Postgraduate Research
The School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies offers four taught Masters degrees (called M.Phil. at Trinity) and a postgraduate diploma, plus a research Masters (M.Litt.) and a doctorate by research (Ph.D.).
/prod01/channel_3/media/tcd/religion/images/students-images/2024-postgraduate-research.jpg)
The School and its associated Centres maintain an active programme of research seminars and public lectures and regularly welcome research fellows from Europe and around the world. With more than 100 postgraduate students and more than 20 research-active staff across its various disciplines, the School is a leading centre for research in religious studies (in its many forms) and peace studies and warmly welcomes enquires from those interested in studying with us.
M.Litt. and Ph.D. Degrees
The Ph.D. is normally a four year course of full-time study, culminating in a dissertation based on original research on a focused topic. It is also possible to pursue the degree part-time over six years. Ph.D. students are required to take an oral examination within the first eighteen months of beginning their research. If they successfully pass this then they are confirmed on the Ph.D. register.
The Master in Letters (M.Litt.) research degree may be taken full time (2 years) or part-time (3 years). After eighteen months on the M.Litt. register students may apply to transfer to the Ph.D. register should their work be of suitable standard. Regulations for this procedure can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Students are required to take a minimum of 10 ECTS in taught modules to develop their research skills.
Study for a research degree involves working closely with an individual supervisor. Prior to an application, prospective students are advised to contact a potential supervisor, and work with them in developing a proposal, in advance of a formal application. There are two registration periods (September and March) for degrees by research. Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible prior to their chosen registration period as supervisory capacity may be limited. Please see application information below for further details.
In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to register retrospectively. Applicants wishing to be considered for retrospective admission should contact the Graduate Studies Office by emailing research.admissions@tcd.ie
Ph.D. Via Distance Learning
More information coming soon.
For queries on postgraduate applications please contact the Postgraduate Officer at srpostgrad@tcd.ie.
Prior to submitting a formal application, students are advised to discuss their research proposal with a relevant member of academic staff. The research profiles and contact details of the School’s academic staff can be found on our website.
An M.Litt. or Ph.D. proposal should be approximately 1500 words long incorporating:
- A statement of the research question/hypothesis
- A description of the proposed research and its relationship to existing research in the field
- A note on research methodology
- A preliminary structured bibliography
- A work plan
You should submit your application to the Graduate Admissions Office following the guidance on that admissions page. The link to submit your application is here.
A list of Postgraduate Fees is available on the Academic Registry website. See Religion under the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences listing.
March 2021 Entry
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
September 2021 Entry
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Religious Studies (Full-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Doctor in Philosophy, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Part-Time)
- Master in Letters, Peace Studies (Full-Time)
Irish School of Ecumenics Trust Scholarship
One ISE Trust Ph.D./M.Litt. scholarship worth €3000 is available for research in the fields of Peace and Conflict Studies or Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies. For further details please contact srpostgrad@tcd.ie.
Ph.D. Scholarship
Trinity College Dublin will make one doctoral research award available to a new full-time entrant to the structured PhD programme / research doctorate at the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies starting in 2023-24 (September or March). The award attracts an associated stipend of €25,000 p.a. and covers tuition fees for the four years (full-time).
The following criteria apply:
- Open only to new entrants to the full-time research doctorate register (EU and nonEU).
- The holders must engage in full-time research and must register for a research doctorate degree at Trinity College, the University of Dublin.
- Continuation on the research register is dependent on evidence of satisfactory annual progress and successful completion of the confirmation process at 18 months after first registration.
- Both the doctorate researcher and supervisor will agree to participate in the pilot rollout of Trinity’s Supervisor: Research Student Agreement in 2023-24.
- Postgraduate Research Doctorate Awards cannot continue beyond a fourth year on the full-time research doctorate register and cannot be split across doctorate researchers.
All new PhD students who have submitted an application for 2023-24 will be automatically considered to be in competition for the award and will receive a scholarship application form to be submitted by 19th May 2023. (Please note, to be considered, March applicants will need to have submitted their application by the previous May). Contact the Postgraduate Officer at srpostgrad@tcd.ie for further information.
Find out more about Postgraduate Scholarships.