Postgraduate Research
The School and its associated Centres maintain an active programme of research seminars and public lectures and regularly welcome research fellows from Europe and around the world. With more than 100 postgraduate students and more than 20 research-active staff across its various disciplines, the School is a leading centre for research in religious studies (in its many forms) and peace studies and warmly welcomes enquires from those interested in studying with us.
M.Litt. and Ph.D. Degrees
The Ph.D. is normally a four year course of full-time study, culminating in a dissertation based on original research on a focused topic. It is also possible to pursue the degree part-time over six years. Ph.D. students are required to take an oral examination within the first eighteen months of beginning their research. If they successfully pass this then they are confirmed on the Ph.D. register.
The Master in Letters (M.Litt.) research degree may be taken full time (2 years) or part-time (3 years). After eighteen months on the M.Litt. register students may apply to transfer to the Ph.D. register should their work be of suitable standard. Regulations for this procedure can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Students are required to take a minimum of 10 ECTS in taught modules to develop their research skills.
Study for a research degree involves working closely with an individual supervisor. Prior to an application, prospective students are advised to contact a potential supervisor, and work with them in developing a proposal, in advance of a formal application. There are two registration periods (September and March) for degrees by research. Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible prior to their chosen registration period as supervisory capacity may be limited. Please see application information below for further details.
In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to register retrospectively. Applicants wishing to be considered for retrospective admission should contact the Graduate Studies Office by emailing research.admissions@tcd.ie
Ph.D. Via Distance Learning
More information coming soon.
For queries on postgraduate applications please contact the Postgraduate Officer at srpostgrad@tcd.ie.
How to apply
Prior to submitting a formal application, students are advised to discuss their research proposal with a relevant member of academic staff. The research profiles and contact details of the School’s academic staff can be found on our website.
An M.Litt. or Ph.D. proposal should be approximately 1500 words long incorporating:
- A statement of the research question/hypothesis
- A description of the proposed research and its relationship to existing research in the field
- A note on research methodology
- A preliminary structured bibliography
- A work plan
You should submit your application to the Graduate Admissions Office following the guidance on that admissions page. The link to submit your application is here.
Fees
A list of Postgraduate Fees is available on the Academic Registry website. See Religion under the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences listing.
Course List
March 2021 Entry
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
September 2021 Entry
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
Handbooks
School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies M.Litt./Ph.D. Handbook
Postgraduate Research Student Handbook
Scholarships
Irish School of Ecumenics Trust Scholarship
One ISE Trust Ph.D./M.Litt. scholarship worth €3000 is available for research in the fields of Peace and Conflict Studies or Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies. For further details please contact srpostgrad@tcd.ie.
Postgraduate Research Studentships
A number of postgraduate studentships are made annually to highly qualified candidates to enable them to undertake postgraduate studies in the University of Dublin, Trinity College. These studentships are open to new entrants to the full-time Ph.D. register as well as continuing students in a given academic year.
Applications for Postgraduate Research Studentships for new entrants are made online in conjunction with your Ph.D. application at tcd.ie/courses. Continuing students who wish to apply for this postgraduate Award should contact the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies Postgraduate Officer directly: srpostgrad@tcd.ie. Further information is available on the Graduate Studies website.
Postgraduate Research Fellowships (Ussher)
A number of postgraduate fellowships are made annually to exceptionally highly qualified candidates to enable them to undertake postgraduate studies in the University of Dublin. These fellowships are open only to new entrants to the full-time Ph.D. register. Application to the Ussher award is online along with your Ph.D. application. The internal School deadline for Ussher applications is Friday 30 April 2021 at 12pm. Further information is available on the Graduate Studies website.
Find out more about Postgraduate Scholarships.