Program Overview

Recent crises have exposed flaws in the policymaking systems of many countries around the world, and very markedly in Ireland. In part, these flaws reflect the technical capacity of policymakers to effectively formulate and implement public policies and analyse potential consequences in complex and evolving circumstances.

This relationship is recognised by the Irish state, the EU, and other international bodies as they attempt to increase the number of professionally qualified policy specialists working with them.

In response DCU is offering a bespoke, online interdisciplinary course designed to meet the requirements of a new generation of policymakers — the MSc in Public Policy is a new type of professional degree with an intellectual base and methodological rigour that reflect the needs of a society facing more nuanced and complex challenges.

Course Content

You’ll take four core modules, and choose two other modules from a suite of options, followed by a Policy Analysis Exercise. An innovative departure from the traditional dissertation, this Policy Analysis Exercise — which can be linked to your employment — is an opportunity for you to work on real policy problems set by public organisations.

Year 1 Core Modules:

Code	Title	Credit	Semester	CA %	Resit Category
LG5003	Public Policy Analysis I	10	Semester 1	100	1
LG5006	Policy Analysis Exercise	25	Autumn Semester	100	2
LG5007	Policy Challenges	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5025	Quantitative Methods for Social Sciences 1	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5060	Political Theory and Public Policy	10	Semester 1	100	1
LG5065	Research Design for Policy Makers	5	Semester 1	100	1

Year 1 Optional Modules -

Code	Title	Credit	Semester	CA %	Resit Category
CM5036	Communicating Policy	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5024	EU Institutional Law	10	Semester 1	100	1
LG5034	Climate Change Policy and Governance	10	Semester 1	100	1
LG5041	Policing and Society	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5044	Key Issues in European Law & Policy	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5052	Politics of the Irish Constitution	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5056	Climate Change and Cities	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5063	Issues in Public Policy	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG5064	The Governance of Migration in Europe	10	Semester 2	100	1
LG525	Irish Foreign Policy	10	Semester 2	100	1
UM405	Uaneen Non-Contributing Module	5	Year long	100	1

Entry Requirement
General Entry Requirements

For admission to the MSc in Public Policy programme, successful applicants will have -
- A degree at the level of an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent,
- Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualifications and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.
- International candidates who are non-native speakers of English must satisfy the University of their competency in the English language. More information about DCU's English language requirements can be found here.
  
  IELTS ACADEMIC Composite score of 6.5 or above, with no less than 6.0 in any one component
  
  TOEFL iBT Total Score of 92
Fees & Scholarships
EU Status Fee

€7,400

Non EU Fee

€15,000
Career Prospect
The MSc in Public Policy’s range of modules equips participants with a range of social science skills, such as quantitative analysis, research design, economics and communications methods to develop, analyse, evaluate and communicate public policies. These have been carefully chosen, in consultation with key stakeholders such as senior civil servants and ministers, so that graduates of the programme are in position to become leaders in policymaking.

Potential Careers
- Policy Advisor
- Policy Maker
- Public Servant
- Communications Consultant

Cost Of Studying At Dublin City University

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

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