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1. Study
2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Philosophy

Course Fact File

Code	MAPHI
Duration	1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time
Teaching Mode	Full-time, Part-Time
Qualifications	MA
NFQ Level	Level 9
Closing Date	Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date	8 September 2025

Course Outline

Our MA Philosophy degree offers you the rare chance to study Western as well as Eastern philosophy at the postgraduate level. For one year, you will be involved in the study of different philosophical concepts, theories, and approaches to issues concerning the mind and consciousness, action and politics, ethics and aesthetics, society and culture, globalism, power, territory, and much more.

Our MA programme modules are specifically designed to provide an overview of current work in a particular area and are aimed at first-year postgraduate students. They each involve set readings and writing assignments. It is expected that you will already be (broadly) familiar with some key philosophical concepts or approaches upon starting this course. (We can supply you with an introductory reading list if you are new to this discipline.)  In Part I of the programme you choose five modules of your choice up to 50 credits. In Part II  you will complete a sustained piece of independent research during the spring and summer months.

Modules 

Part I (60 credits)

• PH6019 Literature Review (10 credits) plus 50 credits from the following:
• PH6012 Human Rights (10 credits)
• PH6047 Philosophy and Health (10 credits)
• PH6048 The Philosophy of Death and Dying (10 credits)
• PH6052 Advanced Moral Psychology (10 credits)
• PH6053 Professional Ethics: Advanced (10 credits)
• PH6054 Measuring Society: Growth, Poverty, Inequality, and Human Capital (10 credits)
• PH6056 Advanced Political Philosophy (10 credits)
• PH6057 Philosophy and the Biological Health Sciences (10 credits)
• PH6060 Japanese Philosophy - Advanced (10 credits)
• PH6061 Advanced Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (10 credits)
• PH6062* Student Selected Special Study Module in Philosophy 1 (10 credits)
• PH6063* Student Selected Special Study Module in Philosophy 2 (10 credits)

*Students must seek permission from the Philosophy Graduate Studies Director to register for PH6062 and/or PH6063.

Part II (30 credits)

• PH6020 Dissertation in Philosophy (30 credits)

Course Practicalities

This is a one-year, full-time, or two-year, part-time taught course. In your modules, you will study and discuss philosophy, improve your writing skills and acquire familiarity with relevant concepts and authors so that later you will be able to undertake your dissertation with confidence.

During the two teaching periods (September to March), you will take five taught modules (10 credits each). During the second teaching period (January to March), you will write the literature review (10 credits). After the teaching periods from April to September, you will write a minor dissertation of up to 15,000 words (30 credits).

The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours over two years.

Assessment

Modules are assessed by written essays and there are no final exams. During the second teaching period (January-March), you will prepare a detailed review of relevant literature under the direction of a staff member. The literature review is written in preparation for your minor dissertation. The grade for the MA is based on assessment for modules, literature review and minor dissertation, with a total of 1,800 marks awarded. Each taught module counts for 200 marks (1,000 in total), the literature review also counts for 200 marks, and the minor dissertation for 600 marks. Taught modules are assessed by written work totalling 5,000 words, which may take the form of more than one piece of work.

Who teaches this course

• Dr Bengt Autzen - Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Biology, Philosophy of Medicine, Philosophy of Economics
• Dr Vittorio Bufacchi - Political Philosophy, Human Rights, Violence, Social Justice
• Dr Jason Dockstader - History of Philosophy, Metaethics, and Moral Psychology
• Dr Kian Mintz-Woo - Moral Philosophy, both theoretical and applied to climate change policy, Meta-ethics, Philosophy of Science (Economics)
• Dr Adam Loughnane - Aesthetics, Continental Philosophy, Asian Philosophy
• Dr Julie Reshe - Existential Philosophy; Continental Philosophy; Negative Psychoanalysis; Depressive Realism
• Professor Don Ross - Philosophy of Economics, Philosophy of Science, Scientific Metaphysics
• Dr Alessandro Salice - Phenomenology, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophical Psychology, Social Ontology, Moral Psychology
• Dr Joel Walmsley - Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Science, Cognitive Science

Why Choose This Course

We are the only department in Ireland (and one of the only departments in Europe) offering you the opportunity to study three distinct philosophical traditions: Asian philosophy, Continental philosophy, and analytic philosophy. Our extensive course allows you to acquire a unique comparative philosophical education.

Members of our teaching staff have a distinctive international profile, coming from Ireland, the UK, Germany, Italy, and the USA. We bring multiple perspectives to bear on our shared philosophical concerns, and we create a diverse and energetic environment within which to conduct philosophical research.

Please see our Department of Philosophy page for information on our current teaching staff and their areas of interest. 

Skills and Careers Information

Throughout the course, we stress that philosophy is not just something that you learn about, but rather, it is also something that you do. To this end, we offer a number of courses that will enable you to develop philosophical skills of your own, and we aim to foster the skills of analysis, creativity, and discovery.

You will learn critical thinking, professional writing, construction and evaluation of arguments, communication skills, information management, design and planning, research, and investigation. Employers in diverse fields value the skills of analysis, creativity and discovery that we aim to foster, and so a degree in philosophy can be the starting point for many different career paths.

Requirements

In order to be admitted to the MA programme in Philosophy, applicants should have at least a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent in Philosophy or a cognate discipline. Successful applicants must demonstrate relevant skills in writing and critical thinking (by receiving indicative marks on previous assessments, for example).

It is possible for applicants who have a primary degree but do not fully qualify for entry into the programme to undertake a Master's Qualifying Examination or a Higher Diploma in Arts. This qualification will enable prospective students to apply for this MA programme, though it will not grant automatic acceptance to it.

If a significant amount of time has passed since the applicant received their undergraduate degree, it may be possible to appeal for entrance based on work or other degree experience. These cases will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) carefully by the Graduate Studies Committee on a case-by-case basis. 

It is recommended that applicants who are uncertain whether they qualify to consult with the department in advance of submitting an application. All applicants are subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee in Philosophy.

Applicants will be required to answer specific supplementary questions as part of the online application process for this programme.

Fees and Costs

How To Apply

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
• In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
• Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Please submit a copy of a short analytical/critical/report writing sample or essay (1,000 words approx.)
• Please add the name and email address of two referees.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

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