University College Dublin’s Social Sciences Study Abroad programme provides an exciting opportunity for visiting students to expand their academic and cultural horizons. Our Social Sciences programme is ever-evolving and provides students with a strong understanding of contemporary world issues.
Why do people behave the way they do? How do social, cultural, political and economic forces shape our lives and the world in which we live?
If these types of questions about society and social relationships spark your interest, prepare to be challenged and fascinated by studying abroad with UCD Social Sciences. You will examine the nature of our society and the issues confronting humanity, including climate change, crime and violence, social and economic inequality, gender justice, sustainable cities, human development, economic growth and big data.
Studying Social Sciences at UCD provides students with the academic understanding necessary for a wide range of careers across areas such as business, politics, the not-for-profit sector, and economics. Your ability to research and critically analyse information will place you in a strong position when starting out on your career.
For the most up-to date fee, click on the below links, and then select 'Occasional & Study Abroad Fees', and filter by major code e.g. CD38
At UCD we call classes/courses ‘modules’. Social Sciences Study abroad students have access to a large range of undergraduate modules available at UCD (subject to capacity and timetabling).
Study Abroad students must take at least 20 ECTs and at most 30 ECTs for their trimester. The majority of your modules must be in Social Sciences & Law disciplines. Social Sciences Study Abroad students may also take modules in Arts and Humanities/up to 10 ECTs of modules in other programme areas.
Assessment is based on a combination of in-trimester components such as projects, class-based assignments and formal examinations which take place at the end of each trimester in December and May.
**Please note: Psychology modules are allocated to Psychology majors only. Politics & International Relations Level-3 Modules are also restricted to students in a cognate-related discipline.
Schools within the College of Social Sciences:
The UCD Social Sciences Study Abroad Programme has a dedicated Programme Manager who works with the central UCD Global Study Abroad Office to help make student admission, registration and participation a smooth, efficient and enjoyable process.
An essential part of studying abroad is for you to experience the local culture and traditions of your host country. UCD Global provides acomplimentaryCultural & Social Programme for our Study Abroad students. They'll take students on various cultural nights out in the city and day tours across the island!
Music, theatre and comedy shows; national parks and heritage sites; hiking and cycling trips; castle, cave and factory tours! They've also been known to throw a party or two during the trimester i.e. Welcome Reception, Thanksgiving Dinner, Super Bowl Night and much more.
This series of activities and excursions are completely FREE to attend and we encourage you to sign up to as many as you wish! At the beginning of term a calendar of events will be shared with you which you can sign up for at any time during the trimester.
Check out the (opens in a new window)Study Abroad at UCD Instagram to see photos from previous excursions!
Students can be housed on-campus in shared apartments with their own single room. However on-campus rooms are not guaranteed.
The accommodation booking process is managed centrally by UCD Global so you will be notified in advance of application dates and deadlines.
You are invited to research the on-campus accommodation options on www.ucd.ie/residences and direct any query via email to (opens in a new window)residences@ucd.ie
Alternatively, and by request, UCD Global facilitates students in suitable off-campus housing in private rented houses/apartments in Dublin but on a convenient bus route to UCD.
UCD Global will issue an official academic transcript of your final exam grades to your home institution at the end of the trimester, once grades have been published. Your home institution will decide on credits to be awarded for modules pursued at UCD. You do not need to request a transcript.
To be eligible for any UCD Study Abroad Programme, you must hold a US GPA of 3.00. You must upload a copy your official transcript and a copy of your passport ID as part of the application process.
Applications are made on-line at www.ucd.ie/apply
To apply,
1. Go to the (opens in a new window)UCD Course finder page
2. Click Special Groups > Study Abroad > Search. This will give you the list of available applications for study abroad courses. (Alternatively you can search the desired course code directly in (opens in a new window)Course Finder).
3. Click the blue 'Apply' button for the preferred course.
4. Create an account on the application portal.
5. Continue to open the application, complete & submit the application for review.
Social Sciences codes: CD38 Fall CD39 Spring Full Year CD40)
Full-year or first trimester (Fall) May 1st
Second trimester (Spring) October 25th
Study Abroad Programme Manager
UCD Social Sciences Office
D114 Newman Building
UCD Belfield
Dublin 4 Ireland
T: +353 1 716 8298 E: (opens in a new window)socialsciencesstudyabroad@ucd.ie