Master of Science (MSc) in Disability Studies
The M.Sc. in Disability Studies provides students with a deep understanding of disability from social, historical, cultural, economic and policy perspectives. Graduates of the M.Sc. are equipped with the knowledge, analytical skills and perspectives to help translate rights into reality in the field of disability.
The programme offers:
- Immersion in the policy and practice implications of the critically important United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and related human rights instruments.
- Familiarisation with the key global issues in the field of disability.
- A thorough grounding in the principles and practice of programme planning and evaluation.
- An internship in a cutting edge disability organisation in the public, private, or voluntary sectors.
- Access to the unique expertise of the Centre for Inclusion and Intellectual Disability and the Centre for Deaf Studies, both located in Trinity College Dublin and closely associated with the programme.
- Academic interaction with the students of the Certificate in Contemporary Living, the first third level education programme for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland.
- Exposure to teaching from a range of disciplinary perspectives.
The programme aims to prepare graduates for employment and career development in areas such as disability advocacy, quality assurance in disability services, programme planning and evaluation in the field of disability, disability research, and disability policy analysis.
Course Code |
TRT69 full-time / TRT79 part-time |
| Duration | 1 year full-time / 2 years part-time |
| Next Intake | September 2016 |
| Maximum Intake | 20 students |
| Applications | Click here to apply |
| Closing Date | 30th June 2016 |
The M.Sc. in Disability Studies offers unique opportunities to students. This programme works in collaboration with two academic centres within College: the Centre for Inclusion and Intellectual Disability and the Centre for Deaf Studies
The Centre for Inclusion and Intellectual Disability offers the Certificate in Contemporary Living (CCL), the first third level education programme for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland. Students in the M.Sc. in Disability Studies have opportunities to interact with CCL students through elective modules and seminars.
The Centre for Deaf Studies, also hosted at Trinity College Dublin, is the only centre of this kind in Ireland. Students in the M.Sc. in Disability Studies can access a one year module on Perspectives in Deafness delivered at the Centre for Deaf Studies.
Core Modules (40 ECTS):
- Introduction to Disability Studies (10 ECTS)
- Disability, Policy, Law and Ethics (10 ECTS)
- Research Methods (Qualitative and Quantitative) (10 ECTS)
- Disability Placements/Disability Applied Projects (10 ECTS) (see below)
Elective Modules (20 ECTS):
- Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Disability Studies (10 ECTS)
- Empowerment and Enablement for People with Intellectual Disabilities (10 ECTS)
- Perspectives on Deafness (10 ECTS)
- The Politics of De-Institutionalisation (5 ECTS)
- Disability and Development (5 ECTS)
Dissertation (30 ECTS) (see below)
* Please note that course offers elective modules depending on the number of students and therefore options for elective modules are subject to change every year.
Disability Placements/Disability Applied Projects
Disability Placements/Disability Applied Projects is a core module that aims to provide students with a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge and gain first-hand experience in the areas of:
- Advocacy
- Policy
- Programme planning and evaluation
- Research
Two options are available for students:
Option 1 Disability Placements for students with availability to take a
6 week full-time placement between May and July (Year 1).
Option 2 Disability Applied Projects for students with no availability to take a 6 week full-time placement between May and July (Year 1).
A range of public, private and voluntary sector disability organisations leading the change in disability policy and research offer placements to students in this M.Sc. in Disability Studies.
The module also provides students with 1) Theoretical knowledge on systems change and 2) Practical skills on programme planning and evaluation.
The dissertation is a requirement of the M.Sc. in Disability Studies award. It is the final piece of work and the culmination of a course of study for students. The dissertation offers an opportunity to further investigate a topic area within the discipline of Disability Studies and to develop and manage research skills in an area of interest to the student.
Students are assigned a supervisor who guides them through the definition of the research goal statement, assists them in implementing best practice in their research methodology and meets regularly with them during the course of the research to assess progress. Furthermore, a series of dissertation seminars is also scheduled as a means to provide a common forum for students to discuss topics and share resources.
