MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

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.

The MSc in Gender, Politics and International Relations is an intensive course that prepares you for a career in research, policy, or advocacy in international organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, or academia.

Gender is a fundamental aspect of both the international and domestic political systems. This programme facilitates students to become specialists in understanding how gender shapes both individual and group interactions with politics on the national and global level.

The programme focuses on combining in-depth sub-disciplinary knowledge with advanced methodological skills, across both established and emerging methods

Careers & Employability

Recent graduates of UCD School of Politics & International Relations now work in:

  • United Nations, New York and Geneva

  • World Trade Organisation

  • Asia Development Bank

  • Saatchi & Saatchi

  • Credit Suisse First Boston

Curricular information is subject to change


Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

The applicants should have earned an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject  such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law/international law etc. with at least Upper Second Class Honours, or its equivalent (an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) or higher in the American system). Relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.

 

 

  • To thoroughly familiarise students with cutting edge research in the broad area of gender, politics and international relations.

  • Allow students to connect theoretical debates on gender with real-world political issues and policymaking.

  • Facilitate students' professional development to work as gender experts.

  • Develop and apply advanced research methods skills.

  • Develop students’ independent research capabilities.

  • Enhance students’ writing skills.

  • Develop oral presentation skills.

  • Enhance teamwork skills.

View All Modules Here

The MSc Gender, Politics and International Relations is a 90-credit programme. Full time students must take three 10-credit modules in the autumn trimester, and three 10-credit modules in the spring trimester. Students must also submit a thesis worth 30-credits.

Part time students take a total of 90-credits over the two-year duration of the part-time programme. It is advisable for students to take the core modules in Year 1. PT students should complete the research design module in year 2.

Core and Option Modules for MSc Gender, Politics and International Relations

These are the current modules for 2022/23 but are subject to change. Each of the following modules carries 10 credits unless otherwise specified. 

Core Modules

  • POL42040 Gender & the Political System (Autumn)
  • POL40950 Introduction to Statistics (Autumn)
  • POL41640 Qual Research Methods for Pol (Spring)
  • POL41720 Gender, Peace, and Security (Spring)

Option Modules

Autumn

  • EQUL40310 Masculinities & Equality
  • GS40100 Gender, Harm and Justice
  • POL40050 Theories of Internat.Relations
  • POL40140 Global Issues in Pol Theory
  • POL40970 Politics European Governance
  • POL41020 Politics of Human Rights
  • POL41510 Middle East & North Africa
  • POL41650 Global Political Econ ofEurope
  • POL41800 Theories of Int'l Rels Stream2
  • POL41860 Governance, Pol, Dev
  • POL42440 Political Economy of Security

Spring

  • GS40030 Gender, Inequality and Policy
  • POL40100 Politics of Development
  • POL40160 Comparative Public Policy
  • POL40370 International Political Econom
  • POL40540 Comparative European Politics
  • POL41030 Theory of Human Rights
  • POL41780 The Politics of Inequality
  • POL41870 Pol Economy & Comparative Dev
  • POL41930 Psychology of Conflict in MENA
  • POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies
  • POL42000 Political Theory and the EU
  • POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis
  • POL42060 International Security
  • POL42340 Programming for Soc Scientists
  • POL42430 Social Theory & IR

Please note, to be enrolled on POL42430 in Spring, students must have taken and passed either of the following two modules: POL41800 or POL40050.

Summer Trimester Core Module

  • POL42310 Thesis (30 credits)

MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations (W525) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9310
nonEU    fee per year - € 21520

***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 opens on May 1st 2021. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme. Please note that not all programmes are eligible for this Scholarship, please check the T&C's carefully when they become available.

  • A primary degree with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1) in a relevant subject such as political science, international relations, social science, sociology, history, geography, economics, global studies, public policy, development studies, EU studies, law. 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/ 

The following entry routes are available:

MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations FT (W525)
Duration
1 Years
Attend
Full Time
Deadline
Rolling*
MSc Gender, Politics & International Relations PT (W526)
Duration
2 Years
Attend
Part Time
Deadline
Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

A comphrensive FAQ can be found here