Creative Arts - Research

School of Creative Arts



School of Creative Arts research covers a wide range of outputs and themes. In addition to publishing academic books and journal articles along with other scholarly research activities; many of our staff are actively engaged in practice-based research, creating theatre works, music compositions, films and media texts that explore conceptual issues through performance and other creative modes of expression. Staff are actively engaged in research networks, are on editorial boards, and regularly organise conferences and other public events.



We believe in the value of research-based teaching and student learning. The School’s research activities are guided by three core objectives: Ireland and the Arts, Globalisation and the Arts, and Technology and the Arts. The School is a member of the Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity’s Arts and Humanities Institute, and is an active participant in the Hub’s research themes, particularly: Making Ireland, Identities in Transformation, and Creative Arts Practice. The School hosts three taught MPhil programmes and has a thriving postgraduate research culture. We hold a weekly Creative Arts research seminar during term time, which is an opportunity for staff and research students to present and receive feedback on their work in a collegial surrounding. We host visiting speakers at these and other public events.



We welcome proposals for research projects at M. Litt (Masters by research), doctoral and post-doctoral levels in areas covered by staff in Drama, Film and Music. We and advise you to familiarise yourself with our staff profiles to see who might be best placed to supervise your work. Please be sure to contact that staff member in advance of submitting your proposal so that you can refine your ideas and can confirm the relevant staff member’s availability for supervision and mentoring.



Our Departments



Research strengths in Drama currently lie in the field of Irish and European theatre, theatre and nation, interculturalism/globalisation and performance, identity politics and performance, performance and technology, and early modern drama. The School is located in the Samuel Beckett Centre, which comprises a theatre, acting studios, and seminar rooms. The Drama department has a formal link with the Abbey Theatre principally for the development of training for theatre practitioners, and with the International Institute for Integration Studies. It boasts a large research community of M.Litt. and Ph.D. students.



The Film department enjoys an international reputation for its research in Irish cinema and the cinemas of the Irish diaspora, as well as for its work in the fields of film theory and history, film and gender studies, digital arts, digital media, and digital cultures, and practice-based research. The Film department’s facilities (screening room, film library, and digital video production room) are located on campus near the Samuel Beckett Centre. The Film department is closely associated with the Irish Film Institute. The Film department has a significant cohort of M.Litt. and Ph.D. students and welcomes enquiries from applicants interested in the above or related areas.



Music has three principal areas of research: composition, musicology, and music technology. Staff members include composers, experts on melodrama, film music, twentieth-century sketch study, and Debussy and Purcell. In addition, it enjoys the resources of an extensive Audio Archive and two music technology labs (undergraduate and postgraduate). The Music department is located in Front Square of College in its own dedicated premises. The department attracts students from all over the world and welcomes enquiries about research degrees (M.Litt. and Ph.D.) in its principal areas of expertise.

March 2025 Entry

Master in Letters Drama (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Master in Letters Drama (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025

Master in Letters, Film (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025

Master in Letters, Film (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Master in Letters Music (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Master in Letters Music (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy Drama (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy Drama (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy, Film (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy, Film (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy Music (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy Music (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025



September 2025 Entry

Master in Letters, Drama (Part-Time) - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

Master in Letters, Drama (Full-Time) - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025

Master in Letters, Film (Full-Time) - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025

Master in Letters, Film (Part-Time) - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

Master in Letters, Music (Part-Time) - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

Master in Letters, Music (Full-Time) - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025

PhD in Drama - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

PhD in Drama - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025

PhD in Film - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025

PhD in Film - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

PhD in Music - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

PhD in Music - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025



All applicants are advised to address the following topics in their proposal when applying for a Ph.D. or M.Litt.:



Why are you applying to Trinity?



How do you plan to fund your research?



Are you planning to do a Ph.D. by Practice?



Highlight any exceptional education achievement.



Project title.



Brief description of your research topic (be as specific as possible).



