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Graduate Diploma International Development

GradDip (NFQ Level 9)

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

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The Grad Dip  in International Development is designed to provide you with an interdisciplinary understanding of the process of development by bringing together expertise in politics, economics, agriculture, political economy and other areas.

  • Oldest and largest school of its kind in Ireland with over 150 years of experience in political studies
  • World-renowned staff drawn from many countries.
  • UCD School of Politics & International Relations is ranked in the top 100 QS Worldwide Rankings 2024

About This Course

  • acquaint students with cutting edge development issues
  • allow students to comment critically on development interventions
  • develop oral presentation skills
  • enhance group work skills
  • enhance students' abilities to assess development practice on the ground
  • equip students with the skills to work in the field of international development

Graduates of the programme have found employment with the official Irish aid programme, in Irish and international non-governmental organisations such as Trocaire, Goal, Action Aid and Oxfam, and with agencies of the European Union and the United Nations as well as in journalism, education, local community development, and many other areas such as:

  • Public administration
  • Journalism
  • Media
  • Civil society organisations
  • Voluntary sector
  • Academic institutions

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
POL40100 Politics of Development Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
DEV40020 Gender and Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40950 Introduction to Statistics Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41510 Politics and Change in the Middle East and North Africa Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL42330 Research Design Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
DEV40030 Developing Economies: Tackling the Big Questions Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
LAW42290 Gender, Conflict-related Harm & Transitional Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL30820 Political Risk and Foreign Direct Investment Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL41910 Political Violence Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL42060 International Security Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)5 of:
Option Modules
POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists Spring  10

Graduate Profile
Ayesha Azeem, Pakistan,

Senior Project Officer, Church World Service – Pakistan/Afghanistan
With the knowledge I learned during my masters in UCD, I am confident that I can fulfil my role with the utmost professionalism and confidence as Senior Project Officer in Capacity Institutionalisation Project (CIP) in Church World Service – Pakistan/Afghanistan, a donor-funded project which deals with initiatives on capacity building of local NGO’s and CSO’s. Living abroad for a year on my own enhanced my ability to interact and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and collaborate effectively within a team and manage varied projects. That one year in UCD and Dublin taught me much more about life beyond a masters degree!

Graduate Diploma International Development (W299) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 8010
nonEU    fee per year - € 15070

Graduate Diploma International Development (W300) 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 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.
•    Professional experience may also be taken into account
•   Applicants whose first language is not English should have met the English language requirements as listed on the following link. Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement.
English Language Requirements

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


Each application is considered on its individual merits. 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 etc.

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Graduate Diploma International Development:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W299
Graduate Diploma International Development
Graduate Diploma
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Graduate Taught Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W300
Graduate Diploma International Development
Graduate Diploma
Part-Time
Commencing September 2024
Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsClosed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W299
Graduate Diploma International Development
Graduate Diploma
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W300
Graduate Diploma International Development
Graduate Diploma
Part-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply
* you can change options at the top of the page