General Regulations

Please note that all descriptions provided on the present web site are subject to modification.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will normally be expected to have a first or upper second class honors degree (or equivalent e.g. GPA of 3.2) in a relevant area. Applicants may be asked for examples of recent written work.

Applicants should normally have an advanced reading knowledge of at least one language other than English from among those offered in our European Studies undergraduate degree programme: French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish. Proficiency in other European languages would be considered as an alternative qualification, and in exceptional circumstances a knowledge of non-European languages could also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Assessment, Progression & General Regulations

In all modules, including the dissertation, the passing grade is 40%. Students must pass all modules, including the dissertation, to be awarded the degree. The degree is to be completed in one year of full-time study; there is no part-time equivalent, and no award of a Postgraduate Diploma is contemplated for those who do not complete all elements. A Distinction in the degree may be awarded by the examiners where a mark of 70% or more is achieved in the dissertation, no credit-bearing element has been failed, and an overall average of at least 70% has been achieved.

Student Handbook

A handbook will be made available to each student on the course. This contains a number of College regulations which are binding on all students, including a ban on plagiarism, which is regarded as a serious offence. Students are required to familiarize themselves with regulations contained in the Handbook, the Calendar and other College sources. The School’s Postgraduate handbook for 2010-11 is available at: http://www.tcd.ie/langs-lits-cultures/docs/PGH2011-2012.pdf

The Graduate Students' Union

Students are entitled to the services of the Graduate Students' Union, which is a valuable source of advice, help and advocacy. See http://www.gsu.tcd.ie/

TCD Calendar Entry for 2010 - 11

M.Phil. in European Studies

1. Introduction: This interdisciplinary course is designed to provide an overview of European intellectual and cultural history, looking at Europe and its history from a range of critical perspectives. It builds on the inclusive, interdisciplinary approach of Trinity's undergraduate European Studies programme, but with a higher level of intellectual sophistication and breadth. The core course ('Europe and its Other(s): Ideas, identities and symbolic geographies in Europe'), which runs over two semesters, introduces a number of theoretical approaches to European intellectual, cultural and political history. A range of optional modules permits students to apply and develop these approaches, with a focus both on distinct national or regional cultures and histories on the one hand, and/or specific issues and problems in European history and culture(s) on the other.
2. Admission Requirements : Applicants are normally required to have a good honors degree (at least upper second class honors standard), or an equivalent qualification, in a cognate area. In addition, applicants should normally have an advanced reading knowledge of at least one language other than English from among those offered by the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies at Trinity College Dublin.
3. Duration: The course is taken full-time in one calendar year, starting in September of each year. Teaching takes place over two semesters, followed by a five-month dissertation-writing period.
4. Course Structure: The course consists of a two-part core course taken by all students (Europe and its Other(s): Ideas, identities and symbolic geographies in Europe'), together with four options chosen from the range offered in a given year, and a dissertation of up to 20,000 words on a subject approved by the Course Director. With the approval of the Course Director, students may choose no more than TWO of their optional courses from among those offered on other M.Phil. programmes in the School.
5. Assessment: Candidates are assessed throughout the course by coursework and dissertation. [Students must obtain a pass in the core course and dissertation, and obtain an overall pass in their options, in order to pass the course.]
6. [The core course carries 20% of the overall marks, the options each contribute 10% and the dissertation carries 40% of the total marks. The pass mark for all elements is 40%.]
7. ECTS: The total credits for the course come to 90:
   • Core course at 20 credits =  20 credits
   • 4 options at 10 credits each = 40 credits
   • Dissertation at 30 credits = 30 credits
   • Total = 90 credits
8. Course co-ordinator: Dr Balázs Apor