Expand+Application Deadline: September 2022.

By Email (preferred method)
Please download and complete the application form on www.ipa.ie and email it, along with the items listed below, to undergrad@ipa.ie

By Post
Alternatively, you can complete...

Hide-Application Deadline: September 2022.

By Email (preferred method)
Please download and complete the application form on www.ipa.ie and email it, along with the items listed below, to undergrad@ipa.ie

By Post
Alternatively, you can complete the application form at the end of this prospectus and, including the items listed below, return it by post.

What to Provide (email or post)

Applicants must provide:
• Their full name (this is the name that will appear on any future award parchments).
• A passport-type photograph.
• A photocopy of their passport, birth certificate or driving licence.
• A photocopy of their Leaving Certificate or relevant qualification (only if you are under 21).
• The fee for the programme or confirmation, including a PO number, that fees will be paid by an employer (please contact the Undergraduate Office).

Applications Cannot Be Processed Unless All Relevant Documentation is Included.

Expand+Applicants Require:
1. Leaving Certificate (examination from 2017 onwards): Candidates must obtain a pass in at least six subjects accepted for NUI matriculation purposes, with at least Grade H5 in two subjects on the Higher Level and at least Gr...

Hide-Applicants Require:
1. Leaving Certificate (examination from 2017 onwards): Candidates must obtain a pass in at least six subjects accepted for NUI matriculation purposes, with at least Grade H5 in two subjects on the Higher Level and at least Grade H7 (Higher Level) or O6 (Ordinary Level) in four subjects. Papers passed must include Irish, English and a third language. Students applying for the BBS (Hons) must have passed the Mathematics paper.

Or

2. Students of mature years (students over 21 on January 1 of the calendar year of entry) may be matriculated by the IPA for the purpose of entering a course of study.

Special Case Applications
Prospective students who do not meet the requirements under paragraphs 1 and 2 above may qualify for admission by meeting other equivalent requirements. A Special Case Application Form can be requested from:

Dr Denis O’Brien Registrar Institute of Public Administration 57-61 Lansdowne Road Dublin 4 Tel: +353 (01) 240 3600 Email: undergrad@ipa.ie

Subject Accumulation
In some programmes, students may enrol for one or more subjects each year until they complete the programme stage.

Exemptions
Graduates and those with other relevant awards, in particular university, QQI and Institute of Technology awards, may apply for an exemption from a subject(s) or entire stage of certain IPA programmes. Only those who have studied relevant disciplines with be considered for exemptions.

Exemptions cannot be awarded in a one-year programme or at the award stage of longer programmes.

Application forms for exemptions are available from the IPA. They must be completed and returned no later than early October 2022.

Applications must be accompanied by transcripts of results for each year of previous third-level studies.

Expand+The Programme
The BA (Hons) – Local Government is a four-year, part-time programme that combines study of subjects critical to contemporary public management with subjects particular to local government. In addition to learning about the economic...

Hide-The Programme
The BA (Hons) – Local Government is a four-year, part-time programme that combines study of subjects critical to contemporary public management with subjects particular to local government. In addition to learning about the economic, legal and HR issues that affect public administration broadly, students obtain specialised knowledge about such matters as the powers of local authorities, local government finance and local government systems outside Ireland. This degree programme includes two interim awards – at Certificate and Diploma level.

Is this Programme for You?
This honours degree often attracts staff from local authorities who want to obtain a third-level qualification while remaining in full-time employment. As students take a mix of common subjects and subjects specific to local government, they are able to understand the issues facing local authorities in relation to broader economic and management theories and practices.

Expand+Year 1 – Certificate in Public Management:
The first year is both a stand-alone qualification – Certificate in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.

Economics:
This introductory-level course explains the main th...

Hide-Year 1 – Certificate in Public Management:
The first year is both a stand-alone qualification – Certificate in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.

