Identities & Cultures of Europe

About the programme - Identities structure our reality, our desires and our ideas. As such, they assume many shapes and forms: the self and the nation, language and gender, migration and trauma, myth and ideology, class and religion, capitalism and populism, ecology and technology. Above all, identities are crystallised in their representation: in the media and popular culture, in literature and film, but also in imagined communities and destinies, contested histories, and collective memory. Exploring and analysing questions of identity as they have unfolded and continue to unfold in Europe, this course will equip students with the critical tools and reallife experience to understand the complex and varied challenges posed by shifting notions of identity and their very real consequences.

MPhil - Students on the MPhil enrol in two core modules (one in each semester) on Questions of Identity in Europe. Consisting of a selection of key identity topics, the core modules approach the issue of identity from a range of disciplinary perspectives through theories of identity and case studies. Students will also take four optional modules (two per semester), selected from a wide range of options offered by the programme as well as by other Masters courses at Trinity. Finally, students will complete a research dissertation on a topic of their choice, receiving guidance from researchers who are experts in their respective fields. During the first semester, students will also take part in a three-day field trip to Belgium, where they will have an opportunity to network and create links with key cultural institutions, organisations and NGOs on the continent. During the second semester, students will have the option to do an internship at an approved NGO or cultural institution in Dublin. (Please note that securing a placement may depend on availability in any given year and on the outcome of a selection process conducted jointly with partner institutions.) At the end of the second semester, students will participate in an identity workshop given by a high-profile external speaker from academic or civil society.

Diploma - Students on the Postgraduate Diploma enrol in two core modules (one in each semester) on Questions of Identity in Europe. Consisting of a selection of key identity topics, the core modules approach the issue of identity from a range of disciplinary perspectives through theories of identity and case studies. Students will also take four optional modules (two per semester), selected from a wide range of options offered by the programme as well as by other Masters courses at Trinity. (Please note that the internship option is only available to students on the MPhil.) During the first semester, students will also take part in a three-day field trip to Belgium, where they will have an opportunity to network and create links with key cultural institutions, organisations and NGOs on the continent. At the end of the second semester, students will participate in an identity workshop given by a high-profile external speaker from academic or civil society.

Certificate - Students on the Postgraduate Certificate in Identities and Cultures of Europe enrol in two core modules (one in each term) on Questions of Identity in Europe. Consisting of a selection of key identity topics, the core modules approach the issue of identity from a range of disciplinary perspectives through theories of identity and case studies. Students will also take one optional module, selected from a wide range of options offered by the programme as well as by other Master's courses at Trinity. (Please note that the internship option is only available to students on the MPhil.) During the first semester, students will also take part in a three-day field trip to Belgium, where they will have an opportunity to network and create links with key cultural institutions, organisations and NGOs on the continent. At the end of the second semester, students will participate in an identity workshop given by a high-profile external speaker from academic or civil society.

COURSE STRUCTURE
1. Core modules (20 ECTS): all students take two core modules on Questions of Identity in Europe, which approach the issue of identity from a range of disciplinary perspectives through theories of identity and case studies.
2. Elective modules (40 ECTS): students choose four modules from two thematic areas, i) Cultural and Political Histories of Europe and, ii) Literary and Visual Cultures of Europe.
3. Dissertation (30 ECTS): students engage in their own research project, writing a 15,000- to 20,000-word dissertation under the supervision of a staff member in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies.
4. Study trip: students take part in a structured three-day study trip at the Leuven Institute for Ireland in Europe in the first semester, during which they attend lectures, meet fellow Masters students at KU Leuven, and visit cultural and political institutions at the heart of Europe.
5. Internship: in the second semester, students have an opportunity to intern at an approved NGO or cultural institution as an optional module.

• A minimum 2.1 (upper-second class) Honours Bachelors degree from an Irish university or its international equivalent in a relevant subject. Relevant subjects include but are not limited to the following: Languages, Literature, History, Cultural Studies, Comparative Literature, Human Geography, Sociology, Religious Studies, Gender Studies, Textual and Visual Studies, Visual Arts, Art History, Economics, Political Science. We also welcome students from non-Humanities backgrounds with a keen interest in questions of identity.

• Proficiency in English. For candidates who are not native English speakers and have not completed a degree through the medium of English, a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 in each category or its equivalent. While there is no formal requirement to be proficient in a language other than English, students with a reading proficiency in a language taught in the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies (French, German, Italian, Spanish, Irish, Polish, Russian) are particularly welcome.

Applications are open from November until June and you may apply at any point. Places are offered to the best applicants on a first-come first-served basis. Places are limited, and for that reason, it is recommended that you apply as early as possible. The deadline for applications is June 30th.

Required Materials
For this course, you will need to submit the following materials to apply:

• Personal Statement Form
The Personal Statement Form is an important part of our assessment process. It is your opportunity to state your reasons for applying to this programme and how they match what the programme delivers. Please complete this form to submit your Personal Statement.

• Sample of Academic Writing
As part of your application, you also need to submit a sample of no more than 2,500 words of your best academic writing in English.
When we assess your application, we will pay particular attention to:

• your ability to build and present a logical, cohesive argument

• your ability to analyse and evaluate the arguments of others

• your ability to adhere to the norms of academic writing (referencing, quotation, and bibliography)

• your command of academic English

• English Language Qualifications
Unless you have completed a degree through the medium of English or are a native speaker, you are required to prove your proficiency with the language. Trinity prefers IELTS, but will accept alternative tests run by international organisations, such as TOEFL. A minimum of 6.5 in each category or its equivalent is required.

• Degree Certificate(s)
You will need to provide degree certificates (in PDF format) that prove you have completed all of the degrees you mention in your application. If you haven't yet completed your degree, you can still apply and supply these documents when you have them.

• Degree Transcripts
You will need to provide official transcripts (in PDF format) showing all of the components you have completed as part of your degree(s).

• Two Reference Letters
You will need to provide reference letters from two referees who can provide references written in English, explaining why you would be a strong candidate for the course. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact their referees and inform them of their intention of applying for this programme. Referees listed by the applicant on Trinity's online application system will automatically receive an electronic reference request, providing them with a Trinity reference template and a link to upload their references.

• Online Application Form
Once you have all of these materials (use this checklist to ensure you have completed all the required documents), click "Apply" below and fill out the online application form in full, not forgetting to upload all the requested materials as attachments.

IMPORTANT: please note that you must specify the category of each attachment you upload (for example, when uploading an official transcript, you need to specify that the attachment is an "Official Transcript"). Otherwise your application may be deemed incomplete.

Closing Date: 31st March 2023

M.Phil. 1 year full time/Certificate 1 year part time/Diploma 1 year full time

Next Intake September 2020