Program Overview

Public Affairs and Political Communication

Overview

Public affairs and political communication is a specialisation within strategic communication, focussing on aspects of politics from managing election and referendum campaigns, to party branding strategies, to working for NGOs, charities and not for profit organisations on advocacy and issues-led campaigns. It’s about creating the environment where political dialogue can be fostered, and engagement between citizens and their elected representatives turns ideas to policy and action.

Course Title

Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Political Communications

TU Code

TU322

NFQ Level

Level 9

Award Type

Major

Award

Master of Arts

ECTS Credits

90

Duration

1 Year

Course Type

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

Full Time

Method of Delivery

On-Campus

Commencement Date

September 2025

Location

Grangegorman

Fees

€7,400 Total Fee

Fees (Non-EU)

€13,500 Total Fee

What is Public Affairs and Political Communication?

Public affairs and political communication is a specialisation within strategic communication, focussing on aspects of politics from managing election and referendum campaigns, to party branding strategies, to working for NGOs, charities and not for profit organisations on advocacy and issues-led campaigns. It’s about creating the environment where political dialogue can be fostered, and engagement between citizens and their elected representatives turns ideas to policy and action.

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Applications are welcome from holders of an honours bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.2, or equivalent, in any discipline.
• Applicants in the final year of their degree are also welcome.
• The course welcomes applications from mature and other applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree and for whom recognition of prior learning, experience and career history will be taken into consideration.
• Applicants for whom English is not their first language and who have not undertaken their undergraduate degree through English, should have a minimum IELTS (Academic) average score of 7.5 with no component below 6.0.

Career Opportunities

MAPAPC graduates are highly in demand for their skills, attributes and, having completed an internship under the guidance of a member of the Oireachtas, their understanding of politics from the front line.

• They have found employment in virtually every major public affairs consultancy in Ireland, in in-house departments of state and public bodies, political parties, non-governmental organisations, not for profit organisations, and commercial enterprises.
• Approximately 30 remain in Leinster House as advisers to current members.
• A great many more are recognised leaders in specialised fields in the industry – lobbying, electoral strategy, policy formulation, campaign management – not only in Ireland but in EU-related affairs and further afield.
• Still others have been elected to public office at local and national level.

Course Content

The course is structured around core concepts, practice-led modules and research leading to a dissertation on a topic of the student’s choosing on which they work with an experienced academic supervisor.

Core Concepts

• Public Affairs Theory & Practice 1 and 2
• Political Structures
• Political Marketing
• Corporate Environment and Strategy
• Ethics and Political Process

Practice-led Modules

• Internship
• Digital Public Affairs
• TV Production and Presentation
• Public Affairs Writing

Research

• Research Methods
• Dissertation

Module Listing

Year One

Semester 1

• Digital Public Affairs [Mandatory]
• Dissertation [Mandatory]
• Ethics and Political Process [Mandatory]
• Internship [Mandatory]
• MAPR Research Methodology [Mandatory]
• Political Structures [Mandatory]
• Public Affairs Writing [Mandatory]
• Strategic and Corporate Environment [Mandatory]
• Theory and Practice of Public Affairs I [Mandatory]

Semester 2

• Introduction to Video Production and Presentation [Mandatory]
• Public Affairs Writing [Mandatory]
• Digital Public Affairs [Mandatory]
• Theory and Practice of Public Affairs II [Mandatory]
• Political Marketing [Mandatory]
• Internship [Mandatory]

Schedule

Lectures take place on Mondays and Thursdays in East Quad, Grangegorman. The internship with a member of the Oireachtas takes place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Semester 1 & 2.