Languages Literatures & Cultural Studies - Research

Our internationally influential research makes significant and transformative contributions to cross-cultural knowledge and understanding in a range of fields relevant for navigating cultural diversity. We attract research students from around the world, who get close supervision and thorough research training to prepare them for careers inside and beyond academia.



The School’s research in Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies is broad, covering a wide range of languages, including, but not limited to:

• Arabic

• Bulgarian

• Croatian

• Czech

• French

• German

• Hebrew (Ancient and Modern)

• Irish (Early and Modern)

• Italian

• Japanese

• Polish

• Russian

• Spanish

• Turkish



The periods covered are also vast, including everything from the middle ages to the present day. Moreover, the school offers specialist doctoral supervision in a range of interdisciplinary, interlingual, and intercultural areas:

• Comparative Literature

• Digital Humanities

• European Studies

• Identities and Cultures

• Jewish Studies

• Medieval and Renaissance Studies

• Middle Eastern Studies

• Translation Studies



We are currently seeking to expand our doctoral research team, and are actively looking for talented PhD candidates to join us. Researchers in the school have access to an enviable catalogue of option modules, which are shared with taught postgraduate students.



These modules are designed to expand doctoral researchers’ horizons, and encourage them to develop new skills during their studies. Doctoral candidates also have access to a busy schedule of research seminars and events throughout the year, organised by the school and its various research centres, and by the College at large.

Research Applications

No closing dates apply for application for higher degrees by research but there are only two registration periods (September and March). Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible prior to their chosen registration period as supervisory capacity may be limited.



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



How to Apply

The first step is to work out an idea of the research project you would like to pursue. Once you have an idea, write it out as an abstract of about 300 words, being sure to include: a) main research question, b) methodology, c) materials, d) justification for why this question is timely e) any contextual information that is necessary to understand the question. Once you have this abstract, carefully read up on potential supervisors from the School’s staff listings: https://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/staff/.



When you have identified one or more potential supervisors for your project, reach out to them directly by email, and ask whether they would be interested in supervising your project. After securing at least one supervisor, you will work with them to make a formal application using the link on this page that pertains to the main supervisor.



We are currently piloting a distance PhD programme, which allows candidates who reside outside Dublin or Ireland to conduct their research with us remotely. For further details on this option please email the School office at Postgraduate.SLLCS@tcd.ie

Next Intake: March 2024 / September 2024

School Description:


Trinity College has the world's oldest tradition of modern language studies, with chairs dating back to 1776.


The School's research in literary, language and cultural studies ranges from the medieval to the very contemporary. Well-qualified research students are welcomed in all Schools within the School; enquiries for M.Litt. or Ph.D. research should be made in the first instance to the School or Centre concerned. In addition, a cluster of innovative taught postgraduate degrees offers a broad range of possibilities, leading to research or to professional practice in areas of language, literature and cultural life.


There are seven academic units within the School:

•the Centre for European Studies

•the Department of French

•the Department of Germanic Studies

•the Department of Hispanic Studies

•the Department of Irish & Celtic Languages

•the Department of Italian

•the Department of Russian & Slavonic Studies


At postgraduate level, courses are also offered directly by the School or by specialist units such as the Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies.