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MSc Politics

MSc (NFQ Level 9)
Scholarships Available

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

Duration:
1 Year
Attendance:
Full Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Science
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Duration:
2 Years
Attendance:
Part-Time
Delivery:
On Campus
NFQ Level:
9 (90 credits)
Level:
Graduate Taught
Award:
Master of Science
Next Intake:
September
Country Specific Entry Requirements:
Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
Other School Leaving Requirements:
See www.ucd.ie/admissions
Curricular information is subject to change.

Apply Now
Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for immediate answers about the application procedure, required documents, and more.
World Top 100 in the QS Ranking 2026 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.

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.

This course is highly flexible, allowing students to select modules from Comparative Politics, Research Methods, Development Studies, Political Theory, and Public Policy, according to their specific interests.

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 of our Master’s programme in Politics pursue diverse careers across a wide range of sectors, including government, international organisations, policy advocacy, media, and consultancy.

Government and public bodies: Our graduates have secured roles across public institutions in Ireland and beyond, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Justice, the European Commission, and the Legal Aid Board. These destinations reflect the programme’s strong preparation for careers at the interface of politics, law, and policy.

International organisations: A notable proportion of graduates have gone on to careers within major international institutions. Alumni now work at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund, and the OSCE, taking on roles in diplomacy, research, and institutional affairs.

Policy, advocacy, and NGOs: Graduates committed to political and environmental change have joined organisations including European Movement Ireland, Transport & Environment (T&E), Greenpeace European Unit, and the Green Party of Ireland, working on campaigns, policy development, and public engagement.

Consultancy and advisory services: Several graduates have moved into consultancy and professional services, including Saatchi & Saatchi and Endeavor Professional Services, advising clients on communications strategy, public affairs, and political risk.

Media and communications: Graduates with an interest in political reporting and public discourse have gone on to roles in the media sector, with alumni at Belga News Agency and ProSiebenSat.1 Media covering politics and international affairs.

PhD programmes: Graduates of the School of Politics and International Relations have continued into doctoral programmes at internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Oxford, Northwestern University, Ghent University, Trinity College Dublin, and University College Dublin.

Roles held by graduates span a broad spectrum, from Government Social Researcher and Political Adviser to Public Affairs Consultant, Public Relations Officer, and Diplomatic Adviser. Others have gone on to doctoral programmes or taken up positions in international organisations, think tanks, and the not-for-profit sector.

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
 POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL42310 Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Core Option - Select one module. Students should select POL40950 Intro to Stats unless they have previously completed a similar course. Students wishing to take POL50050 must contact the School to request permission.
 POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)10CR:
Core Option - Select one module. Students should select POL40950 Intro to Stats unless they have previously completed a similar course. Students wishing to take POL50050 must contact the School to request permission.
 POL50050 Quantitative Methods II Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 DEV40020 Gender and Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40130 Poverty, Development and Global Justice Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40370 International Political Economy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41860 Political Economy of Aid and Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42620 Global Governance & International Organizations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42640 Crisis of the Liberal World Order Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42650 Comparative Political Representation Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 SPOL41060 Public Administration & Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 DEV40040 Corruption, Governance & Dev Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40100 Development and Postcolonial Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41870 Political Economy of Institutions Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL41930 Psychology of Conflict in the Middle East Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42430 Conflict and Identity in International Relations Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 POL42500 Politics of Authoritarianism Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 modules.
 SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)40CR:
Option Modules: Select 4 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 - € 10555
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MSc Politics (W234) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6710
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

 

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.

  • Non-EU citizens are ineligible for part-time study except for those holding a valid non-student residency visa.
  • UCD Global offers several graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students who have received an offer for a UCD graduate degree programme. For further details, please visit the International Scholarships.
  • SPIRe operates the  SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme. 

For further information, please visit our comprehensive FAQ page.

  • 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


Application Deadlines




  • Deadline for EU applicants: Monday, 7 September 2026 (The first day of the term)

  • Deadline for non-EU applicants: The end of August, 2026 

  • Deadline for non-EU applicants who require an entry visa in advance: 

    • In some countries, it takes a few months to process visa applications. We strongly advise that you apply well in advance, ideally as early as March. Please contact the Irish Embassy in your country or the UCD Global Regional offices for further information.

    • Non-EU citizens who have been living in Ireland or the EU must go through the EU Fee Assessment process before their applications can be assessed. This process takes a few weeks. 




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

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W233
MSc Politics
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W234
MSc Politics
Master of Science

Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsApply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W233
MSc Politics
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2027
Graduate Taught
Opens 01 Oct 2026
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W234
MSc Politics
Master of Science

Part-Time
Commencing September 2027
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsOpens 01 Oct 2026
* you can change options at the top of the page
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