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MEconSc European Public Affairs & Law

MEconSc (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Available

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

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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.

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An intensive, multi-disciplinary and tightly-focused programme of study on the European Union; its development, structures, decision-making and law as well as a major focus on the Union’s growing international role and capacity.

  •  designed to equip graduates with strong expertise in contemporary European affairs, based on a genuinely inter-disciplinary approach to the comparative study of Europe and the European Union. 
  • core modules in the internal and external affairs of the European Union, paying particular attention to contemporary changes in political and economic governance of the Euro area.

About This Course

  • To fully appraise students of key issues in European public affairs and law
  • develop methodological research expertise
  • develop oral presentation skills
  • develop students' capacities for critical reflection on European policies and processes
  • enhance group work skills
  • enhance students' research and writing skills

Whether working in the private, public or voluntary sectors, the ability to explain Europe’s past, to analyze it’s present and to advise on its future is of crucial importance. The MEconSc qualifies students to work in variety of spheres, including the institutions of the EU and other international organizations; national government structures; think tanks and other policy-oriented research groups.

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
 LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
LAW40120 Foundations of Environmental Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
LAW40150 International Competition Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
LAW40780 Law of the ECHR Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42330 Research Design Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42530 Politics of International Trade and Investment Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42550 Feminist Theory Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
SPOL41060 Public Administration & Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
LAW42170 Behavioural Laws Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40100 Politics of Development Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL40610 EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL41910 Political Violence Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42060 International Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42430 IR Theory: Conflict and Identity Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules; Select Three
POL42560 AI and Large Language Models Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students must pick either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis as a core module
 POL42300 SPIRe Internship Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students must pick either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis as a core module
 POL42310 Thesis Summer  30

Joey Donald

This programme provided me with a multifaceted approach to the European Union, through academic lenses of law, politics and economics. With the focus from both a supranational perspective of the EU as well as national perspectives. Providing a holistic approach to EU and its position in the global system. The practical elements of the course allowed us to apply these learnings to real world experiences.

Ivana Jagar

This master’s was a great choice primarily due to its multidisciplinary design of modules, which offered in-depth and integrated understanding of contemporary issues of the EU. The programme provided an overview of the European economic integration on which the analytical approach to the EU politics and policies was further developed while, at the same time, the implications of these processes on EU law were explored. In my experience the underlying value of this course is in the dynamic academic environment that encourages students to use critical thinking - helping them to acquire knowledge and develop skills that can be applied in both a professional career and further academic studies.

MEconSc European Public Affairs & Law (W216) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10350
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MEconSc European Public Affairs & Law (W264) Part Time
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300
EU          fee per year - € 6580

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

SPIRe operates a Graduate Scholarship programme, which normally opens in late Spring. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme. Please note that not all programmes are eligible for this Scholarship.

  • 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/ 

           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. 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


The applicants should have earned an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law/international law with at least Upper Second Class Honours, or its equivalent (an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher in the American system). Relevant professional experience will also be taken into account. 
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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MEconSc European Public Affairs & Law:

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W216
MEconSc European Public Affairs & Law
Master of Economic Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W264
MEconSc European Public Affairs & Law
Master of Economic Science

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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