It may sometimes feel like Irish politics is exclusively dominated by outgoing, high-profile personalities, but there is also room in the political world for people who wish to work in a more behind-the-scenes capacity. A qualification in Political Science is perfect for anyone looking to get involved in any section of this area.
The area of political research is one that offers a more low-key route into the field, as it can groom students for important advisory roles, which need not require a significant public profile. There are currently numerous postgraduate options in Ireland that can help prospective students to build a career in this area.
One notable option is the Integrated Doctorate (MPhil/PhD) offered by Trinity College’s Department Of Political Science. It is a four-year course that, for its first two years, contains modules and taught components (alongside thesis work). Students also have to complete a dissertation, which provides their main focus in the two subsequent years. The course generally paves the way for a career in either political research or academia.
There are several other colleges that offer postgraduate options in politics and political research. The University of Limerick’s Department Of Politics and Public Administration offers prospective students the opportunity to pursue postgraduate research, culminating in a written thesis. Like the Trinity programme, it also provides seminars that help students to hone their skills in other areas, such as Research Management and Academic Presenting.
Of course, there are other political postgraduate options that are not so centred on a dissertation or thesis. UCD’s School of Politics and International Relations, for instance, offers a range of taught-module-based one-year courses in political topics (though the completion of a dissertation is also a programme requirement, in addition to the continuous assessment); MSc’s in Human Rights, International Relations and Nationalism and Ethno-Communal Conflict are available in this format.
Also, the Dublin Institute Of Technology offers a full-time one-year MA in Public Affairs and Political Communication, which offers a slightly different range of career options to the aforementioned courses. Upon completion of this programme, students will be qualified to ‘take up full-time employment as liaisons between private, public and not-for-profit organisations, and governmental or political persons and organisations’. They may also work as providers of communication services for people working in the world of politics, and some graduates can even embark on careers as consultants, offering public affairs services. Modules in this programme include Public Affairs, Political Marketing, Political Structures and Public Affairs Writing. Political postgraduates are a well-established and respected qualification, rather than a rising phenomenon.
When it comes to Postgraduate Courses in Political Studies, the methods for training PhD researchers have undergone something of a sea change in recent times. One new trend is the professionalisation of the training of PhD researchers. In the past, there was what is referred to as the “apprenticeship model”. These programmes are moving towards a system where there’s a more structured, taught component to courses.
With these significant recent developments in the area of political research instruction coming into effect, now may be the ideal time to pursue a postgraduate study option in this field. A career in politics does not necessarily entail the pursuit of votes; the wide array of courses currently available in Ireland ensures a rich variety of politically focused job possibilities.
A Masters in Business Administration Programme, also known as an MBA, is amongst the most ambitious study undertakings available, in terms of career progression, it’s also proven to be one of the most beneficial. The majority of MBA programmes are undertaken by professionals while in the course of their careers, seeking to make a significant addition to their professional capabilities, so let’s take a look at some of the best MBA programmes currently on offer in Ireland.
There are MBA programmes available throughout Ireland, in all major institutions and business schools; some are recognised by international MBA bodies such as EQUIS, AMBA or AACSB. There are many different disciplines in which you can pursue your MBA; some of the most common are analytics, accounting, logistics and supply chain management, and of course many more.
This programme has been named in the Economist Magazine’s top 50 global MBA programmes. It’s available on a full time basis on a one year programme. There is also a mandatory international residence week in Belgium and in addition there are optional residency weeks in China and South Africa. The intake starts each September. The Part-Time executive MBA is a two-year programme with the same course structure with classes delivered on a Monday and Tuesday evening with a set number of weekend blocks. The international residency programmes are also part of the course content.
The full-time MBA starts each August and is a globally ranked programme which immerses the student in study trips, integrated projects, international study trips and experiential modules. The 12-month course costs €34,500. The Part-Time Executive MBA is 24 months Visit www.smurfitschool.ie for more information on costs for EU and non-EU students.
The one-year full time, or two year part time MBA programme in international Business Management at Griffith College provides a route to this internationally recognised qualification, enabling students to specialise in key business sectors and industries with a dynamic study model.
The postgraduate Executive MBA Course is delivered on a part-time basis over two years at Dublin City University (DCU). The University is recognised as excelling in the areas of enterprise and business and the Executive MBA is designed to professionally and personally transform students in every aspect of their career development. DCU has been providing MBA programmes for more than 20 years, so visit www.dcu.ie for more information fee structures for EU and non-EU students.
The two year MBA programme at NUI Galway integrates and internationally driven, rigorous and challenging academic programme with a series of experiential and real world course modules, designed to provide students with the confidence required for innovative and effective management. NUI Galway has over 45 years of experience in delivering MBA programmes, with accreditation from the International Association of MBAs.
The fees for the above programmes do fluctuate and there is a considerable difference between the fees for EU students and non-EU students, so in addition to the financial implications make sure you find a course structure that works for you. Also, the above are just a sample of the many excellent MBA courses out there, with the Irish Management Institute, University College Cork and University of Limerick also offering excellent programmes.
While there are state supports available to assist postgraduate students with their studies, these are far fewer in number than those available at undergraduate level and are generally not as broad in their criteria of acceptance. Due to the nature of postgraduate study, there are several supports available to assist academic study at an advanced level available from individual institutions. We touched on these briefly in our articles of funding for Masters (link to article) and funding for PhD's (link to that article), so let's take a closer look at the funding available across some of the major Irish institutions. Of course, this information frequently changes so be proactive and monitor individual university websites for the most up to date information.
There are a number of supports for postgraduate students available at TCD ranging from small financial contributions to generous fee covering sponsorships, up to and exceeding €16,000. For more information, visit the link to postgraduate funding at Trinity College Dublin.
