MA and PhD in Philosophy
MA in Philosophy
By Research & Thesis
Awarding Body: National University of Ireland
Duration: 2 years (minimum)
This award is designed to meet the needs of graduates who wish to develop their knowledge of Philosophy. The programme provides graduates in Philosophy with a rigorous theoretical grounding in specific areas in Philosophy and a certain specialisation in a chosen field.
Duration
The normal duration of the MA programme is a minimum of 21 months (or two academic years) from the date of admission to the Masters’ Register.Programme Specialisations
The Milltown Institute offers the following areas of specialisation in Philosophy: Ethics; Metaphysics and Epistemology; Philosophical Anthropology; Philosophy of Religion; History of Philosophy; Contemporary Philosophy.Access, Transfer and Progression Routes
Candidates for the degree of MA in Philosophy (by research and thesis)• should possess a BA in which Philosophy is a major subject;
• and the BA degree must be at least a Second Class Honours, Grade 1.
• provide any other additional information requested.
Candidates should have knowledge of English appropriate for advanced research. They should also have a reading knowledge of one of the following languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish and/or such other languages as the Dean shall judge appropriate for the planned research (as, for instance, where the topic of research is the work of a particular author, the candidate will be expected to be able to read that author’s work in the original language).
Supervision
The Masters thesis (normally not less than 25,000 words or more than 50,000 words, excluding bibliographies and index), is written under the supervision of a full-time member of staff of Milltown Institute, or of another person associated with the Institute, in each case with the approval of the Dean of Philosophy and the Extern Examiner. The candidate’s nominated internal supervisor should be a Professor, Senior Lecturer, or other staff member of Doctoral status who is a specialist in the subject area concerned. Additional suitably qualified supervisor(s) may be appointed where this is thought necessary to cover adequately the field of study.Mode of Assessment
Theses are examined by an Extern Examiner and an Internal Reader.Some Previous Research
Undertaken in the Programme• Life as an Implicitly Lived Story: A Philosophical Analysis of the Formation of Narrative Identity
• The Critique of Ontology in the Philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas
PhD in Philosophy
(By Research and Thesis)
Awarding Body: National University of Ireland (NUI)
Duration: Minimum of 3 years
The degree of Ph.D. will be conferred for advanced studies in which the candidate demonstrates outstanding scholarship. It signifies that the candidate is capable of independent research and has both a broad basic knowledge of a particular field of study and a comprehensive knowledge of one specialist area. The Ph.D. will be awarded to registered candidates who successfully complete an approved programme of original research, culminating in a work of major significance recorded in a thesis of a standard worthy of publication. The thesis must make a significant original contribution to the field of knowledge of its subject matter.
Duration
The PhD may not be normally awarded until at least three years have elapsed from the time of registration for the degree.Programme Specialisations
The Milltown Institute offers the following areas of specialisation in Philosophy: Ethics; Metaphysics and Epistemology; Philosophical Anthropology; Philosophy of Religion; History of Philosophy; Contemporary Philosophy.
Access, Transfer and Progression Routes
Candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy• must be in possession of a Master’s or equivalent degree of a standard that demonstrates aptitude for research. Exceptionally, candidates holding a First Class Honours primary degree in a subject related to their proposed research may register directly for a PhD. However, they must show substantial reason for not registering for a Master’s degree;
• should have knowledge of English appropriate for advanced research and writing. They must also have a reading knowledge of two of the following languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish or such other language as the Dean or the Extern Examiner judges appropriate for the planned research. An examination in these languages may be required;
• must be able to read – where the topic of the research is the work of a particular author – that author’s work in the original language;
• shall in the first instance apply to the Dean of Philosophy, who must be satisfied that they fulfil the required conditions, before forwarding their names to NUI for inclusion in its Register of Doctoral Candidates.
• may also be required to submit additional documentation.
Thesis
A doctoral thesis must make a significant original contribution to the field of knowledge of its subject matter. Within three months of registration the candidate should seek approval for the topic of the thesis.
The candidate shall present to the supervisor of the thesis an initial proposal or brief statement of about 1000 words containing the following:
a) the issue to be studied, with reasons why it should be the topic of a thesis;
b) the proposed limits of the investigation;
c) a description of the methodology to be used;
d) the specific originality of such a thesis.
Having consulted with the faculty and with the approval of the Dean and the Extern Examiner, the supervisor shall approve the thesis proposal, approve it with conditions, or request a new submission as the case requires.
To obtain definitive approval for the thesis project, the candidate should submit to the supervisor a statement of about 2,000 words containing the following:
a) an overview of the research already completed;
b) an outline of the proposed chapter headings and divisions of the thesis;
c) the proposed originality of the thesis in the light of current knowledge in the field.
This definitive proposal must be approved by a board appointed by the Dean, consisting of the thesis supervisor, two members of faculty and the extern examiner.The thesis shall normally not be less than 60,000, or more than 120,000 words, exclusive of bibliography and indices in each case.