The aim of the dissertation is to develop students’ research and writing abilities via a substantial piece of independent work. Further, it aims for learners to demonstrate proficiency in the design of a research paper, application of appropriate research methods or approaches, collection and analysis of data and/or relevant literature, and application of area-specific theories and concepts. Students are expected to formulate their own research question (with the guidance of their supervisors and module leader), to gather and select material to answer their question, and set out their findings in an appropriate academic style in a manuscript of 15,000 to 20,000 words.
Dissertation Topics 2010-2015
These are some of the topics our students have explored in their dissertations:
- Effect of life events on stress levels and depressive symptoms among older adults with intellectual disabilities in Ireland (secondary analysis of the IDS-TILDA database)
- Evaluation of individualised support of people with intellectual disability and people with mental health problems living in the community (secondary analysis of the Evaluatioin of Individualised Support to people with disabilities transitioning to personalized living arrangements in the community data)
- Perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and staff on mental capacity legislation in Ireland
- Third Level Education Options for People with Intellectual Disability
- Evaluation of Person-Centred Planning
- Needs of Ageing Population of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
- Christy Brown’s Depiction of Disability in his Literary Works
- Physical Deviance in Wilde’s Dorian Grey
- Maternal Experience of Education and Care for Children with Intellectual Disabilities
- Multimedia as a Method of Enhanced Learning for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
- Food and Eating Issues among Young People with an Intellectual Disability
- Special Needs Assistant and the Effect of Budgetary Cutbacks on Their Work in Primary Schools
- European Policies on Disability and Development Cooperation
- Quality of Life in Adults with Disabilities
- Services Cutbacks and Quality of Life
- Inclusive Education
- Ethnic Minority Parents Living in Ireland who Have Children with Disabilities
| Subject Area | Staff Name | Webpage |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Disability Studies | Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte | Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte |
| Disability Placements/Disability Applied Project | Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte | Dr Edurne Garcia Iriarte |
| Disability Policy, Law and Ethics | Dr Ann Nolan | Dr Ann Nolan |
| Prof Gerry Whyte | Prof Gerry Whyte | |
| Prof Maureen Junker-Kenny | Prof Maureen Junker-Kenny | |
| Prof William Binchy | Prof William Binchy | |
Research Methods (Survey design) |
Dr Philip Curry | Dr Philip Curry |
| Research Methods (Qualitative methodology) | Dr Paula Mayock | Dr Paula Mayock |
| Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Disability / Empowerment and Enablement | Dr Colin Griffiths |
Dr Colin Griffiths |
| Dr Fintan Sheerin | Dr Fintan Sheerin | |
| Perspectives on Deafness | Dr John Conama | Dr John Conama |
| The Politics of De-Institutionalisation | Prof Robbie Gilligan | Prof Robbie Gilligan |
| Disability and Development | Prof Robbie Gilligan | Prof Robbie Gilligan |
Two options are available for students: a two-year part-time programme, advisable for students enrolled in the programme while working, and a one-year full-time programme more suitable for international and other students. A Postgraduate Diploma qualification (exit only) is also available for students who complete all the modules except the dissertation.
Lectures
Full-time and Part-Time Students will attend at least one full day (9am - 6pm) of lectures per week from September to April (Year 1).
Please note that the following elective modules are delivered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays:
- Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Disability Studies - Tuesdays (November - December 2015)
- Perspectives on Deafness - Wednesdays (September - December 2015) and Thursdays (January - April 2016)
| Core and Elective Modules* | Disability Placements/Disability Applied Projects | Dissertation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full - Time | Year 1 (September - April) | Year 1 (May - July) | Year 1 (January - August) |
| Part - Time | Year 1 (September - April) | Year 1 (May - July) | Year 2 (September - April) |
Click here to view the 2015-2016 Michaelmas Term calendar
The M.Sc. in Diability Studies programme organises a series of seminars on disability research conducted by academic researchers and post-graduate students across college. Seminars take place on Tuesdays at 5 pm. For a detailed list of seminars click here
This programme has a strong
international orientation drawing
from the field of Disability Studies
and disability research in developing
and developed countries. Visiting
professors, lecturers and researchers
contribute through guest lectures,
seminars and research projects to an
enhanced international knowledge of
disability and continuous evaluation
and update of the programme. See below for list of public lectures and seminars.
