Assessment Information
The course is assessed by means of presented papers and a dissertation. Students must submit essays relating to their compulsory courses and to their chosen options. In the case of the Creative Writing Option, students present a portfolio of work.
Please note in the Schedule above the dates by which papers should be presented in relation to specific courses. Topics for these papers will be posted on the notice board in the Oscar Wilde Centre.
Papers should be presented to the Course Administrator before or on the due date. PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF ALL PRESENTED WORK, WHICH MUST BE WORD-PROCESSED. A word count should be included at the end of each essay. Presented papers are kept on file by the School of English.
Requests for extensions should be directed to Prof Grene
The Master in Philosophy degree is awarded on a Distinction*/Pass/Fail basis.
*An M.Phil with Distinction may be awarded to students who achieve a mark of 70% or higher on their dissertation and at least 68% in the taught course work where modules amounting to at least 30 credits have a mark of at least 70%.
Grade Descriptors:
Although the MPhil degree is awarded on a Distinction/Pass/Fail basis, individual assignments within the MPhil courses are marked according to the following standards:
1st 80–100 A paper of outstanding merit; publishable quality.
1st 70–79 A very strong and original paper: work displaying analytical and argumentative power with good command of the facts and/or arguments relevant to the questions and evidence of ability to organise them with clarity, insight and efficiency.
Upper 2nd 60–69 Work displaying analytical power and argumentation of the quality associated with a First, but with less comprehensive and thorough command of evidence. Or work showing considerable thoroughness but less analytical skill or less clarity in organisation.
Lower 2nd 50–59 Competent work with no major defects, but giving an incomplete account of the question, or marred by inaccuracies. Or work which demonstrates lapses in (but does not lack) analytical and argumentative skills.
3rd 40–49 Work that is generally weak with muddled argumentation, but containing some evidence of knowledge of facts and analytical skill. These marks are also used for work that, while competent and knowledgeable in itself, does not address the question asked.
Fail 0–39 Very poor quality work, not meeting the standards of information,
understanding and analysis required for graduate level .
Weighting of Assessed Elements
Dissertation = 34%
Perspectives in Irish Writing Essay (x2) + Single Major Authors Essays (x2) = 33%
Option Essays (x2) or Option Essay + Creative Writing Option = 33%
Presentation of Dissertations
Dissertation (30 ECTS)
The dissertation must be between 12,000 and 15,000 words, on a topic chosen in consultation with the MPhil course directors and supervised during the summer by a member of the teaching staff. Dissertations must be word-processed and bound in accordance with the University regulations and guidelines, available from the Course Administrator. A word count should be included at the end of the dissertation. Three copies should be presented.
The following declaration, signed and dated, must be included in each copy:
“I declare that this thesis has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at this or any other university and that it is entirely my own work. I agree that the Library may lend or copy this thesis upon request”.
Please note that students who are required to make minor revisions to their dissertations must complete them within two months from the date of the Court of Examiners meeting. Where major revisions are requested, the student must re-register for a six-month period and pay the appropriate fee.
Complete guidelines are available from the Course Administrator.