The Loyola Institute A-Level Religious Studies Day – Northern Ireland

Posted on: 07 June 2016

More than 400 students from 17 schools across Northern Ireland attended Trinity’s recent A-Level religious studies day organised by the Loyola Institute at the Hastings Stormont Hotel outside Belfast. This event was followed by Trinity’s first university-wide outreach event for Northern Irish headmasters, principals and teachers which was part of the ongoing and successful Northern Ireland Engagement Programme.

The Loyola Institute study day, organised by Dr David Shepherd, Assistant Professor in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Trinity, was designed to help A-level religious studies students in their exam preparations and included seminars on the Gospel of Luke and Religious Ethics.  It also provided the students with the opportunity to experience what studying Theology at third level would be like. The Loyola Institute offers degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level in theology in the Catholic tradition.

Jonathan Johnston (Trinity), Dr David Shepherd (Loyola Institute, Trinity), Ciar Nic Riocaird, Stephen Andrews (teacher), Jade Hammond, Lauren Clarke:  St Malachy's, Castlewellan.

Stephen Andrews, a teacher at St Malachy’s High School Castlewellan, said “I was extremely impressed by the way in which the seminar was delivered: excellent scholarly detail with current examples of human experience.  Overall, a well-delivered seminar that my students and I thoroughly enjoyed.”

Outreach activities at Trinity coupled with changes in the admission scoring system for A-level applicants have seen almost a 20% increase in applications from Northern Ireland in 2016.  Trinity is committed to increasing engagement with students from Northern Ireland and connecting with teachers there to ensure they have all the information they need to advise on applying to Trinity. 

For more information about studying theology at The Loyola Institute, Trinity see our website www.tcd.ie/loyola-institute/.