increasingly contested international order, including geopolitical competition, war and insecurity in Europe and its neighbourhood, economic security, human rights, development, migration, climate change and the changing transatlantic relationship.

Students will examine the Union's efforts to define and pursue common interests while reconciling the different priorities of its Member States. The module considers EU foreign-policy strategy and decision-making alongside the Union's diplomatic, economic, regulatory, developmental and security and defence instruments.

A distinctive feature of the module is its use of Problem Based Learning (PBL). Students work in teams on contemporary foreign-policy problems and assume professional roles such as EU and national diplomats, government officials, journalists and civil-society actors. Rather than simply studying EU foreign policy, students are therefore asked to research, negotiate, formulate and defend policy responses to realistic international challenges.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the evolution, formation and implementation of EU foreign policy.

Analyse contemporary international challenges confronting the European Union.

Evaluate and apply major theoretical approaches in International Relations and European integration to EU external relations.

Explain the institutional and political processes through which EU foreign policy is constructed.

Critically analyse EU foreign policy using contrasting perspectives and detailed empirical evidence.

Locate, assess and appropriately use academic scholarship, primary documents and contemporary policy evidence.

Formulate realistic policy responses to contemporary foreign-policy problems.

Work effectively as part of a professional team, including managing disagreement, allocating responsibilities and integrating individual research into a collective product.

Communicate and defend policy analysis orally under questioning.

Reflect critically upon their own learning and contribution to collaborative work.

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
Lectures

12

Small Group

12

Specified Learning Activities

50

Autonomous Student Learning

150

Total

224


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module will be taught in a Problem Based Learning (PBL) format with a mix of lectures and group work. All students are expected to read the specified material for each lecture/seminar, undertake active learning as part of the PBL framework, and reflect critically on reading and research. The BrightSpace system will be used as a support to the module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Reflective Assignment: Students will submit four individual learning journals of approximately 200–300 words over the trimester. A final summative paper to be graded Week 3, Week 5, Week 7, Week 9, Week 12 Graded No
30
No
Group Work Assignment: PBL 1: Professional Written Product 50%; Research & Evidence Record 15%; Decision Record 10%; Oral Presentation & Defence 25%. Week 5 Graded No
20
No
Group Work Assignment: PBL 2: Professional Written Product 50%; Research & Evidence Record 15%; Decision Record 10%; Oral Presentation & Defence 25%. Week 8 Graded No
20
No
Group Work Assignment: PBL 3: Professional Written Product 50%; Research & Evidence Record 15%; Decision Record 10%; Oral Presentation & Defence 25%. Week 11 Graded No
20
No
Participation in Learning Activities: Student engagement and participation will be assessed through professional assessment and by self and peer review within your teams. Week 12 Graded No
10
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 No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Journal entries will not be graded but feedback will be provided on a selection thereof. Students will then submit a final Reflective Learning Journal Essay which will reflect on both their own learning, their working experience in teams and how these have impacted them.

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 09:00 - 10:50