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BSc PPE

DN700 BSc Social Sciences - Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

Stage 1

Politics Core Modules
  • POL10170 Foundations in Political Research (Autumn)
  • POL10160 Foundations of Contemporary Politics (Spring)
  • POL10180 Foundations of Political Theory (Spring)

Tutorials are attached to POL10160 and POL10180.

You will take 4 core modules each from Economics and Philosophy.

Option

You can take the following Politics module as an option.

  • POL10120 Foundations in Globalisation and Development (Spring)

Stage 2

Politics Core Modules
  • POL20010 Individuals and the State (Autumn)
  • POL20050 Research Methods in Political Science (Spring)

Tutorials are attached to all Stage 2 core modules.

You will take 3 Economics and 2 Philosophy core modules.

Option Modules

You choose options from a variety of Economics, Philosophy and Politics modules in this category. Available Politics modules are:

Autumn

  • INRL20040 International Relations
  • INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy
  • INRL20160 Introduction to EU Politics
  • POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics

Spring

  • POL10120 Foundations in Global Development
  • POL20020 Comparative Politics
  • DEV20010 Topics in International Development
  • DEV20130 Sustainable Development Goals
  • INRL20110 Introduction to Middle East Politics
  • POL20250 Irish Politics

Tutorials are attached to INRL20040 and POL20020.

Stage 3 & 4

There is no core module in Stage 3 and 4. You choose options from a variety of Economics, Philosophy and Politics modules in this category. Available Politics modules are:

10 Credit Options:

Autumn

  • INRL30320 Gender in War & Peace
  • INRL30370 Terrorism & Political Violence
  • POL30640 Deliberative Mini-Publics
  • POL30820 Political Risk & Foreign Investment
  • POL30880 Capitalism and Democracy
  • POL30890 Politics of Organised Crime
  • POL36070 Political Psychology
  • POL36120 Gender Religion & Colonialism

Spring

  • INRL30340 International Political Economy
  • INRL30400 EU Foreign Policy
  • POL30660 Data Analytics for Social Sciences
  • POL30680 Gender and Politics
  • POL30690 Introduction to Asian Politics
  • POL36100 Strategies of Politics
  • POL36110 Comparative Political Theory
5 Credit Options:

Students make select a module from the following Politics level 2 option list to fulfil stage 4 requirements.

Autumn

  • INRL20040 International Relations
  • INRL20080 Irish Foreign Policy
  • INRL20160 Introduction to EU Politics
  • POL20260 Introduction to Chinese Politics

Spring

  • POL10120 Foundations in Global Development
  • POL20020 Comparative Politics
  • DEV20010 Topics in International Development
  • DEV20130 Sustainable Development Goals
  • INRL20110 Introduction to Middle East Politics
  • POL20250 Irish Politics

Tutorials are attached to INRL20040 and POL20020.

Final Year students can apply for a special year-long module called the Advanced Seminar in Politics (POL30860 & POL30870). See further information below. 

You are encouraged to study abroad (one semester or year-long) and/or take up an internship in your third year.

The list of modules above is subject to change.

SPIRe Tutors & Teaching Assistants Directory, Autumn 2022-23

Tutors and Teaching Assistants are allocated to the following modules. 

  • POL10160 Foundations of Contemporary Politics
  • POL20020 Comparative Politics
  • POL20050 Research Methods in Political Science
  • POL10120 Foundations in Global Development
  • DEV20130 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
  • POL20060  Law, Politics and Human Rights

For queries related to administrative matters including tutorial registration, please contact the SPIRe School Office at spire@ucd.ie.

Austin Bicknell

POL20020

Abbie O’Leary

POL20020

Diana Cenusa

POL10160

Jelena Radakovic

POL20020 Head Tutor

Michael Coleman

POL20060 Teaching Assistant

Coral Richardson

DEV20130 Teaching Assistant

Marcus Dupuy

POL10160

Cian Saunders

POL10160

Sarah King

POL20050

Redmond Scales

POL10160 Head Tutor

Daniel Lovett

POL20050

Carl Smith

POL10120 Teaching Assistant

Natalie Macartney

POL10160

Ella Switzer

POL10160

Michaela McCormack

POL20020

Conor Twomey

POL20050

Ines Meyer

POL20020

Valentina van Drooge

POL10160

Paula Montano Parrales

POL20050 Head Tutor

Katherene Welsh

POL10160

 

Dino Wildi

POL20020

Applications for Advanced Seminar in Politics 23-24

The Advanced Seminar in Politics 1 (POL30860) and 2 (POL30870) is a year-long course where staff members of the School of Politics and International Relations introduce students to cutting edge research in the field. During the second half of the course, students write a minor thesis, under the supervision of a staff member in the school. The module has limited capacity and entry is competitive. Registration for this course is done manually.

