Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Irish Folklore

HDip (NFQ Level 8)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

Contact Us
The HDip in Irish Folklore should provide students with the requisite skills, knowledge and experience to enable them to formulate and complete their own research projects in the field of folklore studies
  • Designed for students and scholars without any previous background in general folkloristics or comparative ethnology
  • Training in original archival and fieldwork research and methods.
  • Access to the specialist library and archive holdings of the UCD Delargy Centre for Irish Folklore and the National Folklore Collection

About This Course

  • Students should have an understanding of the basic elements and theories of folkloristic research and of contemporary critical discourse in folklore and ethnology, including the ability to assess assumptions and the ways in which such assumptions have developed within society.
  • appreciate and articulate the ways in which the present is moulded by the past in the area of popular tradition and folklore.
  • demonstrate digital expertise through the use of digital resources such as www.duchas.ie.
  • demonstrate effective communication skills with appropriate use of subject-specific terminology; develop their knowledge and use of subject-specific and transferable skills.
  • indicate an understanding of the ethical responsibilities involved in folkloristic research, and an understanding of the necessity of establishing empathy with informants/co-researchers.
  • show a capacity for relating what they have learned to their own experience and to issues which arise in the wider community.

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.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
IRFL20010 The Study of Folklore: Origins and Development Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
IRFL20030 The Narrative Art Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
IRFL30030 The Life Cycle Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
IRFL40020 Seminars and Dissertation 1 Autumn  15
Stage 1 Core Modules
IRFL30070 Seminars and Dissertation 2 Spring  15
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students must then select three option modules from Levels 2 and 3 in Irish Folklore, as listed below (subject to possible timetabling restrictions).
IRFL30090 Collectors of Song and Music Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students must then select three option modules from Levels 2 and 3 in Irish Folklore, as listed below (subject to possible timetabling restrictions).
IRFL20050 Healers and Healing Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students must then select three option modules from Levels 2 and 3 in Irish Folklore, as listed below (subject to possible timetabling restrictions).
IRFL20100 Oral history and tradition Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students must then select three option modules from Levels 2 and 3 in Irish Folklore, as listed below (subject to possible timetabling restrictions).
IRFL30020 Calendar Custom Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of:
Students must then select three option modules from Levels 2 and 3 in Irish Folklore, as listed below (subject to possible timetabling restrictions).
IRFL30100 Popular religion and belief Spring  5

HDip Irish Folklore (Z086) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 7000
nonEU    fee per year - € 15070

***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.

If English is not your native language, unless you have done your primary degree through English in an English speaking country, an English language qualification is required for all programmes.

Higher Diploma in Irish Folklore

You will need:

  • A primary degree at third level and a complete transcript of academic history including grades for each subject taken.
  • Names and contact details of two referees who can assess your intellectual ability, maturity and motivation.
  • Other documentation as required by the University.
  • A basic reading knowledge of the Irish language is also required for this programme. This may be acquired concurrently with the student’s Higher Diploma studies.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No


The programme is designed for students and scholars without any previous background in general folkloristics or comparative ethnology, with the aim of providing them with a broad knowledge of the essentials of these subjects. The course is suitable as a conversion course which could provide a pathway to higher degrees in Irish Folklore.

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Irish Folklore:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt Z086
Irish Folklore
Higher Diploma
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page