There are a number of scholarships and bursaries available at UCD for students across disciplines such as creative writing, business, MBA funding and many more. The Michael Smurfit UCD Graduate Career school also has a number of funding options and opportunities available. Visit the UCD funding page for more details.
University College Cork have excellence scholarships available for those seeking to pursue at taught Masters programme at the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences. See here for more details.
The University of Limerick offer a range of course specific postgraduate funding opportunities for those availing of taught postgraduate programmes, primarily offered at the Kemmy Business School. There are also research based funding opportunities, particularly in the fields of science and engineering. See here for more details.
Those with a first class primary honours degree have more than 100 different funding opportunities available to those seeking to pursue postgraduate study there. There are also merit based and research based funding opportunities. For more detail visit here.
There are a number of postgraduate funding opportunities available for postgrad students at Maynooth University. The John and Pat Hume Doctoral Awards scheme pays for fees plus €4,000 per year for four years. There are also alumni scholarships available for Maynooth graduates to do taught Master's courses at the University. Further information is available here.
The north/south postgraduate scholarship scheme offers four scholarships each year worth €15,000 to students with an excellent academic record. It is open to students from the Republic or Northern Ireland who have been accepted on a recognised Master's Degree or who are entering the first year of a PhD programme at a University that is either in Northern Ireland for students from the Republic or in the Republic for Students from Northern Ireland. For more information on this scheme visit the Universities Ireland site here.
The cost of studying in the US can be prohibitive, so the Fulbright Irish Student Awards are always popular. The award allows students to undertake postgraduate study and research programmes at recognised colleges and universities across the US. Although the fund will only cover one year of study tuition, the student is able to remain in the US for the full duration of their Masters or PhD programme. For more information on this visit www.fulbright.ie.
As always, check directly with institutions for up to date information regarding any of the funding supports mentioned above. Also, this is just a sample list so check in with other colleges and universities to find out what opportunities they might have.
The University of Limerick's MEng Information and Network Security is an exciting Masters option for anyone who wants to purse a career in ICT.
One of the foremost considerations facing businesses and organisations today is the security of network and information systems. Networks and information systems transfer and support of data all over the globe. Therefore, security is a persistent issue.
Information is sensitive. This is particularly true in banking, e-commerce and telecommunications as well as defence. A small lapse in security can result in a catastrophe.
The MEng Information and Network Security covers key areas of security of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) systems. Topic covered include:
Controls the users with access to the network. Every user in a system should have a recognisable identification.
Most organisations build their applications themselves or buy them. Either way, an application running on an organisations database and network may be a doorway to malicious access and insecurity. Therefore, application security looks at methods of avoiding infiltration of a network.
Data Loss and Prevention ensures that users do not share information that is sensitive to unauthorised users. It also analyses the way people upload, download, forward, stores and delete data from an information or network system.
Every network has behavioural characteristics. These can be studied and analysed. Consequently, if an information or network system behaves abnormally, this must be addressed promptly.
Smartphones now perform many of the same tasks of computers. As a result, they are one of the newer threats to security.
Wireless networks can be more complicated to secure. Because of this, there has been plenty of research into secure ways to use wireless technology.
The University of Limerick Masters in Classical String Performance is a two-year full time programme. The programme is done in collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra as well as the Irish World Academy.
The course gives students the opportunity to train, study and perform with world-renowned musicians, composers and conductors. Leaders from the Irish Chamber Orchestra will deliver classes.
The course also includes:
In addition, students have a choice of electives and independent studies. These draw upon the resources of the Irish World Academy. Options include Trad, Multimedia, Improvisation, Music Therapy, Community Music as well as many more.
The University of Limerick's MA Festive Arts is a one year, full-time Masters programme. It offers a comprehensive programme of study embracing the practical as well as scholarly and performance-based aspects of festival studies.
Launched in 2013, the MA Festive Arts was a world first. Students also have the opportunity to apprentice with a festival. This helps them to acquire the skills related to festival coordination and design. In addition, they learn methods for the study of festival, global festivity, and aspects of festival management.
The MA Festive Arts programme aims to give students:
James Brennan is a senior Healthcare Management Consultant with Brennan Fitzgerald Associates. He tells us about the MSc in Health Informatics offered by the University of Limerick.
Name: James Brennan
Course: MSc in Health Informatics
College: Department of Computer Science and Information (University of Limerick)
Back in the days before the Celtic Tiger when UL was NIHE Limerick, Ireland was poor, and many graduates emigrated. I duly ended up in London as a Management Accountant, after four enjoyable years studying for a BBS (Accounting and Finance).
At that time the Internet, email, broadband and the mobile phone had yet to see the light of day, and Health Informatics was quaintly known as 'Computers in Medicine'. I came back to Ireland as a partner in a firm of Accountants and Management Consultants. Most of my work was in ICT projects in the healthcare sector. I kept abreast of professional developments in the area of Health Informatics over that period. However, I felt that there was no specific course in Ireland addressing my particular niche until 2009, when I joined the new MSc course in Health Informatics in UL.
The course is in 10 blocks (Friday and Saturday) over two terms and a dissertation over the summer. This suited the class. We came from all over Ireland and all of us worked full-time.
We learned a great deal from each other by working together in groups, both on campus and by distance. Distance learning was a key feature of the course. The course content was a good balance of ICT and healthcare. It is very relevant and topical for anybody involved in ICT projects in healthcare, especially from the clinical and nursing areas.
The academic staff were excellent and very supportive, especially for the dissertation. In my case it involved a fact-finding mission in Europe. The campus has improved beyond recognition. The facilities were excellent, especially the library and the remote ICT services, such as Moodle. I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Finally, it was a coincidence that I returned to my Alma Mater., as I would have travelled anywhere in Ireland for this particular course.