The last step of your application process is to send in an original transcript of your academic results. All incoming students have a ‘hold’ on their records pending the verification of documentation.
Queries regarding document verification should be directed to the Student Desk.
An in-person orientation event for SPIRe Masters and Graduate Diploma students will take place in the first week (the week of 8 September). An email will be circulated when the date has been finalised.
Individual programme orientations will also be arranged by the Programme Directors, who will contact you in due course.
Please see some information about general orientation across the university.
You will need to register online and confirm attendance before you can begin your graduate studies. Registration allows you to obtain your Student Card (UCARD) and gain access to the wide range of facilities available to our students.
Your username is your application number or UCD student number (8 digits), and your password is the same one you use to log into the application portal.
If you are having trouble accessing your UCD Connect Account or email, please contact the Student Desk.
Registration for SPIRe Masters students begins on Friday, 15th August 2025 and all students are allocated a start time. You will receive an automated email to your UCD Connect account confirming your start time.
All MA/MSc students must complete 60 credits from taught modules, as well as a thesis or an internship (30 credits), over the course of the programme. Graduate Diploma students must complete 60 credits from taught modules. (Please see the relevant section below.)
Full-time students complete the degree in one year, while part-time students spread the workload over two years.
| Trimesters | Months | Typical Workload |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | September-December | 30 credits (approx. 6 hours of lectures per week for 12 weeks) |
| Spring | January-May | 30 credits (approx. 6 hours of lectures per week for 12 weeks) |
| Summer | June-August | Thesis or Internship (30 credits, No lectures) |
Part-time students spread the above workload over 2 years.
| Trimesters | Months | Typical Workload |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Year 1: September-December | 10-20 credits (approx. 2-4 hours of lectures per week for 12 weeks) |
| Spring | Year 1: January-May | 10-20 credits (approx. 2-4 hours of lectures per week for 12 weeks) |
| Summer | Year 1: June-August | No Workload |
| Autumn | Year 2: September-December | 10-20 credits (approx. 2-4 hours of lectures per week for 12 weeks) |
| Spring | Year 2: January-May | 10-20 credits (approx. 2-4 hours of lectures per week for 12 weeks) |
| Summer | Year 2: June-August | Thesis or Internship (30 credits, No lectures) |
Graduate Diploma students who wish to transfer to a Master's programme must select the core and option modules of their chosen Master's course. Full-time students should select 30 credits in both the Autumn and Spring trimesters. Part-time students should select 30 credits in both Year 1 and Year 2. (Note: Module registration takes place at the beginning of each academic year. Part-time students will be selecting modules for this year only.) Please refer to the relevant section below for further details.
If you are unsure if you have correctly registered, or need assistance, the SPIRe Graduate team are happy to help. Contact them on (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie with your STUDENT NUMBER.
If it is a core module for your course, please contact the SPIRe Graduate Team Team at (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie with your student number, and they will ensure you are enrolled correctly.
If an optional module is appearing as full, you should keep checking on a daily basis. Online module registration closes in mid-September, and many students pick up and drop modules up until the deadline as places often become available. Please do not contact the module coordinator or the admin office, in relation to registering to a full option module - the school does not operate a waitlist policy.
Unfortunately, there will be instances when your first preferences for optional modules cannot accommodate you. We cannot guarantee you a space on any optional module.
If you would like to attend a module without receiving credit, you may choose to audit it. To do so, you must first obtain permission from the module coordinator by email.
Once you have received permission, please forward it to the SPIRe Graduate Team at (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie, and they will register you as an audit student. You will gain access to the module on Brightspace and audited module(s) will appear on your transcript as “audited.”
Please note that, as an audit student, you may be expected to complete weekly readings and actively participate in class discussions.
If you have queries related to document verification, fee payment, UCD Connect account or email, please contact the Student Desk.
If you are having issues with module registration, please contact the SPIRe Graduate Team at (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie When doing so, please provide the following information:
Your fees will be payable in three instalments (in September, January and May) with each instalment 1/3 of your total fee for the year (and the total balance payable by the end of the year).
For queries related to fee payment, please contact the Student Desk directly.
