View the contact page for more contact and location information
Email academic.registry@tcd.ieThe M.F.A. in Theatre Directing programme is the first entirely practiced-based Masters programme of its kind in Ireland. It was introduced following extensive consultation with the Irish theatre community and is a direct response to the stated needs of the industry and of talented emerging artists. This innovative course is taught in the newly established The Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College Dublin, which is the professional training institution of the School of Creative Arts.
Throughout the training, students will also develop skills of the practitioners of theatre other than the theatre director, with a view to becoming proficient in and conversant with the creativity of others, and to enhance the craft of the student director by broadening their experience of theatre making. Students will explore the crafts of the actor, designer, stage manager, production manager and stage technician through workshops with teachers and professionals in the various disciplines.
If you have a passion for theatre and are interested in the collaborative process of creating a production, from concept to completion, you should consider the M.F.A. in Theatre Directing. Theatre Directing combines the skills of leadership, management, and artistic creativity to bring a production to life.
This programme is tailored to provide talented individuals with the necessary skills to pursue a career in the professional theatre and related industries. Many now work as practitioners in the creative industries (in roles such as playwrights, producers, performers, facilitators); others go onto further study at Ph.D. level and begin careers in academia. Graduates are also eminently suited to fields such as publishing, broadcasting, or education.
Students can opt to take this course either part-time (over 24 months) or full-time (over 12 months).
Full-time and part-time students will take three concurrent modules in the first two terms. The final module will be taught in the third term and subsequent summer months (for full-time students) or in the second year of the course (for part-time students) and will culminate with a professional production staged in one of The Lir’s performance studios. Term Three will be supplemented by an ongoing series of masterclasses from professional directors and theatre-makers.
Students on the M.F.A. in Theatre Directing will take four compulsory modules, Contemporary Theatre Practice, Directing Workshop Theatre Production and Drama for Theatre Directing.
In addition to the core classes and workshops, individual and group tuition from The Lir’s Head of Directing will be a key feature of the training. In addition, masterclasses by visiting practitioners will supplement the student experience. Professional placements are a key feature of the programme and all students will showcase their work in public performances at the culmination of the course.
Click here for further information on modules/subjects.
September 2025
Gavin O'Donoghue, Director of Actor Training and Postgraduate Programmes
31st March 2025
In addition to the information required on the online form, you are also required to upload a copy of the following:
All applicants to Trinity are required to provide official evidence of proficiency in the English language. Applicants to this course are required to meet Band B (Standard Entry) English language requirements. For more details of qualifications that meet Band B, see the English Language Requirements page here.
Click here for a full list of postgraduate fees
To apply, click on the relevant Apply Link below
Register your interest in studying at Ireland’s leading university, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin.
What I've gained from this Master's is a sense of clarity and conciseness. The tutors have empowered me to think about who I am as a director, my own experiences and bringing that into the space. It's given me the confidence to go into the professional world with the fortitude to do the work.
Graduate
