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MA European Politics & Policy

MA (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Opportunity
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 Arts
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 Arts
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 150 in the QS Ranking 2025 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.

This MA European Politics & Policy programmme aims to equip students with a deep and comprehensive knowledge of European politics and international relations, to critically appriase events and developments in European integration, and to establish a basis for students' professional development as European policy specialists

 

  • Students will gain a well-grounded knowledge of the issues facing European governance and the manner in which different European political systems have sought to address the challenges they face in an increasingly Europeanized and globalized world.
  • MA students have the option of writing a masters thesis or doing an internship
  • UCD School of Politics & International Relations is ranked in the top 100 QS worldwide rankings 2024

About This Course

The MA European Politics and Policy is a 90-credit programme. Full-time students must take a total of 60 credits between core and optional taught modules. Students must also submit a thesis worth 30 credits that will be written during the summer trimester. MA students have the option of pursuing an internship in lieu of a thesis.

SPIRe part time programmes run for 2 years and students normally do 1 -2 modules per semester. The final 30-credit module is completed during the second year of the programme. PT students should complete the research design module in year 2.

Please note that our part-time programmes run during the day and are not timetabled in the evenings or at weekends.

  • Analyse topics in European politics with both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
  • Prepare clear and concise written work and presentations across a range of political subject areas relating to European and EU politics.
  • The key learning outcome for the proposed masters will be that Students have demonstrated specialized, detailed or advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge and understanding of European and EU politics.
  • Understand the structure and actors of European politics
  • develop students' research and writing skills
  • enhance students' understanding of European policy debates

Graduates can work within European institutions, with international private-sector employers, government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations. Organisations including the European Union, the United Nations and IMF are all potential employers, with students having the skills to compete for roles such as Government Social Researcher, Diplomatic Advisor, and Public Affairs Consultant.

Instead of writing a thesis, students may opt to complete an internship in a role directly relevant to their field of study. The internship requires a minimum of 480 hours and may be undertaken anytime after the end of the teaching term until the third week of August. Students are responsible for securing their own internship placements. The School provides a list of potential host organisations. UCD Careers offers support with application writing and related resources. 


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
 POL40970 Politics of European Governance Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL42330 Research Design Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 POL40540 Comparative European Politics Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)30CR:
Students must select either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis.
 POL42300 SPIRe Internship Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)30CR:
Students must select either POL42300 SPIRe Internship or POL42310 Thesis.
 POL42310 Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL41020 Politics of Human Rights Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL42040 Gender & the Political System Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
HRM40720 Work & Employment in the Global Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL30840 Electoral Systems and their Consequences Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL40160 Comparative Public Policy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL42500 Politics of Authoritarianism Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)3 of:
Select 3 option modules.
POL42530 Politics of International Trade and Investment Spring  10

Liam Kiernan

This master’s programme gave me a clear understanding of politics in Europe, with multidisciplinary modules offering in-depth analyses of political science, public policy and European governance. A diverse range of high-quality and challenging modules were available to choose between.

The programme provided me with the opportunity to use my own initiative in studying the topics that interested me most, while supporting my learning along the way. I particularly enjoyed the hands-on elements of the programme that combined theoretical learning with practical applications. Completing this programme served to kickstart my career and provided me with a clearer view of my professional interests and ambitions.

MA European Politics & Policy (W346) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10555
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MA European Politics & Policy (W347) 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. 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. 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 MA European Politics & Policy:

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W346
MA European Politics & Policy
Master of Arts

Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W347
MA European Politics & Policy
Master of Arts

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