MA in European Law and Policy

The EU is an increasingly important policy and legal actor. EU action cuts across virtually every policy field including security, economic policy, migration, human rights and the environment. The EU is a major source of regulation and requires ongoing engagement from multi-national and national corporations, NGOs and public authorities. Numerous and complex challenges facing governments and businesses require knowledge of European institutions and legal frameworks and awareness of public policy analysis, design and evaluation. Moreover, the European Union is going through a period of transition. The Eurocrisis, the migration crisis, problems with the rule of law and finally Brexit have forced a reflection on the future of Europe, its role and its institutional design. Brexit in particular will require a rethink of Ireland’s engagement with Europe and will generate numerous legal and policy challenges for public and private bodies alike. In response to this DCU has established the Brexit Institute, Europe's first and Ireland's only centre designed to analyse the legal, political and economic impact of Brexit from both a research and a policy perspective. 

The Masters in European Law and Policy aims to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to navigate and addresses these challenges. A broad curriculum will familiarise students with the legislative and institutional structure of the European Union and the operation of EU law while equipping students with core skills of public policy design and analysis. Optional modules and a dissertation will enable students to specialise in key policy areas such as migration, the environment or EU foreign policy. A special effort is made to integrate legal and public policy skills and to consider law in light of policy requirements and the role of law in shaping and implementing policy.