Master of Arts in Data Protection and Privacy (Law and Computing)

The growth of the digital economy has resulted in personal data processing becoming a global industry of enormous value. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect in May 2018, aims to protect EU privacy rights and harmonise data protection law across the EU. The GDPR changes the way in which personal data must be collected, stored and processed. Given that personal data is used so widely, the GDPR impacts upon a vast number of sectors and data privacy has become an important concern for businesses, internet users, lawyers and public bodies. The MA in Data Protection and Privacy Law is an interdisciplinary degree run jointly by the School of Law and Government and the School of Computing. The aim of the programme is to combine the University's expertise in law and computing to provide students with advanced expertise in the technological and legal aspects of data protection and privacy law.

For admission to the MA in Data Protection and Privacy: Law and Government programme, successful applicants will have:

Computing stream applicants must have an Irish or UK Honours undergraduate degree (H2.2 or above) or equivalent in Computer Science, Computing, Computer applications or a related discipline.

Candidates with significant experience in the software development sector in addition to an Honours primary degree in some other discipline, may also be considered for entry.

Law stream applicants must normally have achieved a Second Class Honours Grade Two (H2.2) in a primary degree (level 08) in law or an interdisciplinary degree which includes law as a significant component. Examples of relevant experience for the programme are:

• Irish Computer Society DPO/GDPR qualifications
• The Advanced Diploma in Data Protection Law by the Kings Inns
• The certificate in data protection by the Law Society
• Relevant practical experience working with data protection related issues.

Applicants who have not achieved a H2.2 may apply but applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.

If an applicant has not yet completed their degree, then a conditional offer may be made on the basis of most recent grades and pending the achievement of no less than a H2.2 degree.

Applicants with appropriate combinations of professional qualification and experience may also be considered. This includes discipline-specific knowledge and know-how; transferable skills; basic research competency; personal effectiveness.

English language Requirements

IELTS Overall score 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0

TOEFL - Overall score 580.

CBTOEFL - Overall score 237.

TOEFL iBT - Overall score 92 or above.

ETAPP - C1

CAP - Overall 180 at least 110