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MSc Digital Policy

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

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

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MSc Digital Policy will be hybrid learning of online & face-to-face environments.

UCD’s School of Information and Communication studies has estabished the Microsoft-UCD Digital Policy Programme with the goal of building digital policy training and capability in Ireland and Europe.

The innovative programme mixes the abstract and the applied with modules from the School of Information and Communication Studies. This programme introduces students to basic concepts and issues in digital policy, giving a historical and critical understanding of how to theorise digital objects and environments by learning to situate them in perspectives such as platform capitalism, governance, data infrastructures, information analytics, interface critique and software studies.

 

Our innovative programme mixes theoretical and applied approaches. We introduce students to basic concepts and issues in digital policy, giving historical, contextual, regulatory, and critical understandings of how to theorise digital technologies and environments.
We situate concepts in perspectives such as platform capitalism, governance, data infrastructures, information analytics, interface
critique and AI regulation.

About This Course

Knowledge and understanding

• Understand both theoretical and applied issues in digital policy

• Demonstrate advanced conceptual knowledge of digital technologies and their implications for socio-political life

• Understand the dilemmas and tensions involved in regulating digital technologies

Applying knowledge and understanding

• Critically appraise evidence from research papers concerning topics in digital policy

• Critically evaluate existing digital policies and policy proposals and their limitations

Making judgements

• Systematically analyse the research literature in a key area of digital policy as part of their dissertation

• Decide, under guidance, on appropriate methodology and materials to be analysed for their dissertation

Communications and working skills

• Articulate theoretical concepts, current debates and research findings to both specialist and non-specialist

audiences from a digital policy perspective

• Work effectively with peers in learning, research, and presentation

Learning skills

• Collect or source data using research methodologies taught on the programme

• Engage in independent research and analysis under supervision

• Write to a high academic standard

The MSc Digital Policy aims to produce future professionals with a deep understanding of both theoretical and applied issues in digital policy. On graduating, our students will be able to embark on a variety of careers in Ireland and globally.

Our Digital Policy programme is designed to prepare graduates for careers in evaluating, implementing, and studying core topical, theoretical, and methodological issues that arise in digital policy today, both in the public and private sectors.

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
 IS40820 Research Theory and Practice Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS40840 Data & Society Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS40910 Digital Policy Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS40960 Digital Policy II Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS41190 Regulation and Emerging Technology Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 IS41290 Digital Policy Thesis Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS40730 Quantitative Data Analysis Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS40640 Research Methods Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS40970 AI & Ethics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS41050 Platform Governance Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students should select 1 Option Module in the autumn and 2 in the spring. IS40640 and POL42540 are face to face only. All other modules are hybrid or online.
IS41550 Digital Media Literacy Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
(Option Module:)
 POL42540 Applied Data Wrangling and Visualisation Autumn  5

Jet Klokgieters – MSc (Digital Policy)

Studying an MSc in Digital Policy at UCD helped Jet Klokgieters decide to pursue a career abroad.

With an undergraduate degree in sociology and a research masters under her belt, Jet Klokgieters knew she wanted to explore more about the effects of digital technology on society.
Having completed her previous studies in the Netherlands, Jet now planned to study abroad. Her mother drew her attention to the MSc in Digital Policy at UCD, which was exactly what she was looking for. The fact that the course was one year long was a draw too, since Jet had just completed a two year masters degree.
She applied to the course and was delighted when she was accepted.

“Dublin is the heart of digital Europe with Google, Meta and all those companies having their headquarters there. The city itself is nice, and UCD is also a really good university. I think everything sort of came together.”

To make the most of her experience studying in a new country, Jet had saved up over the years. This allowed her to afford to live in purpose built student accommodation in Dublin, and focus on her studies. She was keen to get to know Ireland better, and visited many of Dublin’s museums.

“Dublin is quite different from the Netherlands, but also quite similar because it’s still sort of Western Europe. I think Ireland also has its own distinct culture and is really unique.”

Jet found UCD to be a very inclusive environment, full of people from all walks of life and with many different experiences. Some of her happiest memories from the master’s are the daily conversations she would have with three friends she made at UCD.

“People were welcoming in UCD…I had friends. I felt at ease, happy and connected.”

Jet enjoyed her course and the fact that the master’s class was small, which she felt led to a better learning experience and provided her with the chance to connect with her lecturers.

“I tried to make the most out of the opportunities here. I talked a lot to the professors and asked a lot of questions in class.”

An aspect of the course that surprised Jet was the opportunity to complete modules outside of her discipline in related fields, such as a law module that she took on data protection and privacy.

“I was not expecting to be able to do a module at master’s level in law but they knew that there were students from Social Sciences, so they didn’t make it too technical.”

Jet enjoyed living and studying abroad so much that she is now exploring opportunities to work outside of the Netherlands.

From the UCD Alumni stories, from the class of 2022.

 

Elizabeth Farries
Assistant Professor
Programme Director

Assistant Professor Elizabeth Farries is a Director of the UCD Centre for Digital Policy together with Professor Eugenia Siapera. Liz also directs the MSc, Graduate Diploma, and Professional Certificate programmes in Digital Policy with the School of Information and Communication Studies. Elizabeth’s research lies at the intersection of tech and regulation. She has a particular interest in emergent digital policy cycles and assemblages in the 4th industrial revolution. Her related research interests included gendered safety online, secure and private online communications, digital identities, policing surveillance technologies, pandemic technologies, data retention and protection, and international intelligence sharing. She considers these topics in relation to tech impacts on vulnerabilised and special interest communities.

MSc Digital Policy (W471) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9330
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MSc Digital Policy (W472) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 6020
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. 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 visit the UCD Global International Scholarships page.

  • Applicants should present with a primary (bachelor's) degree in any subject with an overall score of 2.1 or higher.
  • Names and contact details of two referees who can assess their intellectual ability, maturity and motivation.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.
  • While applications are accepted up to August of the year of entry, offers are made to suitably qualified candidates on a first-come-first-served basis so early application is recommended. Entry to the programmes is very competitive and the number of places is limited.
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: Yes


The MSc in Digital Policy is designed to prepare graduates for careers in evaluating, implementing, and studying core topical, theoretical, and methodological issues that arise in digital policy today. The course will take a multi-disciplionary approach to investigating the institutional and public policy dimensions of the prevalence of digital technology, as well as the underlying social conditions (economic, political, and cultural) and public/private sector contexts that give rise to such technologies and their governance.


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Digital Policy:

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W471
MSc Digital Policy
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
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W472
Digital Policy
Master of Science

Part-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught
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* you can change options at the top of the page
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