Careers and Skills

We have an excellent employment record for our postgraduates both in Ireland and internationally. Our taught and research degree programmes enable students to develop their creativity and intellectual confidence. They also offer valuable transferable skills, such as being able to present ideas clearly and persuasively, and to find, absorb and analyse complex information and concepts. Our postgraduates have gone into careers in education, the arts and culture sector, librarianship, publishing, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, social work, the civil service and management consultancy. Many alumni have also gone on to become successful writers. 

Further Study and Research

Our taught M.Phil. courses provide an excellent pathway into doctoral research at Trinity and elsewhere. Many of those who have completed taught and research postgraduate degrees in the School of English have gone on to pursue successful academic careers. Recent Ph.D. graduates have secured prestigious postdoctoral research fellowships in Ireland and internationally. They have also been appointed to lecturing posts in Ireland, the UK, Continental Europe, North America and Asia. Many postgraduate research projects completed at Trinity have also formed the basis for field-shaping monographs published with prestigious academic publishers.    

Training and Advice

As part of your postgraduate degree at Trinity you will have access to a wide array of training resources and careers advice. Our M.Phil. programmes (with the exception of Creative Writing) include the ‘Research Skills for Postgraduate English’ module. In part, this prepares students for possible employment options beyond their M.Phil. Our structured Ph.D. programme facilitates a wide variety of training and professional development opportunities for research students. The School also has a strong commitment to giving postgraduate research students the opportunity to teach, offering important experience for those who hope to pursue an academic career. Relevant teaching training is provided within the School and through Trinity College’s Centre for Academic Practice and eLearning. In addition, we have a designated Careers Officer, Orlaith Tunney, whose role is to provide careers-related advice and support to School of English students. Orlaith is part of the Trinity Careers Service which offers many further resources and events to help students with their future career planning.