Program Overview

Overview of the Irish Writing Program

The M.Phil. in Irish Writing explores Irish writing in English from the late seventeenth century to the present. This course allows students to engage with a wide range of Irish writing in English, from canonical figures such as Maria Edgeworth and W.B. Yeats to contemporary critical debates around gender, sexuality, class, and race.

Course Details

• NFQ Level: 9
• Duration: 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time
• Number of Places: 20
• Next Intake: September 2025
• Course Directors: Dr. Sam Slote and Dr. Julie Bates
• Closing Date: 31st May 2025

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have an honours Bachelor's degree (at least of upper-second class standard or GPA of 3.3) or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject (such as English, History, Art History, Irish Studies, or Modern Languages).

English Language Requirements

All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements.

Course Structure

Teaching for the course is primarily delivered through small-group seminar teaching. Much of this takes place in the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing, which offers a lively working and social environment for the School of English M.Phil. students and creative writers.

Course Content

• The centre-piece of the course is the core perspectives in Irish Writing module, which introduces students to the multiple contexts in which Irish writing in English has developed from the late seventeenth century through to the present.
• Further exploration of the field of Irish writing is offered through the core Conditions of Irish Writing module, focusing on the publishers, periodicals, and institutions through which Irish writing has been produced and mediated.
• Foundational grounding in issues of importance to studying and researching literature at postgraduate level is provided through the Research Skills for Postgraduate English module.
• Students also take two specialist option modules, reflecting the commitment to cutting-edge research-led teaching, focusing on examining the work of significant Irish writers in detail.
• In the final phase of the course, students complete a dissertation of 15,000-18,000 words, allowing them to pursue in-depth research on a subject of their choice under expert supervision.

Career Opportunities

Graduates have gone into careers in education, the arts and culture sector, librarianship, publishing, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, social work, the civil service, and management consultancy. Many alumni have also gone on to become successful writers. This course also provides an excellent platform for moving on to doctoral research as well as offering transferable skills and careers in a variety of industries.

Course Fees

For a full list of postgraduate fees, please refer to the relevant section of the university's website.

Is This Course For Me?

This course is aimed at students interested in how Irish writing connects with Ireland's culture and history while exploring the Irish people's identity and appreciating the complexity and diversity of the Irish experience. It is also a way to gain insight into Ireland's many voices and understand its people's struggles, joys, and triumphs.