Economics:
This introductory-level course explains the main theories and principles of economics. No prior knowledge of economics is presumed. The course covers both micro and macroeconomics and addresses such topics as the laws of supply and demand, how market prices are reached and monopolies and competition.

Law:
Public servants must understand the fundamentals of the legal system. This course focuses on the fundamentals, explaining the Irish legal system and the main provisions of the Irish Constitution. Students explore, among other topics, the structure of the court system, practice and procedure in the courts and the rights that the Constitution affords citizens.

Politics, Government and Public Administration
This course is divided into two parts. The first is largely concerned with the institutions of government and the Irish political system. The Irish institutions and systems are compared to those in other countries. The second part of the course focuses on Ireland’s system of public and social administration, explaining how the civil service is organised and the management of social welfare services, healthcare, education and housing.

Principles of Management:
This course provides a solid grounding in the key principles of modern management theory. It explains the origins of contemporary management science and details the most important elements of management, including leadership, HRM and change management.

Year 2 – Diploma in Public Management:
The second year is both a stand-alone qualification – Diploma in Public Management – and part of the four-year degree programme.

Social Policy
This course explores key areas of social service provision in Ireland, including health, education, housing and social welfare, as well as the development of the welfare state in Ireland and internationally. It also reviews the role of the voluntary sector, equality policy, and ‘life cycle’ policies. It covers trends in social services and compares the approach in Ireland with that in other countries.

Economics:
This course builds on the fundamentals of economics explored in the Certificate year by exploring both micro and macroeconomics in greater depth. Students will learn about the economic rules and theories that relate to the operation of markets, the distribution of wealth, the allocation of resources, labour supply and inflation.

Organisation and Management:
An organisation’s structure is a determining factor in its operation. This course explores current thinking on organisational structure and the role of management in the creation and maintenance of the most appropriate structure. Among the specific topics addressed are the different schools of organisation theory, how effective organisations are designed, the significance of the internal culture to an organisation’s work.

European Studies:
Ireland’s membership of the EU is plainly of huge importance to public management. This course explains the key facts of EU membership, addressing the history of the EU, the power and responsibilities of its institutions, the decision-making process, key EU policies, and different perspectives on the EU’s development and reform.

Year 3:
Local Government and Finance:
This course covers a number of key themes in local government reform and explains how local authorities obtain the funds necessary for their operation. It considers, among other things, some of the newer roles of local authorities working with others at local level. On the financial side, the course considers efficiency reforms, the growth of grants, funding options and the capital expenditure of local authorities.

Economics:
This year’s course focuses on public sector economics, a field critical to public servants at various grades. The topics addressed include economic growth, forecasting and planning, the finances of central and local government and the preparation of budgets.

Financial Management:
This course provides students with a clear understanding of standard accounting techniques and the proper management of an organisation’s finances. It is designed for those with no background in accounting.

Administrative Law:
Administrative law is a public law subject that deals with the lawful exercise of power by government and state agencies. Students of this course will examine the laws regarding the civil service, the separation of powers, judicial review and legal compliance.

Year 4:
Comparative Local Government:
This course compares the system of local government that pertains in Ireland with that in other countries. Using both a thematic approach and case studies of specific examples from abroad, it provides a comparative analysis of such key issues as local government finance, duties, citizen participation, and leadership.

Economics
The study of economics in the final year of the degree turns to economic policy and policy analysis. The course explores such topics as industrial and regional economic policy, economic integration, globalisation and issues around financing and control.

Strategic Management
Strategic management is the study of how organisations meet their objectives and effectively respond to change. This course focuses on strategic management in the Irish public sector, but it covers concepts common to both the public and private sector.

Public Policy-Making
This module examines different ways of understanding policy-making processes, the different influences, and the actors involved. It reviews discrete ‘stages’ within the policymaking process, such as framing and agenda setting, policy formulation, and implementation, as well as themes such as public service reform. Significant attention is paid to the different influences and constraints that exist on policy making and the implementation of policy, such as the role played by ideology, globalization, and international relations.