Irish Studies

The MA Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary programme that examines the variety and diversity of Irish history, society and cultural practice. It asks a series of questions about Ireland and Irishness, including how did the Irish come to be the way they are, and to what extent are they different from other nations? How has Irish identity changed over time? What are the causes for this process?



This MA introduces students to a wide range of sources and resources, issues and debates about the many-faceted experiences of the people who have lived in Ireland from the earliest times to the present. You will avail of UCD’s unrivalled expertise in many fields related to Irish Studies. Being in Dublin naturally also provides students with easy access to many of Ireland’s key cultural institutions and libraries.



Provides students with small group teaching and personalised supervision that students need at a graduate level

Pathway for further specialisation

Nationally and internationally unrivalled concentration of expertise

Stage 1 Core Modules

IRST40060 People, Place and Identity Autumn 10

IRST40080 Are the Irish Different? Spring 10

IRST40100 Thesis/Research Project Summer 30



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of:

Students must take 40 credits of option modules.

CCIV30070 Introduction to Early Irish 1 Autumn 5

CCIV30110 Early Irish Myths & Sagas Autumn 5

ENG32000 Contemp. Irish Women's Poetry Autumn 10

ENG42090 Public Humanities and Ireland Autumn 10

HIS42660 Historiography and Historical Debate in Twentieth-century Ireland Autumn 10

IR40030 Teanga na Gaeilge 4 Autumn 10

IRFL40120 Folklore and Folkloristics Autumn 10

IRFL40160 The Life Cycle Autumn 10

IRFL40170 The Narrative Art Autumn 10

IR10050 Irish for Beginners/Gaeilge do Thosaitheoirí Autumn and Spring (separate) 5

MUS10240 Music in Ireland Autumn and Spring (separate) 5

AH20300 Medieval Art and Architecture: characteristics and influences Spring 5

AMST30060 Ireland & the US Spring 5

ARCH10050 Intro archaeology of Ireland Spring 5

CCIV30100 Introduction to Early Irish 2 Spring 5

GEOG30020 Historical Geography of Ireland Spring 5

HIS31760 Irish Foreign Policy, 1919-73: A Place Among the Nations Spring 10

HIS42490 Landscape and Environment in Ireland, 1500-1800 Spring 10

HIS42590 De Valera's Ireland Spring 10

IR30090 Teangeolaíocht na Gaeilge: anailís ar an teanga féin Spring 5

IR30200 An Béal Beo Spring 5

IR40200 An Nualitríocht: Gnéithe de litríocht na Gaeilge ó 1900 i leith Spring 10

IRFL40180 Calendar Custom Spring 10

MUS20030 Studies in Irish Music Spring 5

MUS41050 Sounding Ireland Onscreen Spring 5

SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring 10

- This programme is intended for applicants with a humanities and social sciences background.

- An upper second class honours degree (NFQ Level 8), or the international equivalent in a related area is required. Applicants who do not meet the 2.1 entry requirement will be looked at on a case by case basis and relevant work experience will be taken into account.

- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 7.0 (no band less than 6.5 in each element), or equivalent.

- Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/



These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.



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.

https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

90

Z195: 1 year full-time

Z196: 2 years part-time

Delivery: On Campus

MA Irish Studies (Z195) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 7315

nonEU fee per year - € 19900


MA Irish Studies (Z196) Part Time

EU fee per year - € 4390

nonEU fee per year - € 9950


***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.

Z195 MA in Irish Studies Master of Arts Full-Time

Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught



Z196 MA in Irish Studies Master of Arts Part-Time

Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught

Graduates of this MA are trained not only to acquire, manage and communicate detailed knowledge in a creative, productive and supportive environment, but also to compare and contrast differing sources of information derived from archival, printed, visual and electronic formats. The programme enables students to hone their skills in research, critical thinking, oral and written communication, and the use of relevant computer software packages, such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. This degree is ideally suited to students seeking to deepen their knowledge of Irish Studies and to enhance their employment-relevant skills, while also providing a pathway for further specialisation in a relevant area or topic at doctoral level. Potential careers might include journalism, heritage and tourism, or academia.