Public Administration & Policy
This programme will significantly develop a student’s knowledge of Irish public administration and public policy. It will do so through an interdisciplinary approach, blending topics in public administration with public policy theories and real-life case studies.
| Award Name | Special Purpose Certificate (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Special Purpose |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Purpose Certificate (Level 8 NFQ) | Special Purpose | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
One academic year.
Delivery Method:
Students attend day-long seminars/webinars. Between these events, they study a range of online resources, including bespoke video lectures and specially chosen readings.
Entry Requirements
Certificate in Civil Service and State Agency Studies.
Applicants Require:
1. Leaving Certificate (examination from 2017 onwards): Candidates must obtain a pass in at least six subjects accepted for NUI matriculation purposes, with at least Grade H5 in two subjects on the Higher Level and at least Grade H7 (Higher Level) or O6 (Ordinary Level) in four subjects. Papers passed must include Irish, English and a third language. Students applying for the BBS (Hons) must have passed the Mathematics paper.
OR
2. Students of mature years (students over 21 on January 1 of the calendar year of entry) may be matriculated by the IPA for the purpose of entering a course of study.
Special Case Applications
Prospective students who do not meet the requirements under paragraphs 1 and 2 above may qualify for admission by meeting other equivalent requirements. A Special Case Application Form can be requested from:
Dr Denis O’Brien
Registrar
Institute of Public Administration
57-61 Lansdowne Road
Dublin 4
Tel: +353 (01) 240 3600
Email: undergrad@ipa.ie
Subject Accumulation
In some programmes, students may enrol for one or more subjects each year until they complete the programme stage.
Exemptions
Graduates and those with other relevant awards, in particular university, QQI and Technological University awards, may apply for an exemption from a subject(s) or entire stages of certain IPA programmes. Only those who have studied relevant disciplines with be considered for exemptions. Exemptions cannot be awarded in a one-year programme or at the award stage of longer programmes.
Application forms for exemptions are available from the IPA. They must be completed and returned no later than early October 2024. Applications must be accompanied by transcripts of results for each year of previous third-level studies.
Careers / Further progression
Progression
Graduates can enter Stage 3 of the BA (Hons) after a bridging programme.
Further information
Commences: September/October 2024.
€2,600 (includes all matriculation and examination fees), payable in two instalments.
Application Deadline: September 2024.
How to Apply:
1. Go to www.ipa.ie.
2. Download the programme application form and complete it in full.
3. Email that form, along with all the items below, to undergrad@ipa.ie, with the subject heading: Application for: Name of Programme. The items below should be scanned and included as attachments in this email:
- A passport-type photograph.
- A scan of your passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate.
- The fee for the programme or confirmation, including a PO number, that fees will be pad by an employer.
- A scan of your Leaving Certificate or relevant qualification (only if you are under 21).
APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNLESS ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION IS INCLUDED.
The Programme
This programme will significantly develop a student’s knowledge of Irish public administration and public policy. It will do so through an interdisciplinary approach, blending topics in public administration with public policy theories and real-life case studies. In addition to understanding, and being able to explain to stakeholders, the key tenets of Irish public administration, graduates can also make an effective contribution to real-life implementation or evaluation of public policy within the wider context of public sector reform, development, and innovation.
Is This Programme for You?
This programme will appeal to all those working in the civil and public service who would like to gain a deeper understanding of why and how Ireland’s public service and public policies operate as they do. It will also attract those who want to apply what they learn to their professional lives when they work on projects and engage with the implementation of policies.
The programme consists of four modules:
Module 1: Fundamentals of Public Administration
This module examines the role and function of the Constitution, the political institutions in the State, and the legal and economic systems within which they operate.
Module 2: Institutions and their Roles - How Ireland is Governed
This module introduces students to the way that civil service departments and state bodies are governed. It also provides an overview of how local government, agencies, and the EU operate.
Module 3: Policy Making and Analysis
How are public policies formulated and evaluated? This module covers both the theory of policy making and evaluation and such specific evaluative techniques as financial appraisal and project management.
Module 4: Contemporary Issues in Irish Policy
In this module, students will undertake an in-depth exploration of three key policy areas: social policy, tax policy, and climate policy.
Assessment consists of module assignments and an end-of-year exam.
All Correspondence and enquiries should be address to:
Undergraduate Office,
Whitaker School of Government and Management,
Institute of Public Administration,
57-61 Lansdowne Road,
Dublin D04 TC62, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (01) 240 3600
Email: undergrad@ipa.ie
www.ipa.ie