International Relations
Do you have an interest in major world issues? Would you like to know more about how politics, economics and security work in today’s societies? If you are keen to learn, to analyse and to understand current affairs across the world, then you will enjoy the challenge of DCU’s BA in International Relations. This degree equips you with a real understanding of global issues so you can make a meaningful impact on real world challenges.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
3 or 4 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must present a minimum of 6 Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. In addition, applicants must present at least 2 subjects at Grade H5.
Additional Requirements
If you wish to register for one of the language streams, then a minimum of H4 in French, German or Spanish is required.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Applicants wishing to undertake a Level 8 degree at DCU must be at least 16 years of age on 15 January of the year of entry.
Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following 6 groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B.
2 Economics, Agricultural Economics.
3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry; only 2 best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry; only best scored.
4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all 3 subjects are taken; only the best 2 will be scored.
5 Latin, Classical Studies.
6 Greek, Classical Studies.
Candidates who meet the points requirements but not the specific course requirements, for example H4 in English for the BA in Journalism, are permitted to repeat that subject only to meet the course requirements.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. However, these courses will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:
DC001 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
DC009 - Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
DC014 - BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance
DC131 - BA in Communication Studies
DC132 - BA in Journalism
DC133 - BSc in Multimedia
DC155 - BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
DC231 - BA in International Relations
DC232 - Bachelor of Civil Law and Society
DC235 - BSc in Education and Training
DC238 - BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation
DC291 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Media)
DC292 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Law)
DC293 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (International Languages)
DC294 - BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability
DC295 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Politics)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Please note that LCVP link modules cannot be used as a subject for general or specific course entry requirements, but can be used for the calculation of points.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
DCU welcomes applicants with appropriate QQI-FET (Level 5/6) qualifications. Applicants who have a full National Framework of Qualifications Level 5 award in appropriate qualifications and modules can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses.
QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route is a competitive entry route with a limited number of places. A quota of places are offered based on the CAO ranked order of applicants based on performance. For courses with a QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route, approximately 10% of places are retained for QQI-FET (Level 5) applicants. Application is made through the CAO.
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
Policy Evaluation and Research
Education
Development
Security
Commerce
Law
Retail & International Public Policy
In these areas:
Government or International Corporations and Organisations
Statutory Bodies
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Public Service
Private Industry
Further information
Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.
For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.
For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions
70
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why DCU?
− Take a global perspective on what makes society work and how its various actors interact with one another
− Apply your study and research skills to a major independent project
− Gain the skills employers are looking for – such as communication, critical thinking and teamwork
− Choose to spend a year studying abroad or undergoing an internship as part of your degree
− DCU is a leading centre for expertise in International Relations, with lecturers involved in work on global issues such as security, peace studies and climate change
About You
Do you have an interest in major world issues? Would you like to know more about how politics, economics and security work in contemporary societies? If you are keen to learn, to analyse and to understand current affairs across the world, then you will enjoy the challenge of this degree course.
Understanding: International Relations
You will explore a variety of issues and debates in global politics, and will find out about the forces that shape contemporary societies. You will learn about such issues as peace, security, terrorism, globalisation, international law, third-world debt and American foreign policy. You will also study contemporary global governance, multilateral affairs, and international organisations such as the European Union and the United Nations.
By the end of this unique and innovative course, you will have learned about international politics, development and regional studies from a global perspective, and will have developed oral and written communication skills, teamwork skills, research techniques, and ability in analytical and critical thinking.
Course Structure
The variety of optional modules available gives you plenty of flexibility in what you choose to study alongside the core elements.
Optional modules start in Year 1, so you can choose to take either the main or the language stream (choose from intermediate French, German or Spanish. The stream you choose will then run for each of the 3 years of your degree.
This is normally a 3 year course. However, you may elect to spend an extra year abroad in one of our partner universities in China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey or the USA. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance educational and social experience at first hand. You then complete the final year of your course at DCU.
INTRA
You can opt to apply for a year-long work placement in Year 3. This will give you a unique opportunity to enhance your CV, increase your employability and experience the relevance of your study in the real world. This option is competitive and subject to the availability of placements. For more information, please visit dcu.ie/intra
Internship: Yes.
What Will I Study?
Year 1
Introduction to European Integration | Introduction to International Political Economy | Introduction to International Relations and Security | Introduction to Politics | The Role of International Law in International Relations | Introduction to Development | Introduction to Global Governance | Climate Change and International Politics
Optional Modules: International Relations Stream:
Introduction to US History and Politics Contemporary Cultural Debates
Language Stream (one language):
French Language (intermediate) | German Language (intermediate) | Spanish Language (intermediate)
Year 2
Guided Research Project | Political Ideologies | Contemporary Political Terrorism | Conflict, Security and Peace | Intelligence, National Security | Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
Optional Modules: International Relations Stream:
International Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding | The Making of Contemporary Europe | Global Cultures | Introduction to Gender Studies | Irish Foreign Policy
Language Stream (one language):
French Language (intermediate) | German Language (intermediate) | Spanish Language 5 (intermediate)
Year 3 – Optional
Optional study year abroad/INTRA
Final Year
Digital International Relations | Key Issues in International Relations
Optional Modules Include:
Contemporary Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | Politics and Foreign Policy in China | Unrecognised States in the International System | Gender and Politics | The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa | The Politics of South Asia | Post Soviet Politics | Issues in European Integration | National and Populism in the 21st Century | Issues in American Politics | Conflict Resolution in Northern Ireland | Sexualities, Languages and Society | The Politics of Migration in Europe | Dissertation | Uaneen Award: DCU’s Leadership and Engagement Module
Languages Stream:
French Language (intermediate) | German Language (intermediate) | Spanish Language (intermediate)
If Year 3 is spent abroad or on a work placement, then Year 4 is structured as per Year 3.
Additional Information
The degree also provides a strong foundation for further study.
Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 6898
E: paola.rivetti@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC231