FAQ – Postgraduate Research Admissions - School of Law

How do I find a suitable supervisor and receive approval from the School of Law to submit a formal application?

Following consultation with the School of Law’s guidelines on writing a research proposal*, applicants should submit 1. Research proposal 2. Sample of academic writing (essay or dissertation) and 3. CV (listing all past academic performances) to the School of Law (via law.postgraduate@tcd.ie). We will assess whether there is a faculty member who would be prepared or competent to supervise such proposal. An interview may also be requested at this stage.

If the above step is completed successfully, the applicant will be invited to submit an official online application to the University. For guidelines on writing a research proposal and further information, please visit here.

When can I apply?

The University’s online application system for academic year 2024/25 is open.

Please see here.

Please note that you should not submit a formal application without preliminary approval from the School of Law and allocation of a suitable supervisor (see How do I find a suitable supervisor and receive approval from the School of Law to submit a formal application?)

When are the closing dates for M.Litt/Ph.D applications? When do the programmes commence?

No closing dates apply for applications to the M.Litt and Ph.D. Register. Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible prior to their chosen registration period as supervisory capacity may be limited.

There are only two registration periods (start dates) (September and exceptionally March*).

Please note that the Law School’s preference is for research students to begin in September and on a full-time basis so that they can undertake the compulsory Postgraduate Legal Research module offered in the first semester. Permission for entry in March is only permitted in exceptional circumstances. Advice on this should be sought by prospective applicants by emailing law.postgraduate@tcd.ie before a formal application is submitted.

Can I apply as a part-time Ph.D/M.Litt student?

Please note that the School of Law’s preference is for research students to complete their studies on a full-time basis. Permission for part-time registration is only permitted in exceptional circumstances. Advice on this should be sought by prospective applicants by emailing law.postgraduate@tcd.ie before a formal application is submitted.

How long does it take to complete the M.Litt/Ph.D programmes?

A PhD normally takes between 3-4 years of full-time research and writing to complete, subject to satisfactory progress being demonstrated annually via Annual Progress reports (Year 1 and 3), the confirmation interview (year 2) and viva-voce examination (year 4). Students must also complete the mandatory Postgraduate Legal Research module (10 ECTS) and Research Integrity module (5 ECTS).

The M.Litt. degree generally takes between 1-2 years of full-time research, subject to satisfactory progress being demonstrated via Annual Progress reports (Year 1) and final examination. Students must also complete the mandatory Postgraduate Legal Research module (10 ECTS) and Research Integrity module (5 ECTS).

Must I be resident in Ireland for the duration of my studies?

Unless permission has been granted for a student to be outside the State, students are expected to reside in Ireland for the duration of their studies and available to engage in postgraduate research activities.

Students must attend the Postgraduate Research taught module in the first semester of their studies. Further information is available here.

What are the academic admission requirements?

Students accepted for research degrees at the School of Law will have an excellent academic background and a strong research proposal. Academic admission requirements are available here.

What are the English language requirements?

All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the medium of English must present one of the approved qualifications in the English language listed here.

Can I apply without an approved English language qualification?

You are welcome to apply without an approved English language qualification. If your application is deemed suitable for admission, a conditional offer will be provided (subject to obtaining an approved English language qualification). Your offer will be upgraded to Unconditional when you provide the required official documentation proving you meet the conditions of your offer.

I undertook my previous qualifications through English. Do I still need to provide English language qualification?

Students who have studied their entire undergraduate or other degree through the medium of English and can provide proof of same from University are exempt from providing further English language certification. When applying, please upload document under the "Proof of English language" section on the application.

How much is the application fee?

The online application fee for applications to the University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin is €55 per application. This payment must be made online following the instructions on the application form. The online application processing fee is non-refundable and it cannot be waived. The application will not be officially submitted to Trinity College Dublin until the application fee is paid in full.

If I apply for the Ph.D Programme, can I later transfer to the M.Litt programme?

Students on the Ph.D. register may apply for transfer to the M.Litt.register with the approval of their supervisor and the School of Law.

If I apply for the M.Litt Programme, can I later transfer to the Ph.D programme?

Students who are admitted onto the MLitt register may apply (typically in the second year of study) to be transferred to the Ph.D. register. Transfer to the Ph.D register is subject to continued availability of the supervisor and successful completion by the student of the transfer interview and submission of a transfer report.

If you intend to complete the Ph.D programme, you should apply to this programme from the outset.

Should I apply as an EU or Non-EU applicant?

