Maynooth University

Geography

The aim of the PG Diploma in Geography is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and competence necessary to undertake research into and critical analysis of contemporary issues and problems from a human geographical perspective. Students will be exposed to contemporary debates in human geography about pressing global, European and Irish issues, and learn specialist knowledge and competence in areas for which our Human Geographers are internationally recognised for, including cities and society, globalisation, health, politics of place, electoral geographies, cultural/social/historical geography, among other areas. Students will gain training in standard and specialist training in mixed research methods appropriate for geographically-informed research, including fieldwork, qualitative and quantitative research methods, mapping and GIS. Students will also be exposed to working with civil society and government partners, and develop their sense of the ethical and practical demands of such collaborative research.

The programme will be delivered through lecturers, seminars, fieldwork, practicals, other forms of experiential learning (in and out of the classroom) tied to the MA in Geography. A wide selection of modules and flexibility in choice reflects the breadth of the discipline. The PG Diploma is available either part-time or full-time, is flexible in delivery, innovative in emphasis, and stresses experiential- and field-based learning opportunities for students to develop employability competencies.

Entry requirements

Students should normally have earned a 2.1 or above in Geography (either subject degree in Geography or overall) or related disciplines. A personal statement is required so the Director can give consideration to applicants with relevant academic, work or professional experience if coming from a different background than the social sciences and/or if earned a 2.2 mark.

Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level.

Minimum English language requirements: please visit Maynooth University International Office website for information about English language tests accepted and required scores. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and non-EU applicants

National University of Ireland Maynooth's TOEFL code is 8850

Duration

MHN64 Full-time - 1 year
MHN65 Part-time - 2 years

Careers or further progression

Our graduates acquire valuable research, analytical and critical, spatial thinking, ethical and professional skills. The skills learned allow our graduates to find employment in various fields, such as: administration; education; services; creative industries; and working with NGOs and local government authorities. One student said the high academic standards 'helped me to define what I'm interested in'. Another student stated that postgraduate geography modules has allowed me to expand my knowledge of working with vulnerable groups, census data and overall aspects of Human Geography'. Our graduates note that the professional methods and research training in some modules 'helped me demonstrate a varied skill set when interviewing for employment'.

Further enquiries

Programme Director: Dr Karen E. Till
Tel: +353 (0)1 708 4550
Fax: +353 (0)1 708 3573
Email: karen.till@mu.ie
Website; https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/geography/our-courses
Address Department of Geography, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Subjects taught

The PG Diploma in Geography offers a wide-ranging programme of taught modules, delivered through lectures, seminars, fieldwork, and methods practicals.

The degree structure includes 60 credits, taken over two semesters for full-time and four semesters for part-time students. All students must take two compulsory modules (20 ECTS) and an additional four taught modules (40 ECTS), with two to four of these modules in Geography, and no more than 20 elective credits in Anthropology, Media Studies and Sociology. Part-time students can take from 10 to 50 credits in any given academic year.

Each Geography module will consist of ten, 2-hour seminars. (There are some slight variations in module format for elective credits.) All modules are 100% continuous assessment, with a range of assessment types (academic essays, field research journals, applied research projects, mapping projects, blogs, vlogs, field-based reports, individual and group presentations, other). Optional module offerings are offered on a rotational basis, depending on student interest and staff availability (i.e. not all GY modules listed below are offered every year). This may also be the case for optional modules listed in Anthropology, Media Studies, and Sociology.

Course Duration: 1 year Full-time, 2 years part time

Application date

All applications should be made through the PAC system.

Closing Date : 31 July 2020

Course fee

In general, there are two levels of fees payable. EU students from EU countries including Ireland pay a subsidised level of fees for both taught courses and research programmes. Tuition fees for students from outside the EU are not subsidised and are thus somewhat higher than for EU students.