Programme Description

The course is intended as an introduction for well-qualified Humanities or Social Sciences graduates to research in Modern Irish History.

The emphasis in the M. Phil. in Modern Irish History will be on the study of problems, issues and epochs in a broadly comparative context, rather than treating Irish history as somehow `exceptional´. As well as taking subject specific modules in various aspects of the political, military, social, economic, religious and cultural history of modern Ireland, students will be exposed to a rigorous research training programme.

Drawing on the current interests of the staff in the Department of Modern History, it will be based on the rich resources of Trinity College Dublin´s library and of the adjacent Dublin libraries (the National Library of Ireland, the National Archives and Marsh´s Library). The course may also serve as an introduction to graduate research for students wishing to go on to pursue a doctorate in Modern Irish History.

The M.Phil provides the opportunity for in depth study of selected areas and issues in Modern Irish History. It also serves as an introduction to graduate research for students wishing to go on to pursue doctoral studies.

As well as taking subject specific modules in various aspects of the political, military, social, economic, religious and cultural history of modern Ireland, students undertake a rigorous research training programme.

The aim is to produce graduates who have a good generic grounding in the use of both new and established techniques of collecting, assessing, and analyzing historical data and of managing and presenting information, together with particular knowledge of aspects of the history of modern Ireland.