Institution: NUI Galway
What does Irish studies entail? It's an interdisciplinary programme drawing on the disciplines of English, history and Irish, with inputs from sociology, geography and politics.
Course duration: one year.
How long has the course been running? It's brand new. It replaces the old two-year MPhil.
Why has it become a one year's master's? "Most of the first postgraduate courses are now one-year," Dr Gearoid Denvir, who is course director, explains. "We are bringing the course into line with what's happening elsewhere."
How many people admitted to the course? Up to 20.
Entry requirements: a good primary degree.
Isn't Irish a prerequisite? Not necessarily. Students spend two hours each week studying Irish. Languages courses are provided at three levels - for graduates of Irish, for people with Leaving Cert Irish and for beginners. One US student on the MPhil, a complete beginner, was able to write his thesis in Irish after two-and-a-half years, according to Denvir.
Why do people do the course? Largely out of interest, Denvir says. The MPhil attracted both Irish and international students, most, but not all, from arts backgrounds. Students are required to do preliminary reading "so they can hit the ground running", he says.
Course content: Six modules plus a thesis. Modules include: Ireland 1500-1700, English writing in Ireland 1580-1800, the Gaelic world 1600-1800, Ireland since 1700, cultural politics and writing in English 1800-2000, cultural politics and writing in Irish since the language revival.
Cost: £1,765
Contact: Dr Gearoid Denvir Tel: (091) 524411 or email:
gearoid.denvir@nuigalway.ie
