Expand+Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one s...

Hide-Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one specific closing date, please check your course prospectus page for this information.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications:
For all completed applications received by January 10th 2020
Offers will be made by January 24th 2020

For all completed applications received by March 2nd 2020
Offers will be made by March 16th 2020

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2020
Offers will be made by May 15th 2020

For all completed applications received by July 1st 2020
Offer will be made by July 15th 2020

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Non-EU Closing Date: 15 June
Non-EU Applicants: Information for Non-EU applicants may be found on the International Office Website https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/

Expand+1. Choose Course

Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to three courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online

Once you have chosen your course you can apply...

Hide-1. Choose Course

Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to three courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online

Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

3. Gather Supporting Documents

Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to PAC in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC

Any supplementary forms requested for your course.

Please log into PAC for more details.

4. Application processing timeline

Our online application system PAC opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

Rounds

For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates here.

Questions on how to apply?

Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to answer specific additional/supplementary questions as part of the online applications process for this programme. A copy of these additional/supplementary questions are available to view here:
https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/studyatucc/postgraduate-gsomedialibrary/4supplementaryquestions/CKE03,CKE21AdditionalQuestions.pdf

In addition to answering the online additional supplementary questions, all applicants for the MA in Women's Studies MUST submit an essay of at least 1,000 words on a book, experience or personal contact, which stimulated their interested in Women’s Studies. The essay provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their referencing skills and it should have a bibliography attached. The completed essay must be emailed directly to Dr Chiara Bonfiglioli, MA in Women’s Studies Programme Coordinator chiara.bonfiglioli@ucc.ie as soon as possible after applying online (marked with the applicant's name and PAC application number).

Expand+Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years evening hours

You will have a minimum of six contact hours per week with staff from September to May (most classes will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm) and there are additional, t...

Hide-Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years evening hours

You will have a minimum of six contact hours per week with staff from September to May (most classes will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm) and there are additional, timetabled, research skills training hours.

You will participate in seminars, directed reading, research skills training, essay and report writing, maintaining the reflective journal, student presentations, and one or two fieldtrips. You will also have the opportunity to attend some sessions with visiting speakers.

In December and March, the review weeks provide you with an opportunity for research, revision, reading and essay writing.

From May to September, you will concentrate on completing your thesis, under the supervision of a dedicated member of staff. This will allow you to develop your research skills and your knowledge of an area of particular interest or passion.

Expand+Course Outline
The MA in Women's Studies course has been offered in UCC for over 20 years. It is ideally suited to Irish, international and mature students (male and female) and this contributes to a dynamic mix in classes.

This is a challenging ...

Hide-Course Outline
The MA in Women's Studies course has been offered in UCC for over 20 years. It is ideally suited to Irish, international and mature students (male and female) and this contributes to a dynamic mix in classes.

This is a challenging course that involves a wide variety of possibilities for interdisciplinary study and for contact with community and other organisations dealing with women’s and gender issues.

The course covers a range of themes including representations of women in history, literature and popular culture (music and film); gender and sexuality; women and politics; women, work and family, and gender violence.

You will be provided with training in research skills and introduced to theoretical material that will enhance your personal research in Part II of the course, the dissertation.

During the taught months of the course, from late September to May, themes like those above are explored in lectures, seminars and on fieldtrips, and are addressed by guest speakers.

On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

formulate arguments that reflect a critical and comprehensive, interdisciplinary knowledge of feminist debates around social and cultural issues

communicate those arguments effectively both orally and in writing

apply concepts, theories and methodologies appropriately at postgraduate level

assess how differences (race, ethnicity, class, sexual identity, time, place, values etc.) inform theoretical positions

critically evaluate evidence drawn from existing research and scholarship

design and pursue independent research

use the transferable skills developed through engagement with the self-directed learning, research and academic writing aspects of the course.

Course Practicalities



You will have a minimum of six contact hours per week with staff from September to May (most classes will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm) and there are additional, timetabled, research skills training hours.

You will participate in seminars, directed reading, research skills training, essay and report writing, maintaining the reflective journal, student presentations, and one or two fieldtrips. You will also have the opportunity to attend some sessions with visiting speakers.

In December and March, the review weeks provide you with an opportunity for research, revision, reading and essay writing.

From May to September, you will concentrate on completing your thesis, under the supervision of a dedicated member of staff. This will allow you to develop your research skills and your knowledge of an area of particular interest or passion.

Who teaches this course

The teaching team is drawn from a variety of college disciplines and may vary slightly from year to year. The following areas are usually involved: English, Film Studies, Philosophy, Sociology, Applied Social Studies, Folklore, Hispanic Studies, Italian, German, Law, and History.

Why Choose This Course

The MA in Women’s Studies course suits students from a wide range of academic disciplines and employment backgrounds. As well as those whose life and work experience directed them towards Women’s Studies, we have had mathematics, science, business and law, as well as social science and humanities, graduates among our students.

Expand+Skills and Careers Information

You will develop skills that enhance your employability, including critical thinking; analytic skills; innovative approaches to social issues; gender expertise; understanding of power dynamics and diversity; awarenes...

Hide-Skills and Careers Information

You will develop skills that enhance your employability, including critical thinking; analytic skills; innovative approaches to social issues; gender expertise; understanding of power dynamics and diversity; awareness of social justice and legal issues.

Graduates enter a wide range of occupations in the public and private sectors, including equal opportunities/equality advisory; research and education; non-governmental/civil society organisations; journalism and the information sector; and the social and health sectors.

There are also academic possibilities such as studying for a PhD, and some students enter further professional training, e.g. studying law, training as a social worker or counsellor, moving into the equality or community sectors.

Many graduates suggest that the course reinforces their self-confidence and encourages them to become involved in community or political activism.