M.Phil. in Early Irish

Aims

This two-year course is intended to take the student to a high level of competence in Old Irish, and will cover a wide range of prose and verse texts, and various aspects of Early Irish language, literature and culture.

Duration

The course will last for two academic years, beginning in October, and requires full-time study. The first year course will be that for the Diploma in Old Irish (see Diploma webpage). In the second year candidates will be assessed by examination (in summer) and a thesis of c.20,000 words.

Applications

• On achievement of 50% or higher in the examinations for the Diploma, candidates will be permitted to proceed to the M. Phil. course.
• Students who have otherwise acquired a competence in Old Irish on a par with that acquired through participation in the Diploma course, may also be permitted to enrol for the M.Phil. course.
• The next group of applications will be accepted in June 2012.
  

Course work

The work of the first year will be that for the Diploma in Old Irish (see below). The second year course will extend over three terms, and the taught element will consist of six contact hours per week as follows:

1. Old Irish prose (2 hours)
2. Old Irish poetry (1 hour)
3. Comparative linguistics (1 hour)
4. Early Irish law (1 hour)
5. Middle Irish (1 hour)
   
6. Guest lectures

In addition a minor dissertation of c.20,000 words, which must be typed and presented in duplicate, is to be submitted by 30 September of the same year.