Master in Government and Politics

Key Points

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The Master of Government and Politics is an exciting interdisciplinary taught master’s program that provides graduates with the experience and work experience necessary for successful careers in public policy settings.

The focus of the Master in Government and Politics is governance. The government affects our daily life. It affects the food we eat, the health care we receive, and the taxes we pay. Modern governance occurs at many levels: local, regional, national, European and international.

To provide an understanding of contemporary governments, the Master of Government and Politics examines topics such as developments in democratic theory, regulatory reform, and international relations. It also examines contemporary political debates at a variety of levels, looking at political reform in the Irish context, the changing dynamics of European governance, as well as the challenges facing democracy and the protection / promotion of human rights in the 21st century. .

The Master of Government and Politics is geared towards professional training, through courses, and the option of taking a job-based dissertation (job placement) or a research-based dissertation. Job placement is one of the unique selling points of this master’s program and is unlike any other postgraduate offerings from other universities. We have a dedicated placement officer looking for an internship tailored to each student’s specific interests. In most cases these internships are paid, although it cannot be guaranteed. The offer of internships is based on the success of this scheme at the undergraduate and graduate level in other programs offered by the Department of Government and Politics, which has been a pioneer in offering internships for political science students.

The master’s degree will allow you to develop your research and analysis skills in the areas of government, political science, and public policy. It will also provide you with other skills, including: data analysis; research, communication and writing skills; policy analysis, critical, systematic and independent thinking; and presentation skills. The job will give you a unique opportunity to develop important professional skills and to immediately apply your learning to the professional world.

The program will prepare you for positions in government, international organizations, the private, community and voluntary sectors and doctoral research. Our graduates have found employment as public affairs consultants, legal officers, parliamentary investigators, journalists, analysts in the banking and IT industries, press officers, teachers, and some have conducted doctoral research.

The Master of Government is suitable for graduates in the social sciences, arts, commerce, law, or related disciplines.

Program Structure

Course practices

Students studying for the degree full time take all modules in one year.

Part-time undergraduate students complete all core modules GV6124 , GV6011, GV6010, ES6014, GV6118, GV6121, and PH6055 (40 total credits) in the year 1 and the remaining credits from the elective module list, as well as GV 6106 or GV6123 (30 credits) in year 2.

The taught part of the course runs from mid-September to the end of the following March. You will take the work-based dissertation or research-based dissertation between the beginning of April and the end of September. The duration of the internship can vary from three to five months.

During the taught part of the course, students have approximately 8-10 hours per week of lectures / seminars. This is complemented by recommended reading, preparing presentations and other group work, and time spent completing assignments (essays, policy briefs, research projects, etc.). During the taught part of the course, you will also take preparation classes for the internships.

In Part 1, the course is assessed through a variety of coursework assignments, including:

• class presentations
• reports
• article reviews
• book reviews
• blog contributions
• posters
• portfolios and essays

In part 2 of the course, the assessment involves

• GV6106 Thesis in Government and Politics (30 credits). This is a 15,000 word independent research thesis.

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• GV6123 Dissertation based on work in government and politics (30 credits). This is a job placement in a national policy setting and a placement-based dissertation. The duration of the internship is usually four months.

Why choose this course

A key feature of the Master of Government and Politics is its focus on governance and public policy issues, and the way it provides you with the practical skills necessary to work in political settings. Additionally, the job placement and skills approach of the assessment for the program are critical to its effectiveness.

If you are a graduate of the social sciences, arts, business, or law, this course will help you specialize in political science and provide you with key practical transferable skills (data analysis, presentations, teamwork).

These characteristics of the Master of Government and Politics give our graduates a competitive advantage. Past students repeatedly comment on the value of the course’s skills component and work practices in exposing them to policy-related environments and generating a deep understanding of this exciting and evolving field.

Scholarships

Various scholarships are available for postgraduate studies at UCC. The UCC Excellence Scholarship pays the equivalent of EU fees: Excellence Scholarship

There are also Irish government funds (€ 10,000 and full fees) available specifically for non-EU / EEA students, the deadline for which is usually the end of March, so applicants are advised to apply early .

Career opportunities

Exclusively for such a taught master’s degree, the Master of Government and Politics offers you the option of a traditional minor thesis or the opportunity to undertake a four-month job placement.

Students do internships in a variety of organizations / institutions working in areas related to national affairs, such as government ministries, offices of elected representatives, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations. We have relationships with a variety of organizations that take students from the course and students receive expert support in finding and applying for jobs.

The course prepares you for many types of employment and / or further study. Our graduates have found employment in the public service, journalism, political institutions, international organizations, NGOs, teaching, banking, computing, and a doctorate in research.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have a Second Class Honors Grade II in a primary honors degree (NFQ, Level 8) or an equivalent academic or professional qualification, in one of the following areas: Social Science, Arts, Business, Law, or a discipline related or equivalent professional experience as deemed appropriate by the Head of the Department of Government Policy and the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Applicants may be required to attend the interview or may be shortlisted for the interview.

All applicants will be required to submit a ‘statement of motivation’ (stating why they are interested in taking the Master of Government and Politics, and why they think they would be suitable for the program.

Prospective applicants should contact the Department of Government and Policy for more information

English requirements

All graduate applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of English language proficiency. Certain tests (eg, IELTS, TOEFL, and Pearson PTE) have a three-year time limit on their validity and will apply. English language tests must be taken no more than three years prior to the start of a program.

Please note that Secure English Language Test (SELT) scores must be obtained in a single session of the corresponding qualification (for example, IELTS and TOEFL). We will not accept a combination of individual component scores from multiple tests.

Applicants who are nationals of a country that, according to the UCC, is predominantly English-speaking, or who have a degree or equivalent qualification that was taught in a country that is considered predominantly English-speaking, will normally be assumed to have met the language requirements of the UCC. However, in some circumstances, applicants may be required to present evidence of an English language qualification to satisfy the college program entry requirements.