Central research questions of your project.



Aims, objectives, scope and focus of your project.



Principal conceptual and methodological questions your project poses; investigative methods and theoretical frameworks you intend to use.



Relationship of your project to existing research: why is your project needed? What will it add to existing scholarship? How will it change the way we look at this topic? (A Ph.D. thesis must make a significant and original contribution to knowledge in your area of research).



Principal primary sources for your project.



Indicative bibliography, including key scholarly works in the area of your project and works mentioned in your research proposal.



In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to register retrospectively. Applicants wishing to be considered for retrospective admission should contact the Graduate Studies Office by emailing research.admissions@tcd.ie

Start Date March 2025 / September 2025

School of Creative Arts


Our research covers a wide range of outputs and themes. Our staff are actively engaged in practice-based research, creating theatre works, music compositions and documentary films that explore conceptual issues through performance and other creative modes of expression. At the same time, we are fully committed to conventional academic publications. We believe in the value of research-based teaching and student learning. The School's research activities are guided by three core objectives: Ireland & the Arts, Globalisation & the Arts, and Technology & the Arts. The School is a member of the Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity's Arts and Humanities Institute, and is an active participant in the Hub's research themes, particularly: Making Ireland, Identities in Transformation, and Creative Arts Practice. The School hosts three taught MPhil programmes and has a thriving postgraduate research culture. We hold a weekly Creative Arts research seminar during term time, which offers an opportunity for staff and research students to present and receive feedback on their work in a collegial surrounding. We also host visiting speakers at these and other public events.


Staff are actively engaged in research networks, on editorial boards, and regularly organise conferences and other public events.


We welcome proposals for research projects at M. Litt (Masters by research), doctoral and post-doctoral levels in areas covered by staff in Drama, Film and Music and advise you to familiarise yourself with our staff profiles so you can see who might be available to supervise your work. Please be sure to contact that staff member in advance of submitting your proposal so that you can refine your ideas and can confirm the relevant staff member's availability for supervision and mentoring.


Our Departments:


Research strengths in Drama currently lie in the field of Irish & European Theatre, Theatre and Nation, Interculturalism/globalisation and performance, Identity Politics & Performance, and Performance and Technology. The School is located in the Samuel Beckett Centre that comprises a theatre, acting studios and seminar rooms. The School of Drama has a formal link with the Abbey Theatre principally for the development of training for theatre practitioners, and with the International Institute for Integration Studies. It boasts a large research community of M.Litt. & Ph.D. students.


The Department of Film enjoys an international reputation for its research in Irish cinema and the cinemas of the Irish diaspora, as well as for its work in the fields of film theory, and digital culture. Film Studies' facilities (screening room, film library, and digital video production room) are located on campus near the Samuel Beckett Centre. It is closely associated with the Irish Film Institute. Recently completed PhD topics include: 'White Cottage/White House: Irish-American Masculinities and spaces of home in Hollywood cinema, 1930-1960', 'Noir point blank – the 'dark interval' in Film Noir', and 'Cinematic Verbalists: dialogue integration in the work of selected contemporary American writer-directors'.


Music has three principal areas of research: composition, musicology, and music technology. Among the staff is composers, experts on melodrama, film music, twentieth-century sketch study, Debussy & Purcell. In addition it enjoys the resources of an extensive Audio Archive and two music technology labs (undergraduate and postgraduate). It is located in Front Square of College in its own dedicated premises. The Department offers the MPhil in Music Composition which attracts applicants from all over the world and research degrees (M.Litt. & Ph.D.) in its principal areas of expertise.


Applicants are advised to cover the following topics when applying for a PhD;


•Why are you applying to Trinity?

•How do you plan to fund your research?

•Highlight any exceptional educational achievement

•Clearly note the substantive and/or theoretical significance of your proposal

•Outline the methodology you will use to complete your research

•Detail how the proposal is an original topic

•Consider how your proposal relates to academic progress in this area of your topic