MA Philosophy and Public Affairs

MA in Philosophy and Public Affairs

The Masters of Arts in Philosophy and Public Affairs is is a one-year interdisciplinary programme (or two years part-time), designed to offer graduates of either philosophy or the social sciences (politics, economics, history) the opportunity to study some of the many areas of overlap between the disciplines, and especially to explore foundational questions in public policy formulation. This innovative programme mixes the abstract and the applied, with half the modules from the School of Philosophy, and half from existing MA modules offered by the School of Politics and International Relations, and the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.

Our MA in Philosophy and Public Affairs programme is aimed at students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the core areas of philosophy and its application to public affairs at graduate level. It is also intended to provide a good foundation of graduate work for students who wish to continue to more advanced graduate research. It aims to provide an integration of social and political theory with the philosophical implications of the area.

Programme Content and Structure (2025/26)

The student must take six modules as follows.

(A)  Philosophy Options (3)

Three philosophy modules chosen from the following. Descriptions of the Philosophy MA modules are available here.

Autumn Trimester

• PHIL40250 Merleau-Ponty’s Phenomenology of Perception
• PHIL40410 Philosophy & Literature
• PHIL40970 Topics in Philosophy of Mind & Cognition
• PHIL41240 John Henry Newman: Philosophical Perspectives
• PHIL41280 Feminist & Gender Theory
• PHIL41320 Topics in Continental Philosophy
• PHIL41510 Ethics in Public Life
• PHIL41890 Authenticity & Implicit Attitudes

Spring Trimester

• PHIL40420 The Good Society
• PHIL40960 The Cultural Mind
• PHIL41350 Metaphysics
• PHIL41810 Critique, Destruction & Deconstruction
• PHIL41880 Reading Nietzsche
• PHIL41920 Love & Friendship in Early Modern Philosophy
• PHIL41960 Environmental Ethics

(B)  Social Science Options (2)

Two social sciences modules, chosen from the following:

Autumn Trimester

• GEOG40970 Critical Geographies
• EQUL40310 Masculinities & Equality
• POL41020 Politics of Human Rights
• POL41980 Peace & Conflict Studies

Spring Trimester

• POL40100 Politics of Development
• POL40140 Global Justice
• POL40160 Comparative Public Policy
• POL40370 International Political Economy
• PHIL40540 Comparative European Politics

(C)  Theory Option (1)

One theoretical from the following list (which also includes the modules in section B):

Autumn Trimester

• EQUL40310 Masculinities, Gender & Equality
• PHIL41510 Ethics in Public Life
• POL40050 Theories of International Relations
• SLL40230 Intro to Cultural Theory

Spring Trimester

• EQUL40070 Human Rights Law & Equality
• POL40140 Global Justice
• POL41030 Theory of Human Rights

• Please note: the School of Philosophy is not responsible for modules in other schools. Some of these modules may not be accessible to students on this MA programme because of (i) cancellation, (ii) oversubscription, or (iii) a timetable clash. Some timetable changes might be made as late as August. If you have any questions about the content of these modules, please contact the School in question:
  • POL modules are offered by the School of Politics and International Relations;
  • EQUL modules are offered by the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.

(D)  Dissertation

In addition, students must write a 12,000–15,000 word dissertation, due in mid-August. The dissertation must be supervised by a staff member of the School of Philosophy, although students may consult staff in other schools for informal advice. Students are encouraged to discuss possible topics with their lecturers as early as possible.

Note: Part-time students must complete their dissertation in the second year.

(opens in a new window)Entry Requirements for Taught MA Programmes

• A BA with a 2:1 or above (a GPA of approx. 3·2) in Philosophy, or international equivalent
  
  or
  
  
• A Joint Major BA with a 2:1 in Philosophy and a 2:2 or above in the second subject and
• A Postgraduate Diploma with a 2:1 or above in Philosophy

However, all applications are assessed on a case by case basis, and so students with a 2:2 in Philosophy should also consider applying.

Required Application Documents and What We Look For 

1. Two academic references: These should be from academic referees who can speak to your promise as an MA student. Referees may send their letters directly to (opens in a new window)philosophy@ucd.ie or you can upload them to the portal, depending on your referees’ preference. 
2. Writing sample: A philosophical essay or paper of up to 3,000 words (for example, an undergraduate essay submitted as part of your undergraduate degree on a philosophical topic of your choice). We assess the quality of arguments, intellectual maturity, and clarity of style.
3. Statement of personal interest: A short statement (maximum 1,000 words) explaining your motivation for further study, research interests, and your reasons for applying to UCD School of Philosophy.
4. Academic transcripts: Official transcripts for all university-level study. These help us to evaluate your coursework performance, grades, and consistency of achievement.
5. Proof of English language proficiency: Fluency in written English is required. If you are not a native speaker of English and your secondary education or university degree has not been carried out in English, then you must have a minimum score of 6·5 IELTS (minimum of 6·0 in each band), and submit evidence of this in your application. Please consult this page for further details.