EU fees are based on residency. An EU passport or citizenship does not grant automatic entitlement to EU fees. The criteria which must be met to apply as an EU applicant is available here.

What documentation is required for my application?

Postgraduate taught applicants must complete the online application form and upload the following supporting documentation (in English language):

• Ph.D Proposal (in Word or PDF format)
• Certified Academic transcript(s) for all completed and current academic and professional courses.
• Certified copy of degree certificate(s) for all completed academic and professional courses.
• Two Academic References.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• A recognised certificate of English Language Competency if English is not your first language (see above).
• Applicants are welcome to submit additional documentation for consideration if they so wish.

How do I provide two academic references?

Applicants must provide two academic references in support of their application from, for example, from professors at their undergraduate university. When completing the online application form, applicants are asked to provide contact details for two academic references. When the application is formally submitted, your nominated referees will receive an automated email from Trinity College, requesting them to complete Trinity College’s reference template and upload the reference directly to your online application. We suggest you inform your nominated referee of this process.

Applicants are welcome to upload previously written references directly to their application, with the consent of the referee. These references should be on official university notepaper, dated and signed by the referee and written within the previous 18 months.

Should I provide all my documentation in English language?

All documentation must be provided in English language to ensure the School of Law and the University’s Admissions Team can conduct a full review of your application.

If your transcript is issued in another language, you will need to ask your university to provide official version in English language or obtain a copy from a certified translation company.

How long does it take to receive a decision on my application?

The School of Law seeks to review formal applications that have successfully completed stage one of the application process within less than ten working days of completion of application and provision of ALL required supporting documentation.

Upon our review, we will return our recommendation to the Admissions team at the University’s Academic Registry. They will conduct a secondary review and verify all documentation and will then return final recommendation to the applicant via my.tcd.ie

How can I check the status of my application?

When the review is complete, the University’s Academic Registry will update your application status via my.tcd.ie. An email will be sent to the email address you provide in your online application alerting you to this update. The School of Law cannot provide information relating to your application status.

I have been offered an Unconditional offer. How do I accept it?

You can accept your offer via my.tcd.ie.

I have been offered a conditional offer. How do I accept it?

Please consult your my.tcd.ie portal to determine the condition/s of your offer. Once you have reviewed same, you can accept your conditional offer via my.tcd.ie.

I have accepted my conditional offer. How can I progress to an Unconditional offer?

Please upload official documentation which proves you meet the condition/s of your offer to your application on my.tcd.ie. The School of Law and University’s Admissions team will review this documentation to ensure it meets requirements. Your application status will be updated accordingly.

How much time do I have to accept my offer?

Offers are valid for 21 days. They will lapse if not accepted within that timeframe. If you cannot accepted your offer within 21 days, please inform law.postgraduate@tcd.ie of the date by which you intend to accept.

Is it possible to defer my place to the following academic year?

Requests to defer are reviewed on an individual basis by the School of Law and the nominated supervisor.

Applicants who have accepted their Unconditional offer can submit such requests to law.postgraduate@tcd.ie. Requests cannot be considered from applicants who have not accepted their offer and/or who hold Conditional offers.

Can I apply for a scholarship?

Postgraduate Research students may apply for a number of limited and highly competitively-awarded scholarships annually. Information on scholarships available for 2023/24 will be available at the following websites in due course: Scholarship link, Scholarship link.

How much are the tuition fees for my postgraduate programme?

Postgraduate tuition fees are listed here.

How do I pay my tuition fees?

The University’s Academic Registry administers all matters relating to invoicing and payment of tuition fees. Please visit their website for further details here.

I am a non-EU student. How do I pay my tuition fees early so I can apply for a visa?

Applicants who are required to pay fees in advance to support their visa application can do so via my.tcd.ie or by Electronic Funds Transfer. Please see “How do I pay my fees” section here. Payment informaiton can also be accessed here.

Please contact your local Irish Embassy for confirmation on the portion of fees you are expected to pay to p.rogress your visa application.

I would like to apply for student accommodation at Trinity College. How can I do this?

Please visit the University’s Student Accommodation website for information on campus and off-campus student accommodation here.

I would like to live in private rented accommodation. Will Trinity College provide assistance?

The Accommodation Advisory Service provides useful information and support to those wishing to wishing to live in private rented accommodation for the duration of their studies here.

I am an international student. Can I work in Ireland during or after my studies?

The following website provides information for Non-EU students on working in Ireland during and after your studies here.