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

This programme aims to provide a comprehensive and critical grounding in key issues in politics and international relations and to allow students critically engage with cutting edge issues in the discipline.

• develop methodological research expertise
• develop oral presentation skills
• develop student's research and professional development skills
• develop students ability to understand power in an anarchic world
• enhance group work skills
• enhance students' understanding of international organisations
• equip students with the skills necessary to understand and critically assess issues in international politics and security

View All Modules Here

The MSc in 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 that will be written during the summer term.

Current Core and Option Modules for MSc International Relations (credits in parentheses)

Please note that this is subject to change year on year

MSc International Relations (W036) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 8525
nonEU    fee per year - € 19900

MSc International Relations (W109) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5600
nonEU    fee per year - € 9950

***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. To access details, see SPIRe Graduate Scholarship Scheme.

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/ 
• These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes

Jasmin Marston, Graduate MSc International Relations

"With the completion of my Master of Science I have been equipped with a solid basis of research approaches and methods. Furthermore I had the opportunity to take, as well as audit, a plethora of subjects (classes and paper titles) that allowed me to explore my interests in politics and development.
I have had personal interest in Ireland, as is was the first (and longest) colony of Great Britain and has been under international pressure since the collapse of the global economy in 2008 to implement austerity measures. Both of these facts are similar to what many Sub-Saharan African countries have experiences, and hence an intriguing facet to studying developmental issues in the West. Furthermore my friends recommended studying in Ireland, as it was known for their good schools".

• MA International Relations FT

The following entry routes are available:

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

Q1.  As a full-time student, how many lectures am I supposed to attend each week?

A1. The structure of full time and part-time programmes is the same, the timetable also. Both FT and PT programmes are 90 credits. Modules normally run from Monday to Friday between(09:00 – 18:00).

Your timetable would depend on your module choices.

Full-time programmes:

Autumn Trimester – 3 full 10 credit modules = 6 hours per week for a duration of 12 weeks.

Spring Trimester – 3 full 10 credit modules = 6 hours per week for a duration of 12 weeks.

Summer Trimester - Thesis 30 credit module

Part-time programmes:

Part-time students take a total of 90 credits also but over the two-year duration of the part-time course. It is advisable for part-time students to take core modules in their first year, with the exception of Research Design. Module choice is more flexible for part-time students.

Part-time students take the Thesis 30 credit module in their 2nd year of study

Q2.  How is a module run?

A2.  Our modules are delivered in two-hour lecture sessions every week for 12 weeks. The majority of lectures take place between 09:00 and 18:00, Monday-Friday.

One or two modules (trimester I and II) may be run from 18:00 - 20:00 depending on the current academic year timetable.

Q3.  How is the part-time course run?

A3.  A part-time student will spread the workload over two years. See Q1.

Q4.  Are there any modules offered in the evenings or at weekends?

A4.  We have no plans to offer modules on weekends, however, we may offer a few modules from 18:00 - 20:00 every semester. We do not currently run any weekend or evening masters programmes.

Q5.  Can an MA/MSc be studied online?

A5. Currently, you cannot study any of our Master’s degrees online and must be present in-person in Dublin to attend class. The exception to this is the MSc Sustainable Development, which is online only.

Q6.  What are the differences between an MA and MSc degree?

A6. Some courses have the option of either an MA or MSc version of the same programme

Students opting for the MSc variation of the programme will, in addition, take core modules in research methods and statistics. This will provide a solid understanding of doing research and critically evaluating claims made by academics and other researchers. Those considering further study at PhD level or a career in research, policy analysis or journalism should certainly consider the MSc variant.

The MA track is broader and allows you to choose to complete a dissertation or apply for an internship to develop your professional skills in the field.

There are exceptions to this, so take a close look at your chosen programme structure and the core/optional modules offered.

Q7.  Is the timetable available?

A7.  Yes, please see here for the current timetables for all MA/MSc/MEconSc and Grad Dip programmes.

Q8.  Are there any Scholarships?

A8.  Yes there is the SPIRe Masters Scholarship, This page is updated regularly for information on how to apply and when applications open.

Q9.  Is there any further information for International Students?

A9. There is a lot of information available for international students on the UCD Global site: https://www.ucd.ie/global/

If you are an international student and are seeking further information, you should get in touch with your Global Centre.  The Global Centre is determined by the origin of the student.

If you have already applied, please quote your Application Number when you do. Here is a list of our UCD Global Centres and their contact information:

Asia Pacific: southeastasia@ucd.ie 

Middle East & North Africa: dubai@ucd.ie 

China: chinaoffice@ucd.ie 

Latin America: latinamerica@ucd.ie 

North America: northamerica@ucd.ie 

South Asia: india@ucd.ie

ROW & Africa: internationaladmissions@ucd.ie

internationaladmissions@ucd.ie can also be used for more general queries related to registration, accommodation etc.

Q10.  Do I have to pay the application fee?

A10.  Yes. The application fee must be paid before the UCD Application System will allow us to review it.

Q11.  What is an academic reference?

A11.  Your reference should come from a lecturer of your undergraduate degree at your previous/current university. It should include a history of academic grades and why you should be recommended for the programme. It should be signed and on headed paper. You need to upload this to your application, SPIRe does not contact your references directly.

Q12.  Do I need two references?

A12.  No. We only require one reference. 

Q13.  My referee doesn’t want me to view the reference, but the UCD online application system asks me to upload a copy. What can I do?

A13.  You may ask them to send the reference by email to graduatespire@ucd.ie. The email must be sent from a professional email account (e.g. XYZ@harvard.edu, XYZ@politics.ox.ac.uk, XYZ@tcd.ie) and not from a personal email account.

Q14.  I finished my undergraduate degree a long time ago and it is difficult to contact my lecturer. What can I do?

A14.  We primarily require an academic reference. However, we may accept a reference from your current/recent employer as an exception provided the programme coordinator is willing to accept this.

Q15.  Can I upload a personal statement, a letter of motivation or my CV (resume) as an additional document?

A15.  Yes, you can. As part of the admission process, most emphasis is placed on applicants’ academic transcripts and references. Relevant work/life experiences will also be taken into account.