To be eligible to take this course, you must be a final year student in 2023-24, who has completed Core Level 2 Politics modules. Students with a GPA of 3.60 and above (across all modules or across SPIRe modules only) will be eligible for consideration.

The deadline for submission is Wednesday 28th June 2023. You must include grades in your application that will be released on 23rd of June. 

Google Application Form (Log onto UCD Connect Required)

Examinations Feedback

If you wish to review your script, send a request to spire@ucd.ie two working days in advance.

Please include the following information.

  • Student number
  • Full name
  • Module code and name

If you wish to review your script with your lecturer:

  1. Make an appointment with him/her by sending an email. (See here for staff details)  
  2. Also send an email to spire@ucd.ie so that the admin staff members will prepare your script before the appointment. Please indicate your student number, full name and the module code/name.

SPIRe School Office, Room G301 Newman Building,  Open between 10am and 4pm (Closed for lunch between 1-2pm), Monday to Thursday. 

Brian Farrell Medal

This award was established by friends and colleagues of Professor Brian Farrell who retired from UCD in 1994. It is awarded annually to the student(s) in Stage 1 Politics who achieves the highest grade point average in the two core Stage 1 Politics modules taken by all Politics students. The prize may be awarded to up to three students. In the rare case that more than three students meet the prize criterion, overall Stage 1 grade point average will be considered. 

  • 2020-21 Winner: Fionn Kenneally
  • 2019-20 Winners: Alysia Cloake, Stephen Mahon
  • 2018-19 Winner: Alex Greaney
  • 2017-18 Winners: Nils Hugo Ekelund, Elizabeth Higgins, Alan Kelly, Tommy MacDiarmada and Eannan Monaghan
Conor Martin Memorial Prize

This prize was established by the friends and colleagues of the late Reverend Professor Conor Martin, who was Professor of Ethics and Politics from 1952 until his death in 1980.

The prize of up to €200 will be awarded annually to the student in Stage Two Politics who achieves the highest combined grade point average in three core Stage Two Politics modules. The prize may be awarded to up to three students. It will be split evenly in the case of two winners, whereas in the case of three winners each student will be awarded €100. In the rare case that more than three students meet the prize criterion, overall Stage 2 grade point average will be considered.

  • 2020-21 Winner: Ciara De Buitleir
  • 2019-20 Winners: Iseult O'Callaghan, Jonathan Strieben
  • 2018-19 Winner: Nils Hugo Ekelund
  • 2017-18 Winner: Diana Volpe
Peter Mair Award

This prize commemorates a former SPIRe graduate and leading political scientist, Professor Peter Mair. The annual award takes the form of a letter presented to the final stage Politics student(s) who achieves the highest Stage grade point average in their two best Politics and International Relations modules. The prize may be awarded to up to five students. In the rare case that more than five students meet the prize criterion, overall Stage Four grade point averages will be considered.

  • 2020-21 Winner: Elizabeth Higgins
  • 2019-20 Winner: Arshdeep Kaur
  • 2018-19 Winners: Jack Heron, Ross Merriman
  • 2017-18 Winners: Nina Carroll and Anna L. Blix
Tom Garvin Award

This prize is named in honour of Professor Emeritus of Political Science at UCD, Tom Garvin. The annual award takes the form of a letter presented to the student(s) who achieves the highest grade for their thesis submitted in SPIRe’s Advanced Seminar. The prize may be awarded to up to five students. In the rare case that more than five students meet the prize criterion, overall Stage Four grade point averages will be considered.

  • 2020-21 Winner: Elizabeth Higgins
  • 2019-20 Winner: Clelia Li Vigni
  • 2018-19 Winner: Ross Merriman
  • 2017-18 Winner: Anusha De

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UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe)

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