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Email academic.registry@tcd.ieThe M.Sc. in International Politics is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time course that enables students to develop the abilities to assess the major theories of international relations and to formulate policy relevant research questions in the field. Students will learn to design and conduct their own research using relevant social scientific theories and methods. They will also develop the skills to communicate research effectively in a variety of forms.
The course aims to provide students with the necessary skills for a range of research-related careers, as well as careers in other areas. It is suitable for students who wish to progress to doctoral research, or to pursue careers in applied policy research, the civil service, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, or the media.
Students develop the necessary skills for a range of research-related careers in the fields of applied policy research, business, government, law, media, international aid, and global governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as a solid foundation for a research Ph.Ds.
The International Politics M.Sc. course is designed to run for one year on a full-time basis or two years on a part-time basis.
The full-time course is structured around 3 terms, each of which is compulsory. In each term, students take modules summing to 30 ECTS, where the dissertation in Trinity term counts for the full 30 ECTS. Thus, the degree programme sums to 90 ECTS.
Most modules in the M.Sc. programme are taught around weekly seminars, with assessment based upon participation, short assignments, and a paper. Some modules (notably Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods) will involve lectures. Students are expected to attend class every week. In addition, please note that written work can be assigned during study week and between term times.
Students take four compulsory modules and four elective modules.
Core modules include: International Politics; International Conflict; Research Design; Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods.
Elective modules vary from year to year. In recent years, electives on offer include: Government and Politics of the EU; The Political Economy of International Development; Russian Politics under Putin; Interviews in Political Science; Great Power Politics; Middle Eastern Politics; Global Justice; European Union Policy Making; State and Society in the Developing World; Varieties of Authoritarianism; Economic Inequality and Democracy; and Political Illiberalism.
Students must also complete a 10,000-word dissertation.
Click here for further information on modules/subjects.
A presentation about the International Politics (M.Sc.) programme at Trinity College Dublin, delivered by Dr. Peter Stone.
September 2025
Noah Buckley
30th June 2025
Candidates should normally have achieved an upper second-class Honours degree or higher from an established university. GPA scores of at least 3.3, or equivalent, are expected from international applicants. A background in a social science is advantageous but not a necessity. Applications are expected from candidates with a Single or Joint Honours degree in Political Science, Economics, European Studies, History, Sociology, Business or Law.
English Language Requirements
All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.
Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees.
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
+353 (0)1 896 4687
www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/programmes/postgraduate/msc-international-politics
Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
The M.Sc. in International Politics at Trinity is one of a kind. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed. It progresses logically – first, with classes that have a familiar feel to undergraduate work, and eventually, to the fundamentals of social sciences research design and finally to producing original research independently. Trinity’s campus location in Dublin could not be better.
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As James Joyce wrote in Dubliners, real adventures do not happen to people who stay at home, they must be sought abroad. Looking back, having come to Trinity from abroad, I can best describe my time here at Trinity as precisely that: an unforgettable adventure that helped me grow academically as well as personally. I profited immensely from the course’s strong emphasis on academic training in research design as well as quantitative and qualitative methods, its international outlook, and my inspiring professors, experts in their fields, who brought their cutting-edge research and passion for international relations to the course. Not only did they inspire us and created a great learning environment in class but were always happy to help us with our research and any questions we had. Most importantly, I got to know the most amazing people from all over the world, be it China, Finland, India, or the United States who became great friends and almost immediately made me feel at home in Dublin. We shared a passion for politics and international relations, which made for many fruitful discussions in and out of class. So, if you are, like I was over a year ago, contemplating coming to Trinity for the MSc International Politics, you are in for an exciting adventure at one of Europe’s most prestigious universities.
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