Given the nature and reach of the subject, graduates in Irish Folklore and Ethnology can be found across a broad range of occupations and organisations, including heritage institutions, tradition archives, musuems and cultural bodies. Graduates have also found employment in teaching, research, the media and journalism. The MA in Irish Folklore and Ethnology can also act as a pathway to higher degrees in Irish Folklore, involving further in-depth research of a chosen topic.
This course is available through the following application route(s)
The Graduate Diploma in Irish Folklore and Ethnology offers modules on a wide range of topics within the subject area, including research theories, the study of oral narrative, traditional music and song, fieldwork and archival methods, social tradition, popular belief systems, material culture, and Irish and European ethnology. It also offers students a choice of modules in subjects which are related to the study of Folklore and Ethnology, such as Modern Irish, Archaeology, Cultural Policy, Creative Writing, and Ethnomusicology.
The programme includes:
- Training in original archival and fieldwork research and methods.
- Access to the specialist library and archive holdings of the National Folklore Collection.
- An opportunity for the student to pursue their research interests in the preparation and writing of a Diploma thesis on a subject of their choice, under the guidance of a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore
An opportunity for the student to engage in short-term work placement with the National Folklore Collection.
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 |
IRFL40130 | Advanced Research 1 | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Core Modules |
IRFL40190 | Advanced Research 2 | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IR40050 | Scéalta Fiannaíochta 1300 - 1900 | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40120 | Folklore and Folkloristics | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40160 | The Life Cycle | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40170 | The Narrative Art | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40200 | Collectors of Music & Song | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
ARCH40850 | Practical Experimental Archaeology | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IR40480 | An Béal Beo | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL20050 | Healers and Healing | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL20100 | Oral history and tradition | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL30100 | Popular religion and belief | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40110 | Aspects of Ethnology | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40140 | Interpreting the Oral Text | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40180 | Calendar Custom | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)40CR: Choose 40 credits of option modules, including at least 20 credits in Irish Folklore. Module selection is subject to advice and agreement from a member of the teaching staff in Irish Folklore. |
IRFL40220 | Internship in Archival Methods | Spring | 10 |
Luke Murphy
MA Graduate
This MA offers an opportunity students to spend a great deal of time in the National Folklore Collection, one of the richest tradition archives in the world with the possibility of completing a work placement there in the summer semester. The MA allowed me to undertake independent research while still being taught through lectures and seminars dealing with a wide range of topics, with the added advantage of accessing and researching the wealth of material housed in the National Folklore Collection.
Graduate Diploma in Irish Folklore & Ethnology (Z255) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 7180
nonEU fee per year - € 15070
GradDip Irish Folklore & Ethnology (Z256) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 4290
nonEU fee per year - € 7540
***Fees are subject to change
EU fee per year - € 7180
nonEU fee per year - € 15070
GradDip Irish Folklore & Ethnology (Z256) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 4290
nonEU fee per year - € 7540
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.
Irish Folklore offers a number of scholarships for graduate students in the subject, including the Máire Mac Neill Scholarship, the Onfel and Isobel Thomas Scholarship (for students wishing to incorporate a course of study at a Scandinavian university as part of their MA studies), and the Dónall Ó Móráin Bursary (for students wishing to pursue their studies on an aspect of Folklore pertaining specifically to the Irish language). For further information please see http://www.ucd.ie/icsf/en/study/scholarshipsawards/ .
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.
In the normal course, entry requirements will consist of an undergraduate degree at honours level (NFQ Level 8) in the Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences. The School may also consider applicants with equivalent qualifications/professional experience.
Applicants are required to submit original academic transcripts.
Applicants are also required to submit two references, preferably both relating to academic performance.
For applicants with equivalent professional qualifications, applicants will be required to submit a focussed statement of 500 words stating why this particular programme is right for the candidate at this point in their career (to be part of the online application).
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit evidence of their language proficiency. Applicants will have reached an overall 7 in IELTS with no individual band lower than 6.5, or equivalent. The School is willing to consider applicants who achieve IELTS 6.5 if they attend a five-week pre-sessional language course offered by the UCD Applied Language Centre.
A basic reading knowledge of the Irish language is recommended for Graduate Diploma students. This can be acquired concurrently with the student’s Graduate Diploma studies.
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: No
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
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. No
This degree is aimed at students who want to explore Irish vernacular culture and popular tradition at graduate level, as part of their career development, as a pathway to further study, or for their own personal interest.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Graduate Diploma in Irish Folklore & Ethnology:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z255 Graduate Diploma in Irish Folklore & Ethnology Graduate Diploma Full-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | Z256 Irish Folklore & Ethnology Graduate Diploma Part-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught Not available to International applicantsApply |
* you can change options at the top of the page