Course Structure

Students pursuing the Certificate select a total of 30 credits: 

• Core (compulsory) modules: 20 credits = 4 x 5 credit modules
• Elective modules: 10 credits = 2 x 5 credit modules

Compulsory core modules (20 credits).  Each module carries a 5 credit weighting:

• GV1202: Politics of the European Union
• GV3103: Introduction to Politics of Ireland
• GV3206: Northern Ireland Politics
• GV4413: Public Finance

Elective modules (10 credits).  Each module caried a 5 credit weighting:

Students may choose two modules from the list of elective modules or choose one module from the list of electives and one other module from any academic department offering modules to Visiting Students - subject to timetable constraints.

• GV1102: Introduction to Government and Politics
• GV1204: Democracy, Ideology and Utopia
• GV2005/GV4101: Perspectives on French Politics
• GV2223: Global Politics
• GV2225: International Relations of Asia
• GV2229: Citizen Participation
• GV2235: Policy Making in the European Union
• GV2237: International Politics: Contemporary Debates
• GV3216: Contemporary Ecological and Anti-Capitalist Politics
• GV3218: Asia in Comparative Perspective
• GV4000: The Politics of Public Health Management
• GV4309: The European Union: Issues & Policies
• GV4410: Democracy: Theories & Innovations
• HI1115: Introduction to Irish History of Foreign Students
• LW2102: Economic Law of the European Union
• PH2004: An Introduction to Political Philosophy
• SC3007: Introduction to Planning and Sustainable Development
• SC3009: The Sociology of Religion and Civilisation
• SS2004: Personal Lives and Family Policy
• SS3015: The Politics of Racism

Module descriptions are contained in the UCC Visiting Student Book of Modules: http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/visiting/modules/book-modules/ 

Examinations: full details of regulations governing Examinations for each programme are contained in UCC’s Marks and Standards.

Students of the Certificate course can expect to have up to 20 hours of lecture and tutorial hours per week. In addition to this, you will be expected to keep up to date with lecture material and current issues which will involve a further 20 hours of reading per week.

There is an option to go on field trips as part of the GV3103 module. Field trips to Dublin are usually one day, while field trips to Belfast are usually four days. Students can expect to pay €50 for a day trip to Dublin (to cover institutional visits, travel and food costs). Costs of up to approximately €400 should be expected for a four-day trip to Belfast (to cover travel, accommodation, institutional visits and food costs). Please note field trips are not compulsory

The course is assessed using a variety of assessment tools including essays, oral presentations, academic posters, learning logs, and project work

The Director of the Certificate course is Fiona Buckley; a specialist in gender politics and Irish politics. For more information about her research-interests and teaching responsibilities, please see publish.ucc.ie/researchprofiles/fbuckley