- develop oral presentation skills
- develop student's research and professional development skills
- develop students' presentational skills
- enhance group work skills
- enhance students' problem solving power
- equip students with the skills necessary to understand and critically assess issues in politics and international relations
This course is available through the following application route(s)
World Top 100 in the QS Ranking 2024 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.
Visit Our Website for Further Information such as Entry Requirement and Application Documents.
- The Graduate Diploma in Politics and International Relations is designed to accommodate the scheduling needs of working professionals in government, journalism, the NGO sector, and other fields who wish to deepen their education in politics and international relations while continuing their employment.
- It also serves as a pathway to one of our MA/MSc programmes. Applicants who did not achieve their full potential in their primary degree (e.g., did not obtain a 2H1) can be admitted to the Graduate Diploma and have the opportunity to transfer to an MA/MSc midway through.
Please see the SPIRe Graduate Studies Handbook for further informaion.
About This Course
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.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40050 | Theories of International Relations | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40950 | Introduction to Statistics | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40970 | Politics of European Governance | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41020 | Politics of Human Rights | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41510 | Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41980 | Peace & Conflict Studies | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42040 | Gender & the Political System | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42330 | Research Design | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42530 | Politics of International Trade and Investment | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42550 | Feminist Theory | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40100 | Politics of Development | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40140 | Theories of Global Justice | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40160 | Comparative Public Policy | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40370 | International Political Economy | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40540 | Comparative European Politics | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL40610 | EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41030 | Theory of Human Rights | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41640 | Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41720 | Gender, Peace, and Security | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL41910 | Political Violence | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42050 | Quantitative Text Analysis | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42060 | International Security | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42340 | Programming for Soc Scientists | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)6 of: If you wish to get transferred to MSc Human Rights, or the other MA course, you must take core modules of the course of your choice. Please contact the school administrator for further information before completing your module registration. |
POL42430 | IR Theory: Conflict and Identity | Spring | 10 |
GradDip Politics & International Relations (W231) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 8010
nonEU fee per year - € 15070
GradDip Politics & International Relations (W232) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 5300
nonEU fee per year - € 7540
***Fees are subject to change
EU fee per year - € 8010
nonEU fee per year - € 15070
GradDip Politics & International Relations (W232) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 5300
nonEU fee per year - € 7540
***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.
- This programme is intended for applicants at least a lower or upper second class honours (2.2) or international equivalent in their primary degree.
- 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
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Politics & International Relations:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W231 Politics & International Relations Graduate Diploma Full-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W232 Politics & International Relations Graduate Diploma Part-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |
* you can change options at the top of the page