MSc European Governance

Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)

Learn to analyse issues of European governance from different angles, involving law, and public administration in an interdisciplinary environment.

  • Unique double-masters degree from UCD and Utrecht University
  • Multidisciplinary degree includes law, political science and public administration
  • Internship with organisation that deals with European governance issues

Careers & Employability

The skill set acquired in this double degree opens up a wide-range of job opportunities in local, regional and national governments; EU institutions; other European organisations; non-profit and for-profit organisations; and consultancy firms that deal with issues of European governance.

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

The programme was developed for graduates in the social sciences and related disciplines who are interested in, or working in, the area of European governance.

  • This innovative two-year double-masters degree from University College Dublin and the Utrecht University investigates vital questions facing European countries today.
  • It will equip you with the knowledge and skills to answer these questions and formulate appropriate responses to the challenges they pose. In Year 1 you study in UCD with a particular focus on Law and Governance of the EU, and European Political Economy.
  • In Year 2, you study in the Utrecht University in the Netherlands and complete a research internship as part of your masters thesis, which is co-supervised by both universities.
  • You graduate with two masters degrees – an MSc in European Governance from UCD and an MSc in European Governance from the Utrecht University

The MSc in European Governance is a double degree programme to be run in conjunction with the University of Utrecht School of Governance, starting in September 2016. As an interdisciplinary programme leading to two degrees, with bi-location and internships (in the Netherlands), and a co-supervised, end of programme(s) thesis, students will develop interdisciplinary skills, working in the domains of law and politics, with an enhanced capacity for problem solving. The distinctive contribution of the UCD programme is that it brings legal insights into questions of European governance, exploring law as a framing and constraining device and looks at the EU as an actor from a global perspective paying close attention to political economy questions.

  • Specialised and detailed knowledge in EU Governance and Law; Application of knowledge and understanding and enhanced capacity for problem solving in the context of EU law and governance; Understanding of the interdisciplinary context of EU governance and law; Ability to communicate their ideas.

View All Modules Here

Year 1 - University College Dublin

You will study six modules worth ten credits each in UCD Sutherland School of Law and UCD School of Politics and International Relations (60 credits in total).

These are the current modules for 2023/24 but are subject to change. Each of the following modules carries 10 credits unless otherwise specified. 

Core Modules

  • LAW41040 Law and Governance of the EU (Autumn)
  • POL41650 The Global Political Economy of Europe (Autumn)
  • POL42090 Engaging Brussels (Spring)

Optional Modules

Autumn

Spring

  • LAW41090 Climate Change Law and Policy
  • LAW42170 Behavioural Laws
  • POL40100 Politics of Development
  • POL40370 International Political Economy
  • POL40610 EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Policy
  • POL40970 Politics of European Governance
  • POL41640 Qualitative Research Methods for Political Science
  • POL41780 The Politics of Inequality
  • POL42050 Quantitative Text Analysis
  • POL42480 Contemporary Election Campaigns: Democratic Norms and Empirical Research
  • POL42500 Politics of Authoritarianism

Year 2 - Utrecht University

Year 2 is taken at Utrecht University focusing on an interdisciplinary study of European governance, using the combined insights of law, economics, public administration and organisational science.

You will study four modules worth fifteen credits each in the School of Law, Economics and Governance (60 credits in total).

Research Internship and Thesis (30 credits)

In the final semester, all students write a thesis as part of a research internship within an organisation that deals with issues of European governance. This can be an EU organisation in Brussels or an organisation working at the national, regional or local level. The dissertation is supervised jointly by UCD and the Utrecht University.

MSc European Governance (W351) Full Time
EU          Year 1 - € 11500 db
nonEU    Year 1 - € 21360 db

db"Students pay the UCD fee for first year, and the Utrecht University fee for the second year. Field Trip for the MSc European Governance (W351) is included in the fees."
***Fees are subject to change

You pay UCD Fees while studying in UCD and Utrecht fees while studying in Utrecht.

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 will open in Spring 2024. 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.

In the final semester, all students write a thesis as part of a research internship within an organisation that deals with issues of European governance. This can be an EU organisation in Brussels or an organisation working at the national, regional or local level. The dissertation is supervised jointly by UCD and the University of Utrecht.

You will need:

If English is not your native language, unless you have done your primary degree through English in an English speaking country, an English language qualification is required for all programmes. Exceptional cases will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

MSc European Governance

You will need:

  • This programme is intended for applicants with an upper second class honours or international equivalent in a primary degree in a relevant subject such as archaeology, development studies, economics, EU studies, geography, global studies, history, international relations, law, philosophy, political science, public policy,social science, sociology, .
  • Relevant professional experience may also be taken into account.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.0 (with no band less than 6.0 in each element) or equivalent.

Please apply directly to Utrecht University:

http://www.uu.nl/masters/en/european-governance/admission-and-application

Note application is directly via Utrecht University  and not through the online application system in UCD

Please apply directly to Utrecht University:  http://www.uu.nl/masters/en/european-governance/admission-and-application

Note application is directly via Utrecht University  and not through the online application system in UCD

A comphrensive FAQ on studying at UCD can be found here

Note application is directly via Utrecht University  and not through the online application system in UCD