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Welcome to SPIRe
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Welcome to SPIRe

UCD School of Politics and International Relations

Who We Are & What We Offer

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January Start Courses
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January Start Courses

Applications are open for January 2026 start

MSc Sustainable Development (Online) | Professional Certificate in Quantitative Text Analysis / Professional Certificate in Programming for Social Scientists (On-campus, 4 months)

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World Top 100 by Subject 2024
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World Top 100 by Subject 2024

SPIRe ranks in the QS top 100 in Politics

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What is Politics & International Relations?
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What is Politics & International Relations?

Why Study Politics & International Relations at UCD?

Associate Professor Joseph Lacey and a current student Joey McDonald explain.

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Publications by SPIRe Staff
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Publications by SPIRe Staff

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News and Events

New UCD Module Brings Ireland’s Policy Makers and Shapers into the Lecture Hall
New UCD Module Brings Ireland’s Policy Makers and Shapers into the Lecture Hall

Current and Former Ministers, Officials, MEPs, Advisers and Journalists Pull Back the Curtain
UCD SPIRe Receive Fáilte Ireland ‘Conference Ambassador Award’
UCD SPIRe Receive Fáilte Ireland ‘Conference Ambassador Award’

In November, Professor David Farrell was presented with a ‘conference ambassador award’ by Fáilte Ireland for his role as Chair of the Host Committee for the 2024 General Conference of the European Consortium for Political Research
UCD Honohan Doctoral Scholarship 30Jan
UCD Honohan Doctoral Scholarship

This scholarship provides full EU and Non-EU fees and an annual stipend of €25K | Deadline: Friday 30 January 2026
Two UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarships for 2026 06Feb
Two UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarships for 2026

The Scholarship covers tuition fees (up to the non-EU rate), a yearly stipend of €25,000, and an annual research budget of €4,000 for research-related expenses. The deadline is 6 February 2026.
Congratulations to SPIRe Award Winners 2024/2025!
Congratulations to SPIRe Award Winners 2024/2025!

The School held an award ceremony on December 3 to recognise our top students. A huge congratulations to the winners for such a significant achievement!
Autumn 2025 Newsletter
Autumn 2025 Newsletter

SPIRe Newsletter Autumn 2025 has just been published. This issue includes "Lucía Tiscornia receives ERC starting grant", "NUI Awards an Honorary Doctorate to Maurice Manning", "Elizabeth Meehan Prize for Dawn Walsh" and more!
Congratulations to Salsabil Abdalbaki on Passing Her Viva!
Congratulations to Salsabil Abdalbaki on Passing Her Viva!

Thesis title: Computational Approaches to the Detection of Media Frames, with an Application to the Nile Dispute
NUI Honorary Doctorate: Maurice Manning\n
NUI Honorary Doctorate: Maurice Manning

On November 6, the National University of Ireland awarded Maurice Manning an Honorary Doctorate. SPIRe Professor, David Farrell was invited to ‘introduce’ Maurice at his conferral.

Public Lecture: The burden of memory’ by Professor Jim McAuley 19Nov
Public Lecture: The burden of memory’ by Professor Jim McAuley

"The burden of memory’ – collective identity, narrative and re-writing the past in Northern Ireland"
4:00 pm, Wednesday 19 November, in F301 Newman Building (RSVP by email to dawn.walsh@ucd.ie by 1:00 pm on Monday 17 November)

Alumni Event Report: Ireland’s Presidency: More Than a Figurehead?
Alumni Event Report: Ireland’s Presidency: More Than a Figurehead?

On Tuesday, 30 September, the School of Politics and International Relations brought the SPIRe alumni community together for a lively and thought-provoking discussion.

PSAI Workshop on Methods in Political Theory
PSAI Workshop on Methods in Political Theory

A guest speaker Prof Jonathan Floyd explains different methods in Political Theory.
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RTÉ\'s Behind the Story podcast by Dr Alexander Dukalskis
RTÉ's Behind the Story podcast by Dr Alexander Dukalskis

"Rising authoritarianism, Kneecap and Eurovision"

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Two Doctoral Scholarship Schemes are now open!

  • Iseult Honohan Doctoral Scholarship: Covers full fees with an annual stipend of €25,000 (Deadline: 30 January 2026)
  • UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarships: Covers full fees with an annual stipend of €25,000, plus a €4,000 research budget (Deadline: 6 February 2026)
Honohan Ad Astra

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UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe)

School Office: G301, Newman Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.