Graduates of this MA are trained not only to acquire, manage and communicate detailed knowledge in a creative, productive and supportive environment, but also to compare and contrast differing sources of information derived from archival, printed, visual and electronic formats. The programme enables students to hone their skills in research, critical thinking, oral and written communication, and the use of relevant computer software packages, such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. This degree is ideally suited to students seeking to deepen their knowledge of Irish Studies and to enhance their employment-relevant skills, while also providing a pathway for further specialisation in a relevant area or topic at doctoral level. Potential careers might include journalism, heritage and tourism, or academia.
This course is available through the following application route(s)
The MA Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary programme that examines the variety and diversity of Irish history, society and cultural practice. It asks a series of questions about Ireland and Irishness, including how did the Irish come to be the way they are, and to what extent are they different from other nations? How has Irish identity changed over time? What are the causes for this process?
This MA introduces students to a wide range of sources and resources, issues and debates about the many-faceted experiences of the people who have lived in Ireland from the earliest times to the present. You will avail of UCD’s unrivalled expertise in many fields related to Irish Studies. Being in Dublin naturally also provides students with easy access to many of Ireland’s key cultural institutions and libraries.
- Provides students with small group teaching and personalised supervision that students need at a graduate level
- Pathway for further specialisation
- Nationally and internationally unrivalled concentration of expertise
About This Course
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Core Modules |
IRST40060 | People, Place and Identity | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
IRST40080 | Are the Irish Different? | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
IRST40100 | Thesis/Research Project | Summer | 30 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
AMST30060 | Ireland & the US | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
CCIV20020 | The Fortunes of the Celtic Languages | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
CCIV30070 | Introduction to Early Irish 1 | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
CCIV30110 | Early Irish Myths & Sagas | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
ENG32000 | Contemp. Irish Women's Poetry | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
ENG42090 | Public Humanities and Ireland | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
HIS42460 | Pop Culture in Modern Ireland | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
HIS42660 | Historiography and Historical Debate in Twentieth-century Ireland | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IR40030 | Teanga na Gaeilge 4 | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IRFL40120 | Folklore and Folkloristics | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IRFL40160 | The Life Cycle | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IRFL40170 | The Narrative Art | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IR10050 | Irish for Beginners/Gaeilge do Thosaitheoirí | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
MUS10240 | Music in Ireland | Autumn and Spring (separate) | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
AH20300 | Medieval Art and Architecture: characteristics and influences | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
ARCH10050 | Intro archaeology of Ireland | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
CCIV30100 | Introduction to Early Irish 2 | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
GEOG30020 | Historical Geography of Ireland | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
HIS31760 | Irish Foreign Policy, 1919-73: A Place Among the Nations | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
HIS42490 | Landscape and Environment in Ireland, 1500-1800 | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
HIS42590 | De Valera's Ireland | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IR30090 | Teangeolaíocht na Gaeilge: anailís ar an teanga féin | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IR30200 | An Béal Beo | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IR40200 | An Nualitríocht: Gnéithe de litríocht na Gaeilge ó 1900 i leith | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
IRFL40180 | Calendar Custom | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
MUS20030 | Studies in Irish Music | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
MUS41050 | Sounding Ireland Onscreen | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of: Students must take 40 credits of option modules. |
SOC40620 | Nationalism and Social Change | Spring | 10 |
Maura Haverty, USA,
Graduate
My experience at UCD is one that I will always treasure. At first, as an American graduate student coming over to Ireland to study Irish Studies, I was not sure what to expect. All my nerves, however, quickly subsided once I stepped onto the very friendly campus. The MA in Irish Studies exceeded all of my expectations and more. Between the small class sizes, the one to one individual instruction from gifted and knowledgeable faculty and friendly atmosphere, I learned more in a year about myself than I ever thought possible. I would recommend UCD to anyone like myself that loves to take chances and learn out of their comfort zone.
EU fee per year - € 9100
nonEU fee per year - € 22600
MA in Irish Studies (Z196) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 4550
nonEU fee per year - € 11300
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
- This programme is intended for applicants with a humanities and social sciences background.
- An upper second class honours degree (NFQ Level 8), or the international equivalent in a related area is required. Applicants who do not meet the 2.1 entry requirement will be looked at on a case by case basis and relevant work experience will be taken into account.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.0 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.
- Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/
- These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes
This degree is ideally suited to students seeking to deepen their knowledge of Irish Studies and to enhance their employment-relevant skills, while also providing a pathway for further specialisation in a relevant area or topic at doctoral level.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MA in Irish Studies:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to | Application Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z195 MA in Irish Studies Master of Arts |
Full-Time Commencing 2024/2025 September |
Graduate Taught | Apply |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z196 MA in Irish Studies Master of Arts |
Part-Time Commencing 2024/2025 September |
Graduate Taught | Apply |