UCD College of Social Sciences and Law is excited to share the opportunities available to students and staff through the Universitas 21 and Una Europa programmes. From short online courses and interactive workshops to international experiences, these programmes offer a chance to develop new skills, broaden your perspectives, and connect with peers from around the world.
Universitas 21 - A Global Network of 28 World-Class Universities
UCD is a member of (opens in a new window)Universitas 21, a global network of 28 world-class universities with over 1 million students and 200,000 staff, inspiring institutional innovation for over 20 years. We are pleased to share details of some of the opportunities available to College of Social Sciences and Law students and staff within the U21 network below, for more information and a full list of opportunities, see (opens in a new window)here or contact: universitas21@ucd.ie
Global Citizens Programme
The U21 Global Citizens programme is an online leadership development
course, delivered by Common Purpose, a global not-for-profit organisation
that specialises in Cross-Boundary Leadership. You can find out more about
the programme, which is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
(opens in a new window)For more information please see (opens in a new window)here
Virtual And International Opportunities
Students, researchers, and staff in the Social Sciences and Law are eligible to apply for international opportunities facilitated by U21 member universities throughout the year. These exciting programmes are updated regularly.
(opens in a new window)Please see (opens in a new window)here for information on current openings.
Sustainable Micro-Internships
The U21 Sustainable Micro-Internships are a 2-week online programme that
gives students the opportunity to collaborate with peers across our global
network. You will be introduced to an organisation that is actively working on
advancing one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and you
will be set a real-life current organisational challenge to work on, in small
groups.
(opens in a new window)For more information please se(opens in a new window)e here.
School for Sustainable Policy and Leadership
The U21 School for Sustainable Policy Leadership, hosted by McMaster University, Canada invites postgraduate students from diverse academic disciplines to an enriching experience focused on sustainability, leadership, and global impact.
(opens in a new window)For more information please see here
UCD MSc International Relations and Politics graduate Elena Lliso attended the U21 Summer School on Sustainable Policy Leadership in Lund University, Sweden in June 2025
‘This experience came at exactly the right time. After months of thesis writing and solo academic work, I needed something energizing, and this gave me exactly that. It helped me reconnect with why I chose this field in the first place.
On a personal level, I left feeling more confident in my voice and ideas. I contributed, listened, adapted, and learned from people with completely different perspectives. On an academic and career level, it reinforced my desire to work in international spaces where policy meets people, where sustainability is treated not as an afterthought, but as a core value. It also reminded me that leadership isn’t just about knowing the most; it is about navigating uncertainty, building trust and creating space for others.’
RISE
RISE (Real Impact on Society and Environment) is U21’s international video showcase
of student achievement in sustainability and social innovation, designed to accelerate
the scale and impact of student-led projects. RISE connects you with international
peers facing similar sustainability challenges, operating in different contexts, and
offers the opportunity to win $2000 as an award recipient.
Una Europa
UCD is part of the Eleven leading European research universities that have come together to create a unique alliance – Una Europa. Drawing on our collective strengths to create a truly European inter-university environment, a University of the Future.
The College of Social Sciences and Law invites and encourages students, researchers and staff to get involved.
For more information, contact (opens in a new window)UnaEuropa@ucd.ie visit the Una Europa website (opens in a new window)here
- Opportunities for students are listed (opens in a new window)here
- Opportunities for academics are listed(opens in a new window) here
- Opportunities for professional services staff are listed (opens in a new window)here
Katie O’Sullivan, Law student, represented UCD and Una Europa at ESA 2024
‘The Assembly taught me how to accept criticism, how to deliver it, and how to be vulnerable and put my ideas forward. I made an incredible number of new friends, and we all exchanged our LinkedIn accounts and contact details on the last day, so I will be able to see how everyone gets on with their careers. We have also all been added to the ESA Alumni Network. I absolutely recommend participation in next year’s Assembly, or any opportunity Una Europa puts forward for that matter!’
Sophie de Miranda Connolly is a master's student in European Law and Public Affairs at UCD. In May 2025, she took part in the European Student Assembly (ESA), held in Strasbourg,
‘The Assembly took place in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Strasbourg – the actual chamber where MEPs debate and vote! It was incredibly exciting (and a little surreal) to sit in those seats and vote on policy just like a real Member of the European Parliament.
During the Assembly, we heard from a range of inspiring speakers, including current MEPs and ESA alumni. We worked intensively with our panels to complete our proposals, engaged in inter-panel debates, and explored the Alliance Village, where each university alliance presented their work and culture. The event ended in a full-scale vote on around 80 policy proposals, using the same digital voting system that real MEPs use in plenary sessions, which was super cool.’