MA in Gender, Globalisation And Rights

Programme Aims and Objectives

A Dynamic Mix of Academic Learning and Professional Placement

Modules are delivered by a team of experts who combine extensive academic and practitioner experience in the areas covered by the course. In addition to a range of core and optional academic modules, students have the opportunity to undertake a professional placement of 8-10 weeks and to complete a minor research thesis. As such, the programme offers students an exciting combination of engagement with academic debates and ideas, hands-on practical assignments and professional experience, as well as support in honing advanced research and writing skills.

The professional placement in particular gives students the opportunity to gain policy or advocacy work experience in a relevant professional setting. For students who may already have substantial qualifications and experience, the placement enables them to enhance their experience in a variety of ways or to embark on a new path. Placement hosts include organisations engaged in research, education, advocacy, policy processes and/or service provision in areas relevant to the MA themes, at local, national and/or international levels. Most recently, MA students have completed placements with: Amnesty International (Irish Section), Galway Rape Crisis Centre, Galway City Partnership (community development ), Gorta and Trocaire (international development), Irish Congress of Trade Unions, National Women’s Council of Ireland, Pavee Point (Traveller and Roma rights) and Safe Ireland (domestic violence research and advocacy).

As the flagship postgraduate programme of the Global Women’ Studies Centre at NUI Galway, participants in the MA programme also have many opportunities to interact with an array of guest speakers and to establish many links beneficial to professional and career development.