MA Philosophy

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).

In order to be admitted to the MA programme in Philosophy, a candidate should have at least a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent in Philosophy or 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 candidates who have a primary degree but do not fully qualify for entry into the programme to undertake a Masters 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 candidate 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 candidates who are uncertain whether they qualify 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 applications process for this programme.
 

• Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & Examinations
  
  The minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.
   

  There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.
  
  IELTS*    

   

• 6.5 Overall

• 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
   

• TOEFL iBT    
   

• 90 Overall

• Listening 20

• Reading 19

• Speaking 21

• Writing 20

The EU fee for this course is €6,130; €3,130 (Year 1 part-time); €3,130 (Year 2 part-time).
 

The Non-EU fee for this course is €16,400.

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.