About Us

The School of Social Sciences and Philosophy is one of Trinity's largest schools, bringing together the departments of Economics, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology. We are a place where research shapes public life and teaching challenges students to think more clearly about what matters most: the big questions about how we live, how we are governed, and how we understand the world.

Founded in 2005, the School has grown into a community of around 70 academic staff across Economics, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology. Our departments are consistently recognised among the best in Ireland and the world and are united by a shared commitment to rigorous inquiry and real-world relevance.

Teaching and student experience

The School delivers seven undergraduate degree programmes, including BESS and PPES, alongside eight taught postgraduate programmes and four postgraduate research programmes. Across all of these, the approach is the same: stretch students intellectually, ground them in the best available evidence, and equip them to think and act with confidence. Our graduates go on to leadership roles in business, public service, policy and beyond, in Ireland and internationally.

Research with impact

Research in the School is defined by its combination of important questions, rigorous methods and real-world application. Staff contribute actively to public debate, policy development and civic life, working on the Irish economy, political institutions, social inequality and the foundational questions of ethics and knowledge.

An international community

The School has a strong international dimension, with student exchange programmes, non-EU enrolment at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and research connections across the globe. Students arrive from many countries and leave with genuinely international perspectives.

Public engagement and outreach

The School has a long tradition of engaging with Irish society beyond the walls of the university. Staff contribute to public debate, inform policy, and bring their expertise to bear on the questions that shape everyday life, from economic policy and political institutions to social inequality and ethical questions in public life. This commitment to outreach reflects a conviction at the heart of the School: that the social sciences and philosophy are not just academic disciplines, but essential tools for understanding and improving the world we share.