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MSc Politics

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

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

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T‌he MSc Politics degree was developed for those who wish to understand the role of politics in shaping the great issues of our day including power and conflict, distribution and inequality, relations between nations, and the new challenges of globalisation, financial crisis, national security, and climate change.

  • The course focuses on the two traditional pillars of the discipline – political theory and comparative politics.
  • Comparative politics looks at the European nation-states in a comparative perspective.
  • Political theory— the reflection on the nature and morality of politics.

About This Course

  • develop methodological research expertise
  • develop student's research and professional development skills
  • develop students' presentational skills
  • develop understanding of the importance of interests and influence
  • 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

Graduates work with a wide variety of international private-sector employers, government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations, in roles that include:

  • Government Social Researcher
  • Diplomatic Advisor
  • Public Affairs Consultant
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Political Advisor


Recent graduates of UCD School of Politics & International Relations now work in:

  • United Nations, New York and Geneva
  • World Trade Organisation
  • IMF
  • OSCE
  • Asia Development Bank
  • Saatchi & Saatchi
  • Credit Suisse First Boston

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
 POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL42310 Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 DEV40020 Gender and Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 GS40110 Gender, Sexuality, and the Body; The Politics of Belonging Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 SPOL41060 Public Administration & Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 SPOL41110 Ideas, Ideology in Public Pol. Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40100 Politics of Development Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL40610 EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL41910 Political Violence Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL42060 International Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL42350 Connected_Politics 2 Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 POL42430 IR Theory: Conflict and Identity Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option modules
 SPOL40450 Evidence-Based Policy Making Spring  10

Coral Richardson

Hello, my name is Coral and I am originally from California in the US. When looking at potential programs, the UCD Politics program stood out because it offered unique elective options and featured faculty members with expertise and current research in fields that interested me.

Starting a degree in a new field was daunting at first, however, the faculty, peers, and courses have overwhelming highlights of my time at UCD and I feel more than adequately prepared for future work in research and academia. I have had the chance to work with several faculty members in my own courses and as a tutor through the Master’s Graduate Scholarship program. Each professor has been engaging and passionate about their research as well as willing to help me narrow my academic interests.

In addition to the uplifting academic environment, I have met so many new friends from Europe and abroad that have introduced me to new customs and ideas that have expanded my worldview and made my time in Dublin even more enjoyable. Academically speaking, this course offered a balance of elective and required courses that simultaneously improved my research abilities and general understanding of modern politics without restricting opportunities to further my research interests in more specific subfields such as development politics. The optional elective courses are diverse and can accommodate most research interests with focuses on major political subfields: international relations, comparative politics, and political theory while the required courses were engaging and invaluable to building my confidence in research methods.

MSc Politics (W233) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10350
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MSc Politics (W234) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6580
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***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.

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


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Politics:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W233
MSc Politics
Master of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Graduate Taught Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W234
MSc Politics
Master of Science
Part-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsClosed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W233
MSc Politics
Master of Science
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W234
MSc Politics
Master of 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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