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Prospective Students FAQs

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Applications

Applications for September 2026 intake will open in October 2025.

Please note that we do not offer a January intake for our postgraduate courses, with the exception of the online MSc Sustainable Development.

  1. Create your UCD application account. See the "How Can I Apply?" section below.
  2. Enter the necessary information on the application system and submit the required documents. See the "Application Documents" section below.
  3. Pay the application fee. Please note that your application won't be assessed until you pay the fee.
  4. Applicants from EU countries are assessed by the School. Applicants from non-EU countries are assessed by the UCD Global Regional Teams. See the "International/Non-EU Applicants" section below.
  5. It will take up to three weeks to assess your application.

  • A primary degree (Honours Bachelor Degree, (opens in a new window)NFQ Level 8 or equivalent) with at least Second Class Honours Grade 1 (2H1) in any discipline. (2H1 is equivalent to 60 per cent, B minus or 3.08 GPA - in American system: B or 3.00 GPA) 
  • Your application will be considered on its individual merits and relevant professional experience will also be taken into account.
  • English language requirements: applicants whose first language is not English should have met TOEFL, IELTs, or computer-based TOEFL requirements (600, 6.5, or 250 respectively), or the Cambridge English Test (Certificate in Advanced English at a minimum of Grade B, or Certificate of Proficiency in English at Grade C). Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempted from this requirement. Click here for further info.
  • Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. 

For applications to SPIRe programmes, the following is required:

  • Academic transcripts of your current/previous degree(s) 
  • English proficiency certificate (if relevant). Please refer to the UCD English language requirements.
  • The name and contact details of one academic referee (Uploading an actual reference letter is NOT required.)
  • The application fee - €60.

You are also encouraged to submit a CV or any other documentation that may help your application e.g. volunteer or work experience in a relevant field.

An application FAQ can be found here

No, SPIRe does not require an academic reference.

You only need to provide the name and contact details of one academic referee in the References section of the application system.  We may contact your referee if any questions arise regarding the documents you submit with your application.

You can upload additional documents such as a personal statement, a letter of motivation or my CV (resume). As part of the admission process, most emphasis is placed on applicants’ academic transcripts.  However, relevant work/life experiences will also be taken into account.

It is encouraged to submit any document that supports your application.

Completing the online application form- FAQ's

Yes, you can. Applicants in the final year of their undergraduate degree will be issued a Conditional Offer if their results to date are equivalent to or above a 2H1.

Once they complete their degree and achieve final results that meet our criteria (a 2H1 or above), the conditional offer will convert to a firm offer. At that stage, you will be required to submit your final transcript for verification. For more details, please refer to the Qualification Check - UCD Registry.

To accept a conditional offer, payment of a deposit is not required.

To accept a firm offer, payment of a deposit is required. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.

Applicants who have obtained a previous degree in recent years or are currently pursuing a degree at an English-speaking university in an English-speaking country are exempt from submitting an English Proficiency Test result.

If you completed a previous degree in recent years or are pursuing a current degree at an English-speaking university in a non-English-speaking country, you must provide a letter from your university confirming that the medium of instruction was English.

However, applicants from non-EU countries are strongly advised to complete an English Proficiency Test and obtain a valid result for visa purposes.

Applications from non-EU countries are assessed by the UCD Global Regional Team. 

Please contact them directly. If you have already applied, please quote your Application Number when you do. Here is a list of our UCD Global Centres and their contact information:

Further Information for International Students

(opens in a new window)internationalenquiries@ucd.ie can also be used for more general queries related to registration, accommodation etc.

We accept applications on a rolling basis until the beginning of September 2025, unless we receive an unprecedented number of applications. However, we recommend submitting your application by early August at the latest as module registration starts in mid-August.  If you are an international student, we suggest applying even earlier to allow sufficient time to arrange accommodation, visas, and other requirements.

We endeavour to make admission decisions within three weeks of receiving complete applications and the application fee.

