This course is available through the following application route(s)
Public policy making has become more challenging in recent years in the context of the increasing complexity of clients’ needs, growing expectations regarding appropriate service quality and diminishing public spending in many countries.
The Professional Diploma in Public Policy is designed to provide you with a selection of modules to introduce general concepts and skills to meet these challenges.
We examine the socio-economic changes and political issues which influence policy making, the challenges associated with effective regulation and administration of public services and ensuring that policy decisions are evidence based.
Students can specialise in any of these streams: Citizenship and Rights; Community, Drugs, and Health Policy; Economic Policy; Environmental Policy; EU Policy; Regulatory Governance; Research Methods; Urban Policy.
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.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Students must choose ANY TWO of the following three 10 credit modules. |
SPOL41020 | Data & Methods for Policy Analysis | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Students must choose ANY TWO of the following three 10 credit modules. |
SPOL41060 | Public Administration & Policy | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of: Students must choose ANY TWO of the following three 10 credit modules. |
SPOL40450 | Evidence-Based Policy Making | Spring | 10 |
Entry requirements will be identical to those obtaining for the current Public Policy programme intake (fulltime and part- time):
The academic minimum standard for admission to a Masters programme is an Upper Second Class degree or its equivalent. Relevant professional experience and motivation will be considered where the first degree was taken in a field with little or no relevance to the social sciences, or where the first degree was taken a long time ago (eg more than ten years prior to application).
Relevant professional experience and motivation may also be taken into account in the case of students who have not attained the minimum academic standards: in this case, they may be offered a place on the Graduate Diploma programme, with the possibility of transferring to the MP, subject to academic performance and grades attained.
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Professional Diploma Public Policy:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W468 Professional Diploma Public Policy Professional Diploma Part-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |