Philosophy

Course Outline
On this one-year course you will study different philosophical concepts concerning the mind and consciousness, action and politics, ethics and aesthetics, society and culture, globalism, power, territory, and more. The course offers you a rare chance to study Western as well as Eastern philosophy at postgraduate level.

You will take six modules of your choice. The modules are designed to give you an overview of up-to-date thinking in the area.

In your modules you will study and discuss philosophy and acquire familiarity with relevant concepts and authors. The course will develop your knowledge about the history of philosophy and ideas and help you to improve your skills in writing, critical reading, and in understanding and summarising arguments.

Further details on the content and modules are available in the Postgraduate College Calendar

Course Practicalities
You will take 6 taught modules, 2 hours of lectures each week.

Postgraduate Diploma (9 months; 2 taught terms) for which Postgraduate Certificate (9 months; 1 taught term) serves as exit point;

PART-TIME - Postgraduate Diploma (18 months; 4 taught terms) for which Postgraduate Certificate (18 months; 2 taught terms) serves as an exit point

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over 2 years.

Modules

Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.

University Calendar

You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.

In order to be admitted to the Postgraduate Diploma programme in Philosophy, a candidate should normally have at least a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent. Graduates with a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) on a case-by-case basis. Successful applicants must demonstrate evidence of (1) having taken undergraduate or postgraduate modules in philosophy, or courses with philosophical relevance in social theory, social science, cultural theory, politics, psychology, literature or other cognate discipline; and (2) relevant skills in writing and critical thinking (by receiving indicative marks on previous assessments, for example).

If a significant amount of time has passed since the candidate received their undergraduate degree, it may be possible to appeal for entrance based on work or other degree experience. These cases will be considered carefully by the Graduate Studies Committee on a case by case basis.

It is recommended that candidates who are uncertain whether they qualify to consult with the department in advance of submitting an application. All applicants are subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in Philosophy.

Applicants will be required to answer specific supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 30 June 2023

How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.

For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.

2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.

3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

Please add the name and email address of 2 referees.

Please submit a copy of a short analytical/critical/report writing sample or essay (1,000 words approx.)

Assessment

The grade is based on the assessment for modules. Modules are assessed by written essays. There are no final exams.

1 year full-time, 2 years part-time.

Start Date: 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
This course will help you develop the following skills:

Critical thinking
Professional writing
Construction and evaluation of arguments
Communication skills
Information management
Design and planning
Research and investigation

Employers in diverse fields value the skills of analysis, creativity and discovery. A Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy can be the starting point for many different career paths.