International Relations
The pace of change in our world continues to grow. Countries and peoples are connected in increasingly complex ways. The list of challenges – and opportunities – is long, including populism, inequality, climate change, conflict, and governance. A better understanding of the world and the processes at work are essential. This MA programme aims to equip you with tools to analyse our world the choices we face.
| Award Name | Degree - Masters (Level 9 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 9 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Masters (Level 9 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 9 NFQ |
Duration
1 year full-time
2 years part-time
Entry Requirements
Requirements
For admission to the MA in International Relations, successful applicants will have -
• A degree at the level of an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent
• If the applicant has not yet completed their degree, then conditional offer may be made on basis of most recent grades and pending the achievement of no less than a H2.2 degree,
• Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.
• International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language.
Careers / Further progression
Careers
The MA in International Relations attracts both recent undergraduates and those already established in their careers. The programme is suitable for students from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, from politics, law and history to languages, business and sciences.
The knowledge and skills you acquire through this programme are highly sought by government, research organisations, the national and international non-governmental (NGO)/non-profit sector, and the inter-governmental (IGO) sector.
Graduates seek work in a variety of government departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of An Taoiseach and Department of Justice, as well as international organisations including the European Union and United Nations. Others may gravitate towards agencies and NGOs such as Trócaire, Amnesty International, Concern and Oxfam, or major multinational organisations, financial services companies, the media and international business.
Potential Careers
• Public Policy Analyst
• Financial/Economic Analyst
• Social Policy Program Officer
• Foreign Service Officer
• Immigration and Revenue Officer
• Legislative Analyst
• Political Aide
• Politician
• Lobbyist
• Diplomat
• Economic Development Officer
• Editor
• Press Officer
• Print Journalist
• Publisher
• Public Relations Specialist
• Television and Radio Journalist
Further information
The programme commences in September 2024.
Full time:
EU Status Fee €7,700
Non EU Fee €16,500
Part time:
EU Status Fee Part-time €4,200 Per Annum
Non EU Fee Part time €8,100 Per Annum
Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:
Closing date for non EU applicants is 1st July 2024.
Closing date for EU applicants is 31st July 2024.
Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.
Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions or email postgraduateadmissions@dcu.ie
For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate or email internationaladmissions@dcu.ie
To apply for this programme:
• All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal - view Application weblink above
Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link https://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml
Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.
The DCU MA in International Relations is the oldest in Dublin and is known for its dedicated staff and diverse student body. We welcome students from all over the world, as well as those with different career experiences, and those who have studied very different subjects at the undergraduate level. Our intellectual approach is also diverse. We see international relations as the meeting point of diverse theoretical, disciplinary, and geographical perspectives.
Programme Aims and Objectives
• Link theory, policy and practice.
• Offer high quality academic training in international relations.
• Give participants a critical understanding of different theories of and frameworks for international studies.
• Enhance the practical skills of participants in the areas of research, communication, policy analysis, and programme and project management.
Why Do This Programme?
• Gain an in-depth understanding of major theories, issues, and debates in contemporary international/global politics.
• Develop a clear and thorough knowledge of the political, social, economic, historical, and cultural contexts of the international system and its institutions.
• Understand specific aspects of international relations in the contemporary world, including security and conflict, development, globalisation, international law, area studies and foreign policy
• Broaden your horizons with interdisciplinary options such as language studies and communication studies.
• Build relationships and contacts with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds, a range of specialists and policy makers that will give you a head start as you build your career.
Programme Academic Structure for 2023 - 2024, MA in International Relations
This information is provisional & subject to change.
