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Politics & International Relations

GradDip (NFQ Level 9)

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

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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

  • 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

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 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

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


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