MA in Literature and Culture (Irish Pathway)

Applications for September 2025 entry close 15th May 2025.

Irish Literature pathway:

Students enrolled in the MA in Literature and Culture, 2024- 2025 may pursue a pathway in Irish Literature.

The School has world-renowned expertise in the field of Irish literature and culture, and members of School faculty have authored pioneering research and creative works on subjects such as modern and contemporary Irish poetry, memoir, Joyce studies, contemporary Irish theatre, Irish literary history, Irish women’s writings, twentieth-century fiction and Irish film.

Many of our students have become internationally acclaimed writers; these generations of School graduates range from writers James Joyce, Mary Lavin, Kate O’Brien, Flann O’Brien, and Maeve Binchy to Frank McGuinness, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Nuala O’Faolain, Colm Tóibín, Joseph O’Connor, Roddy Doyle, Emma Donoghue, Colin Barrett and Adiba Jaigirdar.

Following the pathway in Irish studies will involve taking a core course and an optional module in Irish literature and culture each semester and pursuing a thesis topic on an Irish- related subject.

Course modules may include the following:
Modern Irish Poetry
Ulysses
Tradition and the Contemporary: Irish Fiction
Special Topics in Irish Literary Studies
Public Humanities and Ireland
Irish Theatre
Irish Film

Students will also be able to choose optional modules from other School offerings, including the modules offered by the Creative Future Academy 

The School works closely with The Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), a collaboration between UCD and the National Library of Ireland, located on St Stephen’s Green, in James Joyce’s student home, and students will have access to its dynamic programmes and exhibitions. See MoLI webpages

Click on our feature in UCD Connections to read more about our alumni.

See MA Literature and Culture webpage for details of the wider programme.

For more information, please email Fiona French, the programme administrator, at graduateedf@ucd.ie

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Scholarships and Financial Support

Non-EU applicants

There are two possible scholarship streams:

UCD Global Excellence scholarships

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships

To apply to these scholarships, applicants need to already hold an offer of a place. Please apply to the MA a minimum of 2 months (ideally 3 months) in advance of scholarship application deadlines to ensure your MA application has been processed and reviewed in time.

EU applicants and Irish immigration status/leave to remain

You may be eligible for financial support from the Irish government:

- you are an Irish, EU, EEA, UK or Swiss national or have a specific immigration status or leave to remain permission from the Department of Justice.

- have been resident in the Irish State, the EU, EEA, UK or Swiss Federation for three of the last five years. 

- our total reckonable household income falls below specific income thresholds.

See SUSI GRANT and SUSI eligibility checker.

All offer holders: Annie Fanning Memorial Scholarship (Irish Literature)

This scholarship provides a €5,000 fee bursary to the successful candidate, enabling them to pursue the MA Literature and Culture (with a focus on Irish Literature) in the UCD School of English, Drama and Film. Applicants who have accepted a place on the MA programme will be invited to apply for this scholarship during the summer months in advance of commencing the programme in September.