MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Computing

Program Overview

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MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Computing

Course Details

Course Code:

DC786

Course Type:

Postgraduate

NFQ Level:

9

Delivery Modes:

Full-Time, Part-Time

Duration:

(FT-1 Year) (PT-2 Years)

Overview

The digital economy has experienced immense growth, transforming personal data processing into a lucrative global industry. To address this, the European Union introduced the General Data Protection Regulation in May 2018, aiming to harmonise data protection laws and protect the privacy rights of EU citizens. The GDPR introduces significant changes to the ways in which personal data must be collected, stored, and processed, making data privacy an essential concern for businesses, internet users, lawyers, and public bodies alike.

In recognition of the growing importance of data protection and privacy, the School of Law and Government and the School of Computing at DCU have joined forces to offer an interdisciplinary MA in Data Protection and Privacy Law. This innovative programme combines the University's expertise in law and computing to provide students with advanced knowledge of the technological and legal aspects of data protection and privacy law, preparing them to navigate the complexities of this rapidly evolving field.

Careers & Further Options

Careers

This MA programme is designed to foster both interdisciplinary knowledge and specialised expertise, preparing graduates for diverse career paths. Graduates of this course can go on to pursue a wide range of professional opportunities. The knowledge and skills you acquire through this programme are highly sought by law firms, tech companies, the compliance sector, research organisations and across multiple government departments.

Graduates seek work in a variety of government departments, including the Data Protection Commission, the Department of Health, and Universities. Others may gravitate toward the private sector as many large firms, working across a range of services, continue to expand their privacy and data protection teams. These include, but are not limited to, financial services companies, law and accountancy firms and consultancy firms.

Potential Careers

• Legal professional offering expertise in privacy and the GDPR
• Data protection officer
• Privacy engineer
• Professional advisor on data governance and best practice models
• IT consultant
• Researcher
• Compliance professional
• Data Analyst

Entry Requirements

General Entry Requirements

For admission to the MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Government programme, successful applicants will have:

• Computing stream applicants must have an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent in Computer Science, Computing, Computer applications or a related discipline.
• Law stream applicants must normally have achieved a Second Class Honours Grade Two (H2.2) in a primary degree (level 08) in law or an interdisciplinary degree which includes law as a significant component.

Programme Structure

To facilitate both interdisciplinarity and specialisation, the MA will be divided into two streams: law and computing. Entrance on to either the law or computing stream will be dependent upon existing education. All students will complete four core modules which will offer a mix of law and computing and will be accessible to all admitted students.

Law Stream

• Core Modules:
  • Legal and Socio-Legal Research Skills
  • EU Data Protection Law
  • Artificial Intelligence, Information and Information Seeking
  • Data Governance
  • Dissertation
• Optional Modules:
  • EU Institutional Law
  • Contemporary Legal Issues in Commercial Practice
  • Law and Politics of Brexit
  • European & International Human Rights Law
  • Comparative Digital Law: Privacy, Data and AI

Computing Stream

• Core Modules:
  • Professional & Research Practice
  • EU Data Protection Law
  • Data Management and Visualisation
  • Artificial Intelligence, Information and Information Seeking
  • Data Governance
  • Practicum (Data Protection and Privacy)
• Optional Modules:
  • Law and Politics of Brexit
  • European & International Human Rights Law
  • Comparative Digital Law Privacy Data and AI

Fees and Funding

Fees

• Full time:
  • EU Status Fee: €7,700
  • Non EU Fee: €17,000
• Part time:
  • EU Status Fee Part-time: €4,300 Per Annum
  • Non EU Fee Part time: €8,300 Per Annum

How To Apply

To apply for this programme, all applicants must apply through DCU's Student Application Portal. Here's a quick step-by-step guide if you need help with your application.

• Provide Academic Transcripts for each and every year of study with English translation, if applicable.
• Provide a 500 - 750 word (approx.) personal statement including:
  • State which stream you are applying for (Law stream or Computing stream);
  • Why you wish to study the programme;
  • What in your record and experience makes you suitable for the MA programme;
  • The impact which you expect the MA programme would have on your future career.

Life On Campus

At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.

DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.

They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten-minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20-minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.

Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.

Exceptional Facilities

DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.

These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.

We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.

Campus Life

Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.

There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.

For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.

The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose-built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.

On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.

Accommodation

Information about accommodation on each of our three campuses can be accessed here.

Student Supports

We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.

• Student Advice & Learning Skills Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
• The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
• Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
• Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.

Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all-important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.

Program Outline

MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Computing at Dublin City University

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Degree Overview:

The MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Computing is a unique interdisciplinary program offered jointly by the School of Law and Government and the School of Computing at Dublin City University. The program aims to equip students with advanced expertise in both the legal and technological aspects of data protection and privacy law.

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Objectives:

• Provide students with a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the legal and technological issues at the forefront of data privacy.
• Enable graduates to be highly competitive in a field with a high demand for well-qualified graduates.
• Provide students with a unique interdisciplinary education.

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Outline:

The program is divided into two streams: law and computing. Students choose either stream based on their existing education. The program consists of:

• Core modules: These modules are common to both streams and offer a mix of law and computing.
• Law stream modules: These modules focus on the legal aspects of data protection and privacy.
• Computing stream modules: These modules focus on the technological aspects of data protection and privacy.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods in the program may include:

• Examinations: Written exams testing students' knowledge and understanding of the relevant topics.
• Assignments: Students will complete written assignments to demonstrate their ability to apply legal and technological concepts to practical situations.
• Presentations: Students may be required to deliver presentations on specific topics related to data protection and privacy.
• Research dissertation/practicum: Students will complete a research dissertation in their chosen stream (law or computing) or a computing practicum to demonstrate their ability to conduct independent research and apply their knowledge to real-world problems.

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Teaching:

The program is taught by a team of experienced academics from the School of Law and Government and the School of Computing. The teaching methods used in the program include:

• Lectures: These provide students with an overview of the key concepts and principles of data protection and privacy law.
• Seminars: These provide students with an opportunity to discuss the legal and technological issues arising from the lectures in more detail.
• Workshops: These provide students with hands-on experience in applying the legal and technological concepts to practical scenarios.
• Individual supervision: Students will receive individual supervision from a member of the academic staff to support their research dissertation or practicum project.

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Careers:

Graduates of the MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Computing are highly sought after by law firms, tech companies, the compliance sector, research organizations, and government departments. Potential careers include:

• Legal professional offering expertise in privacy and the GDPR
• Data protection officer
• Privacy engineer
• Professional advisor on data governance and best practice models
• IT consultant
• Researcher
• Compliance professional
• Data Analyst

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Other:

• The program is offered both full-time and part-time.
• The full-time program takes one year to complete, while the part-time program takes two years to complete.
• The program is taught in English.

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Disclaimer:

This information is an extraction based on the provided context. It is recommended to refer to the official program website for the most up-to-date information.

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Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

Full time EU Status Fee €7,700 Non EU Fee. €16,500 Part time EU Status Fee Part-time €4,200 Per Annum Non EU Fee Part time €8,100 Per Annum