Overview

This programme of study is designed to address three areas of competence:

• Knowledge - this programme is designed to increase knowledge of different developmental contexts and issues, and to provide students with adequate training to recognise and analyse alternative developmental contexts and issues.
• Disposition - a key part of this programme is concerned with fostering within development actors and motivators a self-reflexive attitude towards alternative development values, goals, ambitions and objectives, so that participants may recognise alternative developmental ambitions - within themselves, within specified development programmes and throughout the field.
• Skills - this programme is designed to provide the appropriate skills base, so as to enable participants to operate more effectively as developmental actors and change managers.

 Contact
Applicants who wish to discuss details of the programme should contact the
Course Director, Rachel Ibreck
Department of Politics and Public Administration,
Tel. +353-61-202770
Email: rachel.ibreck@ul.ie

Graduate Profile

The course is designed for those who want to pursue a professional career in the private or public sectors as well as for those who want to pursue further postgraduate study.

Programme Content

MA: Full time and part time study options
For full-time students, the course takes one academic year to complete, from September to September, with graduation (following successful completion of the course programme) in January.  Students taking the programme on a full-time basis take six taught disciplinary modules over two semesters (from September to December and from February to May), plus two research methods training modules.  In the remaining three months (June to August), programme participants are given the opportunity explore the practical and theoretical problems associated with carrying out a self-administered research project at first-hand by undertaking a research project themselves in the form of a individually supervised written dissertation over the summer.

For part-time students, the course takes two academic years to complete. Part-time students are required to take six taught disciplinary modules and two research training modules over four academic semesters (from September to December and from February to May in year one and again in year two). Core modules are time-tabled so that part-time students may avail of this course on a day-release basis throughout the teaching term. Part-time classes are scheduled every Monday throughout the teaching terms.

In addition to the compulsory core modules that form the basis of this programme of study, students may, by virtue of their choice of additional elective modules, choose to focus their studies in either the international or domestic development spheres, or some combination of the two.

The dissertation is between 10,000 -15,000 words and is written under the supervision of an appropriate supervisor. A grade of C3 or above in the dissertation is obligatory for the successful completion of the programme. The dissertation will be worth 30 ECTS credits out of a total of 90 for the MA.

Graduate Diploma: Full time and part time study options
The Graduate Diploma comprises all of the above with the exception of the research project.  Therefore students only take the taught modules.

Students are required to take three core modules and three elective modules, plus the research methods module in both semesters.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally be the holders of a primary degree with a second class honours grade 2 in a cognate social science discipline or an approved equivalent qualification.  (Primary Degree: Level 8 NQAI).

What to Include with your Application:

• Qualification transcripts and certificates
• English language qualification if English is not your first language
• Certified English translations of your transcripts/certificates where the originals are in a language other than English.
• A copy of your birth certificate (long document)

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than  two years prior to application):

• Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following:
• Matriculation examinations from European countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved
• Irish Leaving Certificate English –Ordinary Level Grade D or above
• TOEFL – 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based), 80 (internet based)
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6.5* for Business, Arts, Humanities or Education programmes. Minimum score of 6.0* for Science, Engineering, Informatics or Electronics programmes *with no less than 6 in any one component.
• English Test for English and Academic Purposes (ETAPP) – Grade C1
• GCE ‘O’ level English Language/GCSE English Language – Grade C or above
• University of Cambridge ESOL –Certificate of Proficiency in English - Grade C / Certificate in Advanced English Grade A
• GCE Examination Boards – Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations – Grade C / Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – School Certificate Pass 1-6 / University of London Entrance and School Examinations Council – School Certificate Pass 1-6

Results in examinations other than those listed above may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.