Requirements
For admission to the MA in Political Communication programme, successful applicants will have -
• A degree at the level of an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent, OR
• 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.

Application Deadlines
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:

• Closing date for non EU applicants is 1st July 2025.
• Closing date for EU applicants is 31st July 2025.

Note applicants who require a study visa for the purposes of studying at DCU, are advised to apply as early as possible.
All entry requirements should be met before the commencement of the programme.

Application Queries
For EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/eu-postgraduate-taught-admissions
or email [email protected]

For non EU applicant queries, please visit https://www.dcu.ie/registry/international-admissions-undergraduate-and-postgraduate
or email [email protected]

To apply for this programme:
• All Applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal - view Application weblink above

• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation if applicable.

• If applicable, provide evidence of competence in the English language as per DCU entry requirements. Please see link http://www.dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml.

Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.

The programme commences in September 2025

Apply Here

This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Careers
Graduates of the MA in Political Communication hold senior positions in the worlds of politics and public relations as well as in government, national and multinational companies, and the not-for profit sectors.

Our graduates are found in political, policy and media advisory roles in all the main political parties in Ireland – and in the European Parliament – and also work as senior officials in many government departments. They are also pursuing successful careers in leading public relations companies and across the not-for-profit and corporate sectors.

Some of the positions held by MA Political Communication graduates (October 2025) include:
Secretary General, Department of Justice;
Senior Political Advisor to the Tánaiste;
Advisor to Director of Credit Institutions Supervision, Central Bank of Ireland;
Press Office Manager, Department of the Taoiseach;
Private Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform;
Head of Employee Communications, AIB;
Internal Communications Manager, Bank of Ireland;
Head Of Corporate Affairs, SSE Airtricity;
Director of Communications, An Garda Síochána;
Senior Manager, IDM External Communications, Pfizer;
Communications Corporate Affairs and Director, Irish Distillers;
Global Communication Lead, AXA Group;
Senior Associate, First Derivate;
Political Advisor to Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora;
Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Asahi Europe & International;
Special Advisor, Minister of State for Rural and Community Development
Parliamentary Assistants; Houses of the Oireachtas
Head of Digital, Fianna Fail;
Director of Advocacy, Communication and Research; Focus Ireland;
Head of Advocacy Campaigns, Irish Cancer Society;
Director of Communications, 4 Day Week Global;
Director of Policy, Early Childhood Ireland;
Communications and Research Executive; Nursing Homes Ireland;
Spokesperson of the Chairman, Fraktion der Freien Demokraten (FDP), (Berlin);
Media Advisor, Yes23 (Australia);
Head of Media, Public Affairs and Policy, Business in the Community (UK);
Client Services Associate, Guidepoint (Greece);
Head of Transparency (Assistant Secretary), Department of Justice;
Senior Manager, Department of Health;
Communications & Public Affairs Manager, National Transport Authority;
Communications Manager, Inland Fisheries Ireland;
Director of Operations (Prisoners and Reintegration), The Probation Service;
Press Officer, Irish Defence Forces;
Account Executive, Murray Public Relations;
Moderation Service Specialist; TikTok;
Marketing Executive, Irish Exporters Association.

Graduates also work at organisations including Aldi, the Department of Transport, Children’s Rights Alliance and Young Social Innovators; many others are employed by public relations/public affairs companies and are self-employed running their own communications businesses.