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MA in Irish and Celtic

Course objectives
The aim of the MA is to provide a course of postgraduate study serving both as a self-contained programme offering an advanced qualification in its own right, and as an intermediate stage between undergraduate study and research at PhD level. It may be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years, commencing in both cases in September. The emphasis is on close individual supervision of students and teaching in small groups.

Course structure
The course is semester-based and consists of six modules: four taught modules and a dissertation, which is equivalent to two modules. The taught modules are studied during one or other of the two semesters, and assessed through coursework and/or written examination. Candidates who achieve a pass mark (50%) in all their taught modules proceed to the dissertation and recommendations for the award of the degree of MA are made when candidates have satisfied the examiners in the dissertation. Those candidates who, having reached a pass mark in the taught modules, submit an unsatisfactory dissertation, or fail to submit a dissertation, may, at the discretion of the Board of Examiners, be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma.

The following modules are offered (not all of which may be available each year):

General Modules
CEL7000 Research Methods (compulsory)
CEL7009 Dissertation
CEL7010 Independent Study

Modern Irish Language, Literature and Heritage
CEL7017 The Sociolinguistics of Irish
CEL7019 Modern Irish Writing
CEL7025 Irish Name Studies
CEL7047 Advanced Irish

Irish/Scottish Comparative Studies
CEL7021 Comparative Studies in the Gaelic Languages
CEL7022 Irish and Scottish Comparative Literature
CEL7046 Language and Identity in the Gaelic World

Language and Literature in Medieval Celtic Societies
CEL7023 Early Ireland
CEL7024 Poet and Society in Ireland and Scotland

Ab initio language
CEL7015 Old Irish for Beginners

Please note that you must contact Dr Mícheál Ó Mainnín in advance in order to discuss the contents of the modules and to ensure that your chosen modules are available.

Assessment dates
Written examinations are held in January and June. The submission date for coursework (unless an earlier date is given) is Monday of Week 14. The submission dates for the dissertation are 15 September for full-time students and 1 May for part-time students.

Entrance requirements
Applicants are expected to hold a good Honours degree (2.1 or above) in Irish or Celtic (language) or a related discipline.

Method of application
Candidates are required to complete an application form.  Click here for link to online application form. Two academic references are required.

Further information may be obtained from
The Secretary (Ms Elizabeth Childs)
Irish and Celtic Studies
School of Modern Languages
Queen’s University
Belfast, BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland

Tel: (028) 9097 5365Fax: (028) 90975345
E-mail celtic@qub.ac.uk