Structured PhD in Contemporary Irish Studies (PhD)

Mary Immaculate College Ireland

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The award
PhD

How long you will study
4 Years

Domestic course fees
find out

How you will study
full-time

Course starts
September

International course fees
EUR 8781 per total

All study options

About Structured PhD in Contemporary Irish Studies at Mary Immaculate College

The Structured PhD in Contemporary Irish Studies at Mary Immaculate College aims to provide a suite of modules that are focused on contemporary issues in Irish society, politics and culture. The focus will be on contemporary Irish studies, and how, specifically, the study of a series of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary areas of the Irish experience can lead to a clearer understanding of the Ireland of today, which will be a baseline for the study of the Ireland of the future. The modules will be delivered by experts, all of whom have a track record in publishing in their respective fields.

Assessments are by research essay and thesis. The essay ranges from 4,500 to 5,000 words and each module is assessed by a single essay. The titles and topics of these essays are negotiated between the student and the course lecturer, with the parameters of choice being set by the lecturer.

A number of generic research and methodology modules are also undertaken, which provide preparation for the work of the thesis. The other element of assessment is an 85,000 to 100,000-word research thesis.

There are two pathways to the degree:

Students spend Year 1 in MIC, where they study three modules of their choice per semester.
The students will then progress to the thesis. There is no residential requirement beyond the initial year so students will be able to work from home on their thesis, with supervision being undertaken by Skype, Moodle and email.

Students attend a two-week winter school in January and a three-week summer school in June, where the six academic modules, and research and referencing modules are taught through a mixture of intensive lectures and masterclasses.
Essays can be completed in the months following the summer and winter schools. The students will then progress to the thesis.

Learn More About This Course

There is more information about this course available on the Mary Immaculate College website

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Study options for this course

The award How you will study How long you will study Course starts Domestic course fees International course fees
The awardPhDHow you will studyFull-timeHow long you will study4 years
Course startsSeptemberDomestic course fees find outInternational course feesEUR 8781 per total

Entry requirements

The minimum requirements for this programme are:

1. Qualifications and Experience

An appropriate Masters or equivalent qualification, at 2.2 honours level bachelor's degree, or higher, that has been obtained from a university or other institution recognised by the University of Limerick following a period of study similar to that required in the University of Limerick.

Applicants who do not hold a relevant master's degree may be considered if they have a 2.1 bachelor's degree, or higher, in a relevant area and extensive relevant experience.

2. English Language Requirements

Applicants for whom English is not a first language must provide evidence of their proficiency level English in the form of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) composite score of 6.5 - 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any one component, or IELTS equivalent accepted by UL. Such applicants will also be required to undergo an interview through English.

3. Performance at interview.

An interview may form part of the selection process for all applicants. This will be done in person if possible or alternatively via video conferencing where the candidate is unavailable to attend in person.

And

4. Research Proposal and Application Form

Submission of a PhD research proposal and application form by all candidates in line with the requirements set out by the Research and Graduate School, MIC.

Places on the programme will be offered based on all the above, viz. qualifications, performance at interview, language proficiency level (if applicable), PhD proposal, as well as candidates' references given in the application form.

What students think about Mary Immaculate College

Kalina Anderson, USA

Getting to MIC, a school 4,000 miles from where I was born and raised, was almost too easy. Aside from adjusting to the cold weather, Limerick immediately felt like home. Everyone is so welcoming and helpful, and that doesn’t just include the staff at MIC. Setting up was reasonably affordable and food prices are comparable to those at home. There is a good variety of ethnic food places around, providing some of the comforts I could find at home.

The trick to getting along well in a new country is getting involved. I signed up to be a Class Rep and served as the chairperson for the ever-changing International Society. As my Jamaican father would say, “Nuff respect to the Mary I and especially the International Office respect.”

Theresa Hotz, Germany

Studying at MIC was an experience I wouldn’t want to have missed. Thanks to the warm welcome of the President and all staff members, I felt at home right from the start. There are many academic and free time activities offered for anyone interested and the international students are taken really good care of

In addition to the college life, all the international students have been travelling a lot on the weekends and thereby experienced the country and the culture intensively. Ireland is incredibly beautiful, especially the west coast, and the Irish are friendly and cheerful people who offer help whenever it’s needed. Having been given the chance to study at MIC has been a privilege which I am very thankful for!

Elanor McDevitt, USA

I’m coming up on my second year at MIC and it has definitely been one of the best experiences of my life. Before I’d even been accepted to the school, Ben and Holly from the International Office had a Skype call with my mother and me to go through any questions we had. Right away, I felt very welcomed, and that has stayed true throughout my time at MIC. One stand out opportunity from my first year is getting involved with the College’s radio station, Wired FM, where I co-host a weekly film talk show with another international student (who is now one of my closest friends).

Limerick is a great city and there is always something to do. Almost anything you’d need is within a 20 minute walk from campus, including a train station - meaning traveling around Ireland is simple, and student rates make it affordable too!