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Maynooth University Department of Geography

Qualification : MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE

Award Type and NFQ level : TAUGHT MASTERS (9)

CAO/PAC code : MHN61

CAO Points :

Closing Date : 30 August 2025

The MA in Geography is an innovative and flexible degree programme, offering students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of human geography while also significantly enhancing their professional skills. It is available on both a full-time (1 year, MHN60) and part-time (2 year, MHN61) basis.

The MA in Geography offers a wide-ranging programme of taught modules so students can choose what classes best suit their interests and career goals. Compulsory modules in Semester 1 (GY607, GY608) develop competencies in field methods and spatial thinking. Students select forty credits of optional modules. These can include: modules in methods that develop skills in analysis, research and public engagement; optional specialist modules in Geography, including critical ecologies, Dublin’s urban geography, spatial justice, digital geographies, landscape and health, electoral politics, among others (optional modules in Geography rotate every two years); and up to twenty credits of elective modules in Anthropology, Law, Media Studies and Sociology. The capstone of the MA is an independent research thesis on the topic of the student’s choice, working closely with a supervisor, to be submitted in September. Overall, the programme is designed to develop critical spatial thinking, deepen specialist knowledge, and strengthen employability skills from a human geography perspective.

Commences
September

We accept a degree in Geography or cognate discipline with a Second Class Honours, Grade One (2.1) or above. In special circumstances we may accept a Second Class Honours, Grade Two (2.2) upper. We also ask for a personal statement, to include a brief description of any aspects of your work or other experience which you feel are relevant to the programme and how you hope the programme will benefit your practice in these areas.

Applicants must have a recognised primary degree which is considered equivalent to Irish university primary degree level.

See more at: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/geography/our-courses

Applicants for whom English is not their first language are required to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study. For information about English language tests accepted and required scores, please see here. The requirements specified are applicable for both EU and International applicants.

Maynooth University's TOEFL code is 8850

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Department of Geography


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Geography - Ro Charlton - Maynooth University

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Geography - Ronan Foley - Maynooth University

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Carla Mateus Profile

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Geography - Conor Murphy - Maynooth University

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Lisa Orne profile

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Geography - Peter Thorne - Maynooth University

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The MA in Geography offers a wide-ranging programme of taught modules, delivered through lectures, seminars, fieldwork, practicals and placement, with an emphasis on research-led and research-informed teaching and learning.

Degree structure (90 credits):

Compulsory modules (50 credits)
GY607 Field School (10 credits)
GY608 Thinking Geographically (10 credits)
GY609 Thesis (30 credits)

Indicative Optional Modules in Geography (can select from 20 to 40 credits):

GY619 Public Engagement (10 credits)

GY621 Dublin Urban Laboratory (10 credits)

GY629 Spatial Justice: Geographies of Social & Environmental Change (10 credits)

GY699GA Global Environmental Change (Semester 1) (5 credits, course director and instructor approval required)

GY699GS Introduction to Geographical Information Systems and Science (Semester 1 or 2) (5 credits, course director and instructor approval required)

GY699HA Advanced Studies in Human Geography (Semester 1 or 2) (5 credits, course director and instructor approval required)

GY699RS Environmental Remote Sensing (5 credits, course director and instructor approval required)

 

Electives (can select from 10 to 20 credits)

AN622G Winter School of Ethnography (5 credits, instructor approval required)

AN647 Foundations of Medical Anthropology (5 credits)

AN692 Anthropology and Development (10 credits)

AN693 Anthropology of Digital Media (10 credits)

AN694 Immigration and Diversity in Higher Education (5 credits)

LW634 Gender, Sexuality, Law (10 credits)

MD624 Irish Media History (10 credits)

MD632 Media Publics (10 credits)

SO617 Quantitative Analysis (10 credits)
SO620A Qualitative Analysis (10 credits)

 

Course Duration: 1 year Full-time (MHN60), 2 years part-time (MHN61),

 

Course Duration: 2 years part-time

Our graduates acquire valuable research, analytical and critical, spatial thinking, ethical and professional skills. The skills learned allow our graduates to find employment in various fields, such as: administration; education; services; creative industries; and working with NGOs and local government authorities. A number of our graduates go on to pursue a PhD.

One student said she ‘would never have gotten to this stage without the Masters’ because the high academic standards ‘helped me to define what I’m interested in’. Another student stated that ‘My MA in Geography has allowed me to expand my knowledge of working with vulnerable groups, census data and overall aspects of Human Geography’. Our graduates note that the professional research training in the MA ‘helped me demonstrate a varied skill set when interviewing for employment’ (data engineer). Another graduate stated that the research thesis and transferrable skills from the MA were the reason she landed a senior position ‘dream’ job in local government. Students who went on to receive fully-funded competitive PhD fellowships acknowledged that the MA provided the skills and accomplishments leading to doctoral research: As one stated ‘This is especially true about my funding which I couldn’t continue without’.

Applications for postgraduate courses will open mid-October. Further information on how to apply for the course will be provided then. If you have any queries please contact [email protected]. 

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