A degree in Politics gives you a flexible qualification for the 21st century, providing you with sought-after analytical and practical skills in research, communication and IT.
Politics is available in all three years of the BA degree, and you may study it as a single, major, or joint honours subject. Politics is built around three pillars with contributions from the Department of Government, the School of History, and the Department of Philosophy.
The BA Politics at UCC is taught jointly by staff from the Department of Government, the School of History and the Department of Philosophy. Our staff are drawn from a broad range of specialist backgrounds creating a diverse and innovative learning environment for students.
Over the course of the degree, you can participate in field trips to Irish and international political institutions, contribute to national policy analysis by making submissions to policy reviews, publish your work in the student online journal Government and Politics Review and attend and speak at a wide range of conferences organised by staff across the course.
Skills and Careers Information
We aim to help our students develop a broad set of skills that will enhance their development as resourceful and reflective citizens. Politics graduates have excellent analytical and critical thinking skills and we emphasise effective communication skills throughout the programme. This means a focus on clear and insightful writing but also on effective oral communication, from making presentations to contributing to classroom discussions.
Our graduates have gone on to become:
political advisers
journalists
officials in international organisations
teachers
business analysts
campaign coordinators for charities, interest groups and political parties
policy analysts
administrators
recruitment consultants
and of course, a small number have become politicians!
Politics and Society is now a Leaving Certificate subject and this has opened up significant teaching opportunities for our graduates.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
Expected January 2026
UCC Campus
College Road,
Cork,
T12 K8AF, Republic of Ireland
Non-EU applicants are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate
Duolingo English Test (DET): DET 120 with a minimum score of 110 in each individual section
IELTS - International English Language Testing System/ IELTS Indicator Test: Minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in each band
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language - TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Test: Minimum overall score of 90 and minimum of 20 in each section
University of Cambridge: 176+ on the Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English i.e.
Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) First Certificate, Grade A (CEFR Level C1)
Pearson PTE Academic: Minimum of 63 (with at least 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section)
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
UCC is an award-winning, world-class teaching and research university with over 170 years of history.
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