The methods of assessment vary from module to module, but may include a combination of written assignments, presentations, and/or a final exam. Details can be found in the course outlines or from the module coordinator.
All written work must be submitted to Brightspace. Submission links are located in the Assessment/Assignments section of each Brightspace page. A signed "Declaration of Authorship" form must be attached to your essay.
Download UCD SPIRe Declaration of Authorship WORD / PDF
Submission of hard-copy assignments is not normally required unless otherwise specified by your lecturer.
All work submitted for assessment must comply with the policy on plagiarism (below) and the policy on re-use of assessed work (below).
You should make every effort to submit your work on time. If you are experiencing difficulties, please contact the relevant module coordinator as early as possible. If coursework is submitted late without approved permission, the following penalties will apply:
Please refer to the (opens in a new window)University's Late Submission of Coursework Policy.
To apply for Late Submission of Coursework you must complete the (opens in a new window)Late Submission Google form Spring 2024-25. (UCD login required)
It is better to apply for this in advance of any deadline date and to have already consulted with your Module Coordinator. If you require an extension of more than 10 working days, you should apply for Extenuating Circumstances. Please see the section below and the University's Extenuating Circumstances Policy for guidance.
SPIRe understands that sometimes circumstances outside your control can prevent you from completing assessments or sitting exams. Both the School of Politics and International Relations and UCD offer excellent support services for students who need them (see the relevant section below).
It's important to let us know about any problems as early as possible, ideally before the deadlines you're concerned about. This allows us to consider your situation when marking work or deciding whether a late penalty should apply to an essay. In such cases, you should speak directly with your module coordinator.
Applications for extenuating circumstances are reviewed and decided by the College, not by SPIRe.
You should also familiarise yourself with the university's Extenuating Circumstances Policy.
Plagiarism, either intentional or unintentional, is a very serious offence, and SPIRe takes possible incidents of Plagiarism very seriously. If you are unsure of what plagiarism is and how to avoid it please consult (opens in a new window)the library's helpful guide.
Self-plagiarism is also a case of plagiarism!- You must not present the same work in full or in part previously submitted at UCD or anywhere else.
SPIRe's faculty and staff are here to ensure your experience at UCD is as fulfilling and successful as possible. Your first points of contact will be your module coordinators, your programme directors, and the School's Graduate Administrator ((opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie).
Your designated student advisers are Holly Dignam and Kieran Moloney. They will meet youin confidence, either in person or by Zoom, please contact Holly or Kieran to arrange an appointment.
Changing modules after two weeks into a term isn't generally permitted.
In mid-January, online module registration reopens, allowing you to change your Spring option modules. Refer to the UCD Key Dates for the registration schedule.
A Leave of Absence (LoA) is an extended period of time away from a programme of study, at the request of the student, and approved by the relevant Governing Board. It enables you to take an approved and specified period of time away from your programme.
How to Apply
Further Information
Students can withdraw from a module without academic penalty before the end of week 12 of a trimester or before the last day of teaching. However, withdrawing after Week 8 of teaching may result in a "Withdrawn" (WN) grade on your student record. Additionally, a module fee might be incurred if you withdraw after Week 8.
To withdraw from a module, please write to the School at (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie.
SPIRe recognises that students may need to withdraw from their programme for a variety of reasons. If you are not continuing your programme, please follow the procedure below:
Further Information
Graduation, or conferral from UCD, generally takes place for Master's and Graduate Diploma students at the end of November/beginning of December.
This process is managed by the Conferring Unit. You can find more information on their website, and all eligible students will be emailed directly by the Conferring Unit.
We warmly invite you to stay connected with the School and with fellow graduates through the SPIRe Alumni LinkedIn group and mailing list.
These platforms allow faculty and alumni to share job opportunities, internships, events, and other updates that may be helpful as you plan your next steps.
If you haven’t already, we encourage you to sign up to the mailing list and request to join the LinkedIn group.
We look forward to staying in touch.
Electronic and hardcopy documents, such as Academic Transcripts and Diploma Supplements, can be obtained via the Student Desk.
For documents not listed in the link above, please contact the School directly for assistance at (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie and include your student number.