Taught M.Phil. in Gender and Women's Studies
Coordinator: Dr Gillian Frank
A Scotsman and his female companion swap his kilt and her trousers after going to the public baths. Colour process print after BF, circa 1950s. Source: Wellcome Collection.
The taught M.Phil. in Gender and Women's Studies can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. The programme offers a historically and theoretically rich study of gender and sexuality in society. The course is both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary, drawing on the three disciplines in the School of Histories and Humanities: Classics, History, and History of Art and Architecture. Our students acquire a deep understanding of the historical and cultural contexts in which gender and sexuality are produced, performed and negotiated. The programme hones analytical, written and verbal communication skills, providing a solid foundation for a range of careers.
Is This Course For Me?
The taught M.Phil. is aimed at students interested in historically and theoretically nuanced approaches to studying women, gender and sexuality that are offered through the three disciplines in the School of Histories and Humanities: Classics, History, and History of Art and Architecture. By emphasizing a rigorous multidisciplinary perspective in our teaching and research, our faculty offer students a range of analytical and methodological skills to think historically and contextually about gender and sexuality. Through our modules, students will consider the social, political, and economic aspects of gender and sexuality and have opportunities to analyse the ways in which these modalities relate to other categories such as race, ethnicity, nationality, class, age and dis/ability.
What should I include in my personal statement?
Your statement should highlight the ways in which you are a standout candidate and why our MPhil is right for you. Here are some things we will look for in your application:
Specificity: Give clear and concise reasons as to why you want to complete an MPhil in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Show us that you have researched the course and our faculty. Identify two or three faculty members in the School of Histories and Humanities who you want to study with or who you believe would be good conversation partners as you develop your dissertation.
Compatibility: Explain your relevant academic and/or professional background. Be sure to mention your research projects, dissertations, essays, and publications related to women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. Spotlight relevant classes that you have taken and how they have prepared you for this degree. Be sure to discuss any related professional experience.
Ability: Show that you have the ability to complete this MPhil by giving examples of your independent research, critical thinking, communication, and time-management skills.
