MPhil in Philosophy
The MPhil in Philosophy is a broad and intellectually challenging postgraduate course for students with a background in philosophy or related disciplines with a strong philosophy component.
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Is It For Me?
The MPhil is particularly relevant for students who are interested in pursuing further philosophical research. The programme focuses on developing the key skills required to undertake research in philosophy with students being exposed to a broad range of philosophical research expertise and guided through the process of developing a research idea and presenting their findings.
The wide-ranging curriculum is designed to enable students to understand what is distinctive about philosophical methodology, to critically engage with contemporary debates in the core systematic areas of philosophy and to combine modern historical scholarship with a rigorous contemporary philosophical approach.
Small class sizes facilitate interactive seminar-style teaching and there is an emphasis on regular and intensive contact between students and their lecturers.
Students also learn invaluable writing, communication, analytical and critical thinking skills - transferrable skills which can be applied to further postgraduate study as well as a wide range of careers.
Inside Trinity's MPhil in Philosophy
Ever wonder what it's like to study philosophy at postgraduate level in Trinity College Dublin? Gain insights from our students and community as they share their experiences of the MPhil in Philosophy.
Assessment
Students are assessed on the taught coursework through a series of continuous assessments, including essays, reflective pieces of writing and presentations. Having achieved a passing mark (40%) in all the required module assessments, students may proceed to write a dissertation. It is also necessary to obtain a pass mark in the dissertation to successfully complete the MPhil programme.
Students who achieve a mark of at least 70% in the dissertation and a mark of at least 70% in the overall final aggregated average mark for the course may qualify for the award of Masters with Distinction. A distinction cannot be awarded if a student has failed any credit during the course.
Students who are unable to proceed to the dissertation or who fail to achieve a satisfactory mark for the dissertation element may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Philosophy which is available only as an exit award from the MPhil course.
Curious about the MPhil?
Hear from our graduates as they discuss their academic experiences, programme highlights & diverse careers.
How To Apply
An undergraduate degree at 2.1 or above (or equivalent) in philosophy is the normal requirement, but applicants who can demonstrate a strong philosophy component in their degree in a different discipline (for example politics, psychology, sociology or religious studies) will be considered on a case by case basis. GPAs of at least 3.2 out of 4, or equivalent, will be expected from international applicants.
Please visit the Graduate Studies website for additional details regarding admissions requirements.
The deadline for the submission of applications for the MPhil in Philosophy the beginning of August 2025. Applicants must submit the following materials:
- Completed application form
- A writing sample of (approximately 3-4,000 words)
- Application fee
- Curriculum vitae
- Transcripts of all academic results to date
- Copies of degree certificates
- Two academic references
- Proof of English language competency (if English is not the applicant’s native language)
- Proof of EU Status (If the applicant is an EU applicant)
Fees
Full-time Fees for 2024/2025 are €8,350 for EU students and €16,700 for Non-EU students.
Part-time fees for 2024/2025 are €5,840 for EU students and €11,680 for Non-EU students.
Further Information
Inquiries regarding the program may be addressed to Dr Lilian Alweiss, e-mail: alweissl@tcd.ie / phone: +353 1 896 1206.
