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

• Core modules introduce you to the key concepts, theories and analytic techniques which underpin public policy analysis.
  • Core modules are:
    • SPOL41060 Public Administration & Policy
    • SPOL41020 Data & Methods for Pol Analys
    • POL40160 Comparative Public Policy
    • SPOL40450 Evidence-Based Policy Making
• Optional specialist streams which enable you to examine the policy fields which interest you in-depth. 
  • Citizenship, Rights & Policy Stream
  • Community, Drugs & Health Policy Stream
  • Economic Policy Stream
  • Environmental Policy Stream
  • European Union Policy Stream
  • Regulatory Governance Stream
  • Research Methods Stream
  • Urban Policy Stream
• Optional research stream which provides you with the skills to pursue a career in public policy research.
• A unique interdisciplinary course where modules are offered by various schools across University (Applied Social Science, Economics, Geography, Law, Philosophy, Politics, Public Health, Social Justice and Sociology)
• A choice of Master’s thesis or Internship.
• There is an opportunity to undertake the MA (Public Policy and Management) at the City University of Hong Kong subsequent to MA-Public Policy completion.
• There is a possiblity of progressing to the PhD in Public Policy.
• There is an option of the Graduate Diploma in Public Policy without a dissertation.

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 Master of Public Policy is specifically designed to provide you with the knowledge 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. If you are interested in public policy research you can take a number of specialist modules on this issue. We also provide a number of optional streams which will enable you to examine different policy fields in depth.

• Understand the political, ethical, social and economic factors that influence policymaking, along with the challenges associated with effective policy implementation and regulation
• Take a critical view of policy analysis, recognizing the variety of considerations that shape policy outcomes and the variety of ideas, expectations, and norms that shape debates about appropriate policy solutions and the assessment of policy outcomes
• Demonstrate advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge of public policy and governance
• Develop an understanding of current debates within public policy and governance
• Critically appraise and reflect on the role of the policy analyst within the democratic and policy-making process
• Apply advanced theory to problem-solving and public policy challenges, drawing on a range of disciplinary approaches and analytical tools
• Systematically analyse public policies comparatively in an international, national, and subnational context, to apply the latest in public policy research
• Critically appraise and reflect on the role of the policy analyst within the democratic and policy-making process
• Articulate concepts, knowledge, debates and research to peers, specialist and non-specialist audiences from an inter-disciplinary perspective, contributing to evidence-based policy-making
• Exercise effective group and team-based approaches to learning, research, and presentation
• Articulate concepts, knowledge, debates and research to peers, specialist and non-specialist audiences, from an interdisciplinary perspective
• Contribute to evidence-based policy-making
• Source and synthesize different kinds of data, textual and source material 
• Engage in independent research and analysis
• Write to a good academic standard

View All Modules Here

MPP Public Policy (W279) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9100
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

MPP Public Policy (W289) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5460
nonEU    fee per year - € 11300

***Fees are subject to change

Each application is considered on its individual merits. The applicants should have earned a honours bachelors degree (NFQ Level 8)  from a recognised university in a relevant social science subject such as Political Science, International Relations, Social Policy, Sociology, Geography, Economics, Global Studies, Public Policy, Public Administration, EU Studies, Law/International Law, Accounting & Finance, Business 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. 

Note that meeting the requirements do not guarantee admission. Applicants in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted conditional on satisfactory completion of their undergraduate degree.

N.B. Click here  for the admission requirements for the Economics Policy Stream.

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 

• Grad Dip Public Policy 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