Full-time Programme Structure
Year 1 Core Modules:
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
LG5000 Dissertation 25 Autumn Semester 0 100 2
LG514 Int.Relations Theory 10 Semester 1 0 100 1
LG526 Principles of Public International Law 10 Semester 1 0 100 1
LG528 Research Methodology 5 Semester 1 0 100 1
LG589 International Political Economy 10 Semester 1 0 100 1
Year 1 Optional Modules -
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
LC583 Gender Sexuality and Migration 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5008 Environmental Change and World Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5037 EU Foreign and Security Policy 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5051 Statehood and Recognition in World Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5055 Race, Minorities & Indigenous in Int'l Law 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5064 The Governance of Migration in Europe 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5067 Gender, Masculinities and Colonialism 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5068 Gender and Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG517 International Development Practice 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG523 European and International Human Rights Law 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG525 Irish Foreign Policy 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG534 Conflict, Security and Peacebuilding 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG542 Politics & Development in Sub-Saharan Africa 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG552 Politics of the UN 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG574 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG599 War and Peace in South Asia 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
TP532 Religion, Human Values & Intl Relations 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
UM405 Uaneen Non-Contributing Module Year long 0 100 1
Year 2 Optional Modules -
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
UM405A Uaneen Non-Contributing Module 5 Year long 0 100 1
Part-time Programme Structure
Year 1 Core Modules:
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
LG514 Int.Relations Theory 10 Semester 1 0 100 1
LG526 Principles of Public International Law 10 Semester 1 0 100 1
Year 1 Optional Modules,
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
LC583 Gender Sexuality and Migration 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5008 Environmental Change and World Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5037 EU Foreign and Security Policy 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5051 Statehood and Recognition in World Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5055 Race, Minorities & Indigenous in Int'l Law 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5064 The Governance of Migration in Europe 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5067 Gender, Masculinities and Colonialism 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5068 Gender and Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG517 International Development Practice 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG523 European and International Human Rights Law 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG525 Irish Foreign Policy 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG534 Conflict, Security and Peacebuilding 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG542 Politics & Development in Sub-Saharan Africa 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG552 Politics of the UN 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG574 Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG599 War and Peace in South Asia 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
TP532 Religion, Human Values & Intl Relations 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
Year 2 Core Modules:
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
LG5000A Dissertation 25 Autumn Semester 0 100 2
LG528A Research Methodology 5 Semester 1 0 100 1
LG589A International Political Economy 10 Semester 1 0 100 1
Year 2 Optional Modules,
Code Title Credit Semester Exam % CA % Resit Category
LC583A Gender Sexuality and Migration 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5008A Environmental Change and World Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5037A EU Foreign and Security Policy 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5051A Statehood and Recognition in World Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5055A Race, Minorities & Indigenous in Int'l Law 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5064A The Governance of Migration in Europe 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5067A Gender, Masculinities and Colonialism 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG5068A Gender and Politics 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG517A International Development Practice 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG523A European and International Human Rights Law 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG524A Russia and the Former Soviet Space 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG525A Irish Foreign Policy 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG534A Conflict, Security and Peacebuilding 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG542A Politics & Development in Sub-Saharan Africa 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG552A Politics of the UN 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG574A Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
LG599A War and Peace in South Asia 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
TP532A Religion, Human Values & Intl Relations 10 Semester 2 0 100 1
UM405A Uaneen Non-Contributing Module 5 Year long 0 100 1
In the first semester, the core introductory subjects are offered in small classes that offer students an intellectual toolkit to use throughout the course, and also help the students to get to know each other. In the second semester, students can choose from the many optional modules developed specially for the MA in International Relations, as well as modules from a host of other programmes in international relations, security studies, public policy, and law. These normally include issues such as international politics, human rights, the economy, communications, trade, area studies, and environmental protection. Students also write a dissertation of up to 15,000 words, and receive support in doing so from the beginning of the course, including one-to-one supervision.
Programme Structure and Content
This MA can be completed in one year on a full-time basis, or in two years on a part-time basis.
As a full-time student, you’ll take three core modules in Semester 1, along with a research methodology class. In Semester 2, you’ll take three modules from a range of thematic- and region-focused options. A 15,000 word dissertation is due in September.
If you’re a part-time student, you’ll complete all modules (three core modules, a research methodology class, and three optional modules) over the course of two years, taking one or two modules per semester. A 15,000 word dissertation is due in September of Year 2.
The programme features seminars and presentations by guest speakers—including politicians, officials, academics and diplomats—that prompt you to explore key issues in international politics, security, and development, as well as to build connections to key practitioners.
+353 (0) 1 700 8264
danny.marks@dcu.ie