The application fee is €60, and it covers multiple applications within the same year. This fee must be paid before the UCD Application System allows us to review your application.

In most cases, the application fee cannot be waived. However, Asylum Seekers, Refugees and those with subsidiary protection or Leave to remain are not required to pay the application fee. Please contact the applications team if you are in one of these categories.

You can find more information on the UCD Registry website.

To accept a conditional offer, no deposit payment is required.

Once your final transcript becomes available, please (opens in a new window)log back into the system, upload it as an additional document, and notify us by email at (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie so we can review it promptly.

At that point, assuming you meet the above requirement, we will issue a 'Firm Offer'. To accept the firm offer, a non-refundable deposit of €500 (EU) / €750 (Non-EU) is required.

Accepting an Offer
  1. Please (opens in a new window)login to your online account to accept you offer.
  2. To accept a firm offer, a deposit payment is required (€500 for EU applicants and €750 for non-EU applicants).
  3. Qualification Check

To accept a firm offer, a deposit payment is required (€500 for EU applicants and €750 for non-EU applicants).

(To accept a conditional offer, no deposit payment is required.)

Requests for an extension of the acceptance deadline could be accommodated.

EU Applicants: Please email (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie with your application number. 

Non-EU Applicants: 

Your application is handled by UCD Global's regional offices. Please contact the team in your region for any queries related to your application process. Please include your application number your in your email.

Please note the deposit is not refundable.

To accept a conditional offer, no deposit payment is required.

To accept a firm offer, a deposit payment is required (€500 for EU applicants and €750 for non-EU applicants).

Requests for an extension of the acceptance deadline could be accommodated*.

* Please note that extensions for applicants from non-EU countries may not be granted after May or June due to visa-related reasons.

EU Applicants: Please email (opens in a new window)graduatespire@ucd.ie with your application number. 

Non-EU Applicants: 

Your application is handled by UCD Global's regional offices. Please contact the team in your region for any queries related to your application process. Please include your application number your in your email.

Please note the deposit is not refundable.

Fees and Scholarships

SPIRe Masters Graduate Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by us, the School of Politics and International Relations. We will review the details and post updated information on the above link in Spring 2025.

UCD Scholarships for International Students

The above scholarship is offered by UCD Global for international students. Please contact them directly if you have any questions. A contact form is at the bottom of the above link. 

According to the information provided on the (opens in a new window)Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships, our Master's programmes (MA and MSc) are eligible, with the exception of the MSc in Sustainable Development (ONLINE), the Graduate Diploma, and the Professional Certificate programmes.

This scholarship is offered by the Higher Education Authority of Ireland. Please read the documents available on the website above. If you cannot find the information you need in any of the documents provided, please feel free to email (opens in a new window)goi-ies@hea.ie.

Course Structures & Timetables

Some courses have the option of either an MA or MSc version of the same programme

Students opting for the MSc variation of the programme will, in addition, take core modules in research methods and statistics. This will provide a solid understanding of doing research and critically evaluating claims made by academics and other researchers. Those considering further study at PhD level or a career in research, policy analysis or journalism should certainly consider the MSc variant.

The MA track is broader and most will allow you to choose to complete a thesis or to apply for an internship to develop your professional skills in the field.
In general, all MSc programmes require a thesis, with the exception of the MSc Human Rights and the MSc Politics and Data Science, both of which offer the option of undertaking a thesis or internship .

Please take a look at the core/optional modules available on your chosen programme structure to determine the requirements.

Our modules are generally delivered in two-hour lecture sessions every week for 12 weeks. The majority of lectures take place between 09:00 and 18:00, Monday-Friday.

Part-time students take a total of 90 credits (60 for Grad Dip) but over two years instead of one. Most students take one or two modules in the Autumn and Spring semesters, so 2-4 hours of lectures per week. It is advisable for part-time students to take core modules in their first year, with the exception of 'Research Design'.

