About Us

Political Science has been taught at Trinity College Dublin since 1855, and the Department has grown into a vibrant, research-active and internationally engaged community. Today, it is recognised as one of Europe’s leading centres for the study of politics.

Rankings and Reputation

The Department is consistently recognised as one of the strongest political science units in Europe and globally. International rankings regularly place us among the top-performing departments worldwide, and we continue to strengthen year on year. A comparative assessment of of the research output and impact of political studies scholars in Ireland identified the Department as the highest-ranked political science unit in Ireland and comparable to the strongest departments in the United Kingdom. It has also received a top European honour from the CHE Excellence Ranking. A Trinity political science degree is widely regarded as a mark of academic excellence.

Teaching

We deliver teaching across five competitive undergraduate degree programmes:

• History and Political Science (TR012)
• Philosophy, Political Science, Economics and Sociology (TR015)
• Law and Political Science (TR020)
• Political Science and Geography (TR029)
• Business, Economic and Social Studies – BESS (TR081)

We also offer three postgraduate pathways - the MSc in International Politics, the MSc in International Politics and the PhD in Political Science - all of which provide rigorous methodological training, close faculty supervision, and strong research support. Each year, students from Erasmus and international partner institutions join the Department, contributing to a diverse learning environment.

Research

Our staff have an outstanding research record, publishing regularly in leading international journals and with respected academic presses. Research strengths include comparative politics, Irish politics, democratic theory, electoral systems, public policy, voting behaviour, international relations and security, and the European Union. Faculty and graduate students contribute actively to international scholarly debates, conferences, research centres, and externally funded projects.

Alumni

Graduates of the Department hold influential roles in academia, public service, journalism, law, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector. We value our alumni community and encourage continued engagement, collaboration and connection long after graduation.

Location

Based in the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, our city-centre location places students and researchers close to government institutions, public bodies, NGOs, and cultural organisations - offering unique opportunities for policy engagement and academic inquiry.