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Graduate Diploma Equality Studies

GradDip (NFQ Level 9)

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

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   The Graduate Diploma  in Equality Studies is the only programme of its kind in Europe and offers a unique opportunity to examine global equality issues from a range of perspectives.

 

The Graduate Diploma in Equality Studies was designed for those who wish to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of global social justice issues and explore strategies for change. Drawing students from across the globe, the course emphasises the relationship between theory and practice  with a view to brining about positive social change. You learn about and develop your own ideas on a wide range of equality, human rights and global justice issues. You will benefit from the opportunity to specialize in areas of particular interest such as capitalism and social justice, gender justice and feminism, global inequalities, human rights law and practice, and minorities and discrimination.

The learning environment is student-centred and participatory with students from a wide range of backgrounds with diverse experience and interests including community activists, development practitioners, educators, healthcare professionals, civil servants and journalists.

About This Course

The purpose of the graduate diploma in Equality Studies is to cultivate an interdisciplinary appreciation of equality issues of both national and international significance, informed by extensive reading, critical analysis, advanced conceptualisation and independent research across social, political, cultural, economic and legal fields of enquiry. In addition to training across the 5 core disciplinary areas, the programme enables students to specialise further by choosing a single optional module in a particular sub-field of equality studies, thereby allowing the student to achieve greater breadth of knowledge across the field of equality studies taken as a whole. The programme is aimed at students who wish to develop a career or further studies in the field of equality, or who wish to become advocates or activists for equality in civil society or politics.  

The School adopts a student-centred approach and promotes a critical, emancipatory and feminist pedagogy that is carried through all aspects of the teaching and learning process. Teaching is dialogical and operates on the principle that students have much to bring to the learning experience, that students can learn from each other and that staff can learn from students.

Assessment takes a variety of forms, including the traditional essay, public scholarship, collaborative work and project work, but does not include a minor dissertation.  Extensive student feedback is sought for all modules and this is used to review and revise subsequent courses, assignments and assessments.

Equality Studies graduates work in multiple fields including politics, journalism, law, education, public policy, voluntary and community work, and human rights advocacy.

Alumni of the Masters in Equality Studies are employed by major national and international human rights and development organisations such as Amnesty International and the United Nations.

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
 EQUL40180 Sociology of Inequality Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 EQUL40420 Egalitarian Theory Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 EQUL40310 Masculinities, Gender and Equality Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 GEOG40760 Development and the Global South Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities 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
 LAW42280 International Refugee Law Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 PSY40640 Advanced Disability Studies Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 PSY40890 Disability Policy Legislation Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 SOC40720 Organised Violence and Society 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
 EDUC42590 Equalities, Social Justice and Children's Learning Spring  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
 GS40080 Culture and Sexualities Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 GS40120 Decoloniality and Intersectionality Thinking Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 LAW42270 International Migration Law Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 LAW42290 Gender, Conflict-related Harm & Transitional Justice Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Option Modules
 PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philos 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
 POL40370 International Political Economy 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
 SSJ40010 Feminist & Egalitarian Research Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students should take one of the two modules as a required option. The others may be taken as a free option if you wish
 EQUL40390 Critical Political Economy Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students should take one of the two modules as a required option. The others may be taken as a free option if you wish
 GS40120 Decoloniality and Intersectionality Thinking Spring  10

Graduate Profile
Mona Lotfipour,
USA, Graduate

The MSc in Equality Studies has given me the skills to think critically about complex issues in addition to feeling more empowered to lead change. After completing my degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, I was passionate to learn more about human-rights topics. In addition to learning about inequality in different developed and developing countries, as one of the American students in the class, it was a very unique experience to learn about inequalities in the United States from a different perspective. The world-renowned faculty provide an interdisciplinary framework that includes a wide range of courses such as human-rights law, international economics, philosophy and theory. Fixing inequalities requires an interdisciplinary focus. As I continue my studies at Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, I know that the skills and ideas that I learned as a student in UCD will equip me to create change as I serve thousands of patients who face inequalities.

Graduate Diploma Equality Studies (W395) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 7460
nonEU    fee per year - € 15070

GradDip Equality Studies (W396) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4890
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.

  • Students on this programme will have attained at least a lower or upper second class honours or international equivalent at Bachelors level and will have demonstrable experience in or aptitude for the field of Equality Studies, as illustrated in their personal statement.
  • Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.
  • All applicants will be asked to upload two references as part of their application, and to provide contact details for their referees. At least one of these referees should be someone who knows the applicant in an academic capacity, in certain circumstances, the applications review panel may decide to invite applicants to interview.
  • 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. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

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


We welcome applicants from a wide a range of backgrounds, with diverse experience and interests. Current students are of various nationalities and include recent graduates, community activists, educators, health care professionals, civil servants and journalists.



The MSc in Equality Studies was designed for those who wish to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of global social justice issues and explore strategies for change. Drawing students from across the globe, the course emphasises the relationship of theory to practice with a view to bringing about positive social change. You learn about and develop your own ideas on a wide range of equality, human rights and global justice issues. You will benefit from the opportunity to specialise in areas of particular interest such as capitalism and social justice, gender justice and feminism, global inequalities, human rights law and practice, and minorities and discrimination.



 


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

ROWCLASS Apply to
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W395
Graduate Diploma Equality Studies
Graduate Diploma

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsApply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W396
Equality Studies
Graduate Diploma

Part-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
Not available to International applicantsApply
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