Dr. Mark Priestly, University of Leeds 2014
Prof. Tamar Heller, University of Illinois, Chicago 2013
Prof. Lennard Davis, University of Illinois Chicago, USA, 2013
Prof. Tamar Heller, University of Illinois, Chicago, USA, 2012
Prof. Roy McConkey, Ulster University, UK, 2012
Prof. Nora Groce, University College London, UK, 2011
Prof. Errol Cocks, Curtin Institute of Technology, Australia, 2011
This M.Sc.in Disability Studies is aimed at those with a strong interest in disability issues including:
- Graduates from relevant disciplines (e.g., Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, Deaf studies, Law, and Psychology)
- Experts in disability issues (e.g., disability activists, members of disabled people’s organisations and advocacy organisations, family members, disability service providers)
- Professionals in services (e.g., Early Interventionists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Nurses, Speech and Language Therapists, and Teachers)
- Policy makers
- Government officials
The M.Sc. in Disability Studies offers admission to full-time (TRT69) and part-time (TRT79) students. EU and Non-EU applicants are required to hold at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant area (e.g., Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, Deaf studies, Law, and Psychology). Applications are taken on a yearly basis from January to June.
For applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English please click here
| Fees 2015/2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| PT / FT | EU / Non-EU | Gross Fee per annum |
Part-time |
EU |
6,368 |
Part-time |
Non-EU |
10,743 |
Full-time |
EU |
9,813 |
Full-time |
Non-EU |
15,558 |
The fees do not include the students Sports Centre charge of €77 or the €8 U.S.I. membership fee (optional). There is a conferring fee of €114 payable by all students for Commencements.
Please Note: There are no Trinity awards for postgraduate students on taught courses but there may be limited funding from external sources. Please see here
English for Academic Purposes: For students admitted into the MSc in Disabilities Studies programme, an intensive pre-sessional course and an-insessional course in English for Academic Purposes are available www.tcd.ie/slscs/english/
Applications for 2016-2017 are now open. Click here to apply.
Required Documentation
- Application Form
- 2 Reference Letters (at least one academic)
- Statement of purpose addressing the following (1,000 words):
- Your interest in the MSc in Disability Studies at TCD
- A research topic in the area of disability you would like to examine in your dissertation
- How the programme fits your career development
- Official Transcripts - This includes undergraduate transcripts and graduate transcripts if applicable.
- Curriculum Vitae
Interview
Successful applicants will be invited for an interview.
Application Procedure
Applications are completed electronically via my.tcd.ie
Course codes:
Full-time M.Sc. in Disability Studies TRT69
Part-time M.Sc. in Disability Studies TRT79
Ms. Noreen O'Sullivan, Executive Officer
School of Social Work and Social Policy
Tel: +353 1 896 2001
Email: disamsc@tcd.ie
Dr. Edurne Garcia Iriarte, Course Director
School of Social Work and Social Policy
Tel: +353 1 896 2200
Email: iriartee@tcd.ie
Government of Ireland Scholarships
Trinity College Dublin has announced five Government of Ireland International Scholarships for postgraduate students from Brazil (2), China and Hong Kong (2), and India (1). Read more
Irish Aid Fellowships
The MSc in Disability Studies at Trinity College Dublin is listed in the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme for study in Ireland. Irish Aid Fellowships are awarded for full-time study at Masters or Postgraduate Diploma level, with a focus on courses that are relevant to Irish Aid's development objectives in a fellow's home country. Read more
Disability Equality in Europe?: Policy challenges
Open Evening: M.Sc. in Disability Studies 2014
Somebody to love: Sexuality and Disability in Ireland
Seminar Series in Disability Studies
Public Lecture by Prof Tamar Heller
Erasmus Intensive Programme: Works in Progress
Prof. Lennard Davis, University of Illinois Chicago, to give Public Lecture
Seminar Series: Prof. Seamus Hegarty
M.Sc. in Disability Studies presents a Seminar and a Workshop, Thursday 16th May 2013
Open Evening: M.Sc. in Disability Studies 2013
Disability through the Life Course Lecture Podcast and Slides