View the contact page for more contact and location information
Email academic.registry@tcd.ieThe M.Phil. in History of Art and Architecture offers a distinctive programme founded on primary study of the outstanding collections on campus and nearby. The focus on both Irish and global art and architecture held in collections in Ireland provides students with a broad range of possible avenues for research. Students are asked to think critically about the interpretation of works of art and architecture using a range of methodological approaches in a selection of taught courses alongside a research seminar and dissertation module.
Students taking this M.Phil. will gain an understanding of best practice in art history through a series of modules designed to encourage sophisticated documentation and analysis of both works of art and architecture in Ireland and of the diverse range of approaches and methods current in the discipline. The taught modules will inform and enrich the research component of the course and thus develop students’ ability to produce original and articulate contributions to scholarship.
There is a strong emphasis on direct engagement with works of art in public and private collections throughout the degree, including with the unique collections held by Trinity on campus and the world class collections and institutions with which we have close connections, such as the National Gallery, the Chester Beatty, and the Irish Architectural Archive. Visits to sites, buildings, archives, artist studios, collections and institutions are important features of many of the modules and are actively encouraged as part of the dissertation research.
This course is aimed at students with a primary degree in the history of art or related discipline. We consider applicants from all backgrounds and particularly welcome those with a proven interest in the art and architecture found in the Irish and global collections of Ireland. This subject is ideal for students interested in the history of art, architecture, design and visual culture and who wish to understand the influence of these disciplines on the development of societies.
The M.Phil. provides a strong foundation in art-historical skills, methodologies and approaches and helps prepare graduates for a wide variety of careers including in the gallery, museum and heritage sectors, libraries and archives, public policy and administration, teaching, media, public relations, publishing, and art practice. For those already working in these sectors, the course will enrich knowledge and skills, stimulate lateral thinking, and act as a spur to innovation. It also provides invaluable training in research for those planning to pursue a doctorate and/or career in research.
Taken as a full-time course, the programme lasts for 12 months starting in September. Teaching is spread over 24 weeks, from September to the following April. Students then complete a dissertation, to be submitted in August. The course consists of a combination of compulsory and optional components that together make up 90 ECTS expected for full-time study over one academic year at Masters Level.
EU/UK/EEA students can also take the course on a part-time basis over two years. In the first year, students take Research Methods in Art History and two Options modules. In the second year, students take an additional two optional modules and complete the dissertation.
All students take the core module Research Methods in Art History, which introduces students to the principal sources and methodologies applicable for advanced study in the history of art and provides an overview of the conceptual underpinnings of the discipline.
Students choose four elective modules that offer detailed engagement with periods and media. Students can choose to follow an Irish art strand throughout their course or pick more widely from the diverse selection of modules available. Elective modules offered in recent years include: Medieval Monastic Ireland; The Artist and the Printed Image: Concepts, Technologies and Dissemination; Portraits and Portraiture in Dublin Collections; Interpreting Ireland’s Built Heritage; Arts of the Book (Islamic); Ireland and France, 1800–2000; Gender, Art and Identity; Visualising Climate Change; Constructing Drawings.
Students undertake a substantial research dissertation of 15,000 words on a selected subject under the supervision of a member of staff.
Click here for further information on modules/subject.
Dr Anna McSweeney of the Department of History of Art and Architecture gives an overview of the History of Art and Architecture (M.Phil.) programme at Trinity College Dublin.
September 2025
Dr Anna McSweeney
30th May 2025
Applicants should normally have at least an upper second class (2:1) Honours Bachelor degree or equivalent (for example, GPA of 3.3) in a relevant area. An undergraduate degree in art history is preferable but not essential. Since places on the course are limited, applicants may be interviewed or asked to submit a writing sample for assessment. In your application, we are interested to hear about why you want to study for this degree in Ireland, so read the course details carefully and reflect this in your submission.
All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.
For a full list of postgraduate fees, click here.
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
+353 (0)1 896 1995
Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
