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Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs

GradDip (NFQ Level 9)

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

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The Graduate Diploma in Philosophy and Public Affairs is especially designed for those people with an interest in public policy debates, e.g. in journalism, the civil service, public policy research institutes.  At the same time, it will be useful for any job requiring a subtle understanding of debate and disagreement, or requiring close attention to texts. 

The Graduate Diploma in Philosophy and Public Affairs programme is aimed at students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the core areas of philosophy and its application to public affairs at graduate level.  It aims to provide an integration of social and political theory with the philosophical implications of the area.  The School of Philosophy encourages our students to be critical philosophical thinkers with the ability to reflect on current philosophical debates, history of philosophical thought and add their own contribution. We aim to provide a learning environment that fosters collegiality and a pluralistic approach to the main areas of philosophy and encourages students to engage critically with questions.  As the largest teaching and research centre in philosophy in Ireland, the programme benefits from many world-leading figures in philosophy that give invited seminars and conferences throughout the year.  Small group seminars and participation in conferences and workshops are a key element of the programme design.  As such, the programme uses key approaches to teaching such as philosophical debates, critical reflections, essays and paper presentations.

 

  • Unique combination of philosophy and social science
  • Close attention from dissertation supervisor
  • Vibrant academic and social community

About This Course

  • A deepened appreciation of the significance and value of ideas in and for internationalisation and globalisation
  • A detailed study of foundational questions of public policy. Delivered with the Schools of Social Policy and Social Justice, Sociology, Politics and International Relations
  • A grasp of how to pursue a career in academic life and the acquiring of transferable skills in research and organisation
  • A knowledge of how to write research proposals and attain funding from national and international organisations
  • An awareness of how to compose and structure philosophical writing for peer reviewed journals, book collections and monographs
  • An awareness of how to present and defend philosophical papers in seminars, workshops, conferences and other fora.
  • An enhanced awareness of how to work with texts, organise a thesis and set out extended philosophical arguments clearly and compellingly.
  • An enhanced awareness of the relevance of philosophy to other academic disciplines and to personal, professional and political life.
  • An extensive knowledge of library and online sources that facilitate research, including classical and foreign language sources.

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)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41280 Feminist & Gender Theory Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41810 Critique, Destruction & Deconstruction Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41840 Invention of the Modern Self Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41890 Authenticity and Implicit Attitudes Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL40250 Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philos Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41330 Philosophy of Time Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41660 Moral Agency Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Philosophy Option Group
 PHIL41880 Reading Nietzsche Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 EQUL40310 Masculinities, Gender and Equality Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL40100 Politics of Development Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL40370 International Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:
Social Sciences Option Group
 POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Theory Option Group
 EQUL40310 Masculinities, Gender and Equality Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Theory Option Group
 POL40050 Theories of International Relations Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Theory Option Group
 SLL40230 Introduction to Cultural Theory Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Theory Option Group
 EQUL40070 Human Rights Law and Equality Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Theory Option Group
 POL40140 Theories of Global Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - C)1 of:
Theory Option Group
 POL41030 Theory of Human Rights Spring  10

Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs (W307) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 6880
nonEU    fee per year - € 15070

Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs (W308) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4450
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.

Applicants need at least four philosophy courses as part of an undergraduate degree (to be confirmed by a transcript); an overall mark of B- (60%) in your undergraduate degree (to be confirmed by a transcript); two academic letters of reference and a sample of philosophical writing, such as an undergraduate essay.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
    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: No

    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 Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs:

    ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
    showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W307
    Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs
    Graduate Diploma
    Full-Time
    Commencing September 2024
    		 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsClosed
    showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W308
    Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs
    Graduate Diploma
    Part-Time
    Commencing September 2024
    		 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsClosed
    showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W307
    Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs
    Graduate Diploma
    Full-Time
    Commencing September 2025
    		 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply
    showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W308
    Graduate Diploma in Philosophy & Public Affairs
    Graduate Diploma
    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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