Full Time option suitable for:

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

Part Time option suitable for:

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

Our Graduate Diploma in Philosophy and Literature programme is aimed at students who wish to deepen their knowledge of the core areas of philosophy and literature at graduate level.  It provides a pathway to enter the associated MA programme. It aims to provide an integration of literary theory and text-based work with the philosophical implications of the area.  The School of Philosophy encourages our students to be critical philosophical thinkers with the ability to reflect on current philosophical debates, history of philosophical thought and add their own contribution.  We aim to provide a learning environment that fosters collegiality and a pluralistic approach to the main areas of philosophy and encourages students to engage critically with questions.  As the largest teaching and research centre in philosophy in Ireland, the programme benefits from many world-leading figures in philosophy that give invited seminars and conferences throughout the year.  Small group seminars and participation in conferences and workshops are a key element of the programme design.  As such, the programme uses key approaches to teaching such as philosophical debates, critical reflections, essays and paper presentations.

• A deepened appreciation of the significance and value of ideas in and for internationalisation and globalisation
• A grasp of how to pursue a career in academic life and the acquiring of transferable skills in research and organisation
• A knowledge of how to write research proposals and attain funding from national and international organisations
• An awareness of how to compose and structure philosophical writing for peer reviewed journals, book collections and monographs
• An awareness of how to present and defend philosophical papers in seminars, workshops, conferences and other fora.
• An enhanced awareness of how to work with texts, organise a thesis and set out extended philosophical arguments clearly and compellingly.
• An enhanced awareness of the relevance of philosophy to other academic disciplines and to personal, professional and political life.
• An extensive knowledge of library and online sources that facilitate research, including classical and foreign language sources.
• Detailed studies of these complementary disciplines (philosophy and literature) and of literary theory through a programme delivered with the Schools of English and Modern European Languages.

View All Modules Here

Students have to take the 'flagship' module, 'Philosophy and Literature', co-taught by a philosopher and a literary theorist. In addition, students must take two further modules: (i) 'Philosophy of the Emotions', (ii) 'Merleau-Ponty'.

The other three modules are to be taken from a list of approved modules in other literature schools.

While it is recommended that full-time students take three modules in each semester, it is up to the student. Students must then complete the dissertation by the end of August, and this will be worth 30 credits.

GradDip Philosophy & Literature (W305) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 6390
nonEU    fee per year - € 14350

GradDip Philosophy & Literature (W306) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4130
nonEU    fee per year - € 7180

***Fees are subject to change

You will need:

• An undergraduate degree in either Philosophy or a Literature.
• If the undergraduate degree is in literature, you should have at least two courses in literary theory, each with a grade of at least B- (60%).
• An overall grade of B- (60%) in your undergraduate degree (to be confirmed by a transcript);
• Two academic letters of reference;
• A sample of philosophical or literary-theoretical writing, such as an undergraduate essay.

• MA Philosophy FT
• MA Philosophy & Literature FT
• MA Philosophy & Public Affairs FT
• MA Consciousness & Embodiment FT
• MSc Cognitive Science FT

The following entry routes are available:

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised