Political Scientist

As a Political Scientist you study political systems, behaviour, ideologies, and governance structures, producing research that helps governments, organisations, and the public understand how power is exercised and distributed. Your daily work involves reviewing academic literature, designing research projects, collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data, and writing reports or journal articles that communicate your findings. You may advise government departments, Oireachtas committees, or international bodies such as the European Union on policy questions ranging from electoral reform to public administration. Political Scientists in Ireland collaborate with economists, sociologists, historians, and legal scholars, and regularly engage with media outlets to provide expert commentary on current political affairs.

A strong Leaving Certificate with subjects such as History, Geography, Economics, and English at Higher Level provides a good foundation for undergraduate study in political science or related disciplines. Most Irish Political Scientists enter the field through an NFQ Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in Political Science, Government, or International Relations at institutions such as UCD, TCD, UCC, University of Galway, DCU, or Maynooth University. However, independent research roles in universities and senior policy advisory positions typically require a Level 9 Masters degree — such as an MA in Political Science or a Masters in Public Policy — or a Level 10 PhD. Professional development may also be pursued through Springboard+ postgraduate programmes, and membership of learned bodies such as the Political Studies Association of Ireland (PSAI) supports career progression. There is no statutory registration body for Political Scientists in Ireland, though working in a university research context requires meeting institutional academic standards.