Part-time students take the Thesis/Internship or SDG Project 30 credit module in their 2nd year of study

All students must complete 60 credits from taught modules, as well as a thesis or an internship (30 credits), over the course of the programme. Full-time students complete the degree in one year, while part-time students spread the workload over two years.

  • The majority of our modules are worth 10 credits.
  • Each programme includes 2–4 core modules.
  • Each module typically involves two hours of lectures per week.
  • Modules typically run from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 18:00.
  • Your timetable will depend on your module choices. 
  • Refer to UCD Term Dates for the exact trimester start dates. 

Full-Time MA/MSc Programmes:

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)

Full-Time Graduate Diploma Programmes:

Graduate Diploma students take a total of 60 credits. 

  • Autumn Trimester – 30 credits of modules = roughly 6 hours per week for a duration of 12 weeks.
  • Spring Trimester – 30 credits of modules = roughly 6 hours per week for a duration of 12 weeks.

Depending on their performance, aspirations and selection of modules, students may be able to transfer from the graduate diploma into a Masters programme after the first trimester.
For more information, and to see which programmes are eligible for transfer, please look at the 'Transfer from Graduate Diploma to Masters' section on this page.

All students must complete 60 credits from taught modules, as well as a thesis or an internship (30 credits), over the course of the programme. Full-time students complete the degree in one year, while part-time students spread the workload over two years.

  • The majority of our modules are worth 10 credits.
  • Each programme includes 2–4 core modules.
  • Each module typically involves two hours of lectures per week.
  • Modules typically run from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 18:00.
  • Your timetable will depend on your module choices. 
  • Refer to UCD Term Dates for the exact trimester start dates. 

Part-Time MA/MSc Programmes:

  • Part-time students also complete 90 credits but over two years instead of one.
  • Part-time students are strongly advised to complete the core modules as soon as they become available.
  • Most students take 1-2 modules per trimester during the Autumn and Spring trimesters, equating to 2-4 hours of lectures per week.
  • The 30-credit Thesis/Internship module is completed in the second year of study.

Modules typically run from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 18:00. Please note that we do not offer any weekend or evening modules.

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)

We do not offer any weekend or evening modules, with the exception of the online MSc Sustainable Development.
This can be taken during your own time, although you are encouraged to attend classes live online, where possible.

Currently, you cannot study any of our Master’s degrees online and must be present, in-person in Dublin, to attend class. The exception to this is the (opens in a new window)MSc Sustainable Development, which is online only.

I’m afraid we only offer a September intake, except for the MSc in Sustainable Development (ONLINE), where students can join in either September or January. 

Thesis and Internship

Yes, you will need to research and choose your organisation for your internship. All advice and guidance on how to choose your organisation will be available on Brightspace once you register for the internship module.

More information on the SPIRe Intern process can be found here

You do not need to do your internship in Ireland only. You can go anywhere in the world to do your internship, as long as the internship agreement is signed. But please be aware of the different employment laws and visa requirements of the country you want to go to.

While submitting your thesis proposal, you will have the opportunity to nominate three academics that you would like to work with. The final assigned supervisor is determined by the School.

Generally, you do not need to stay in Ireland, as you can contact your supervisor over Zoom if necessary, but it is up to the discretion of the supervisor.

Other FAQs

The UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe) is committed to fostering a welcoming and positive environment for everyone who works and studies with us.

While SPIRe fully supports the University's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies and initiatives, we also strive to go beyond these commitments to promote inclusivity among our faculty, staff, and students.

Prior knowledge of programming is not required. The course offers two streams: one for students with technical backgrounds and another for those with non-technical backgrounds. Students from non-technical backgrounds are required to take modules that cover basic programming.

Many of our students start without a coding background but successfully acquire these skills during the first two terms.

Students who wish to apply for a mid-year transfer must complete the core modules of the programme they wish to pursue. 

Here are the details on what you can transfer to:

UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe)

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