Overview
The MA in Poetry Studies at DCU re-imagines the study of poetry, and has cultivated a vibrant community of scholars and students from a wide range of backgrounds. Poetry is not the remit of literary specialists alone, and we’re committed to demonstrating its radical influence across societies and cultures. The Programme is internationalist, and asks that students look at poetry as an intercultural phenomenon so that a more nuanced understanding of the relationship of poetry (and song) to ideas of national heritage might be achieved. Above all, we never lose sight of poetry as a passionate medium for expressing and exploring ourselves effectively.
DCU People
Careers & Further Options
Careers
This programme has been of particular use to teachers of English at second-level as a means of career development, and it has also acted as a springboard into doctoral study and academia. Students and graduates also work in law, financial services, administration and IT. For them, a qualification from the programme is a distinctive thing to have on a CV, something that makes potential employers and interviewers take notice. Graduates have also gone on to work in adult education and communications.
Potential Careers
Literary Editor
Publisher
Journalist
Writer/Poet
Librarian
Educator
Programme Structure
Participants in this programme tend to express that they have some unfinished business with poetry and have always been alive to its potential, but haven’t had the time and space to explore it to their satisfaction. We’ll give you the space and encouragement to think of ways in which your engagement with poetry will continue to grow after you’re awarded your degree.
This degree seeks to build a strong sense of community, and graduates have continued to collaborate and communicate through publishing, broadcasting and creating. Some have used the programme as a spur for their ambitions as writers, and their achievements in the world of Irish poetry have been remarkable. Others approached their study as an opportunity for re-orientating their life-paths and careers. Others have done it because it is the complete opposite of what they are doing in their career! Some have gone on to doctoral study, some have moved happily into a poetry-immersed retirement.
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in current poetry affairs, DCU’s peer-reviewed journal POST is known internationally for its energetic commitment to poetry as a uniquely vibrant form of cultural transmission, generating possibilities for engagement between art, life and society.
Programme Structure and Content
The MA in Poetry Studies can be completed in one year on a full-time basis, or in two years on a part-time basis. Typically, the programme is taught one or two evenings per week.
To meet the requirements of the degree, you must take six taught modules in all, as well as a dissertation.
Programme Aims and Objectives
- To demystify poetry and to maximize a sense of its potential as a cultural phenomenon.
- To offer high calibre academic training, giving participants’ expressive confidence as critical thinkers and sharpening their interpretative faculties.
- To give participants a critical understanding of the range of ways in which poetry can be brought into critical play, stressing interdisciplinary approaches as well as the uniquely literary.
- To enhance the practical skills of participants in the areas of research, and encourage the creation of unique projects.
- To evolve participants’ understanding of poetry, as well as deepen the pleasure they might find in it.
Fees and Funding
Life On Campus
At DCU, our students can expect a unique campus experience. We are known for our excellent teaching and learning facilities, our active clubs and societies, and our great social and sporting facilities. All this makes DCU an exciting place to be.
DCU has three academic campuses; Glasnevin, St. Patrick’s and All Hallows (both in Drumcondra), all close to Dublin City centre.
They can be reached by public transport, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann, with our Drumcondra campuses a ten minute walk from Drumcondra Train Station. Glasnevin is a 20 minute walk from St Patrick’s and All Hallows. They are also linked by Dublin Bus.
Each campus has a library (O’Reilly, Cregan and Woodlock Hall), study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. There are sports facilities on Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s, and there is a dedicated sports campus, St Claire’s, located near Glasnevin on the Ballymun Road.
DCU’s 19,000 students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, a new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of Languages, Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology, as well as a Sports Performance centre and a training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
We continue to improve and update our facilities. For example, construction of a new world-class STEM facility is underway on the Glasnevin campus. With capacity for an extra 3,000 STEM students, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines.
Studying in DCU isn’t just about course work. The university is rich in student life and activities.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year. They span everything from rugby to rock climbing, anime to jazz.
For many students, sport is an important part of the DCU experience. DCU’s Sports Complex boasts a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness centre gym, all-weather pitches and squash courts, as well as soccer, GAA and rugby pitches. DCU Dóchas Éireann, the university’s GAA club, is the largest third level Gaelic Games club in the country. Meanwhile, DCU Athletics has been Ireland’s highest achieving university club for many years. And DCU has dozens of other clubs to get involved in, from Archery to Weightlifting.
The Glasnevin campus is home to our purpose built, state-of-the-art student centre, The U, which serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body. Here, you will find the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub. Also located on our Glasnevin campus is The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
On our St Patrick’s campus, we have the Java Student Hub, a vibrant, warm and welcoming space where students can meet for coffee, play music, use the projector to watch events, or just relax. The walls of the Java Hub were designed based on the cultural history of St Patrick’s Campus, including the special references to the notable sporting history and history of the arts.
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre - Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning - facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
DCU Glasnevin Campus
FAQs
Is DCU all one campus?
DCU is a multi campus university - the Glasnevin, St Patrick's and All Hallows campuses. The St Patrick's campus is where the Education courses are taught and some of the subjects from the BA Joint Honours degree. There is a 20-25 minute walk between the campuses but there are buses and bikes available to go between them also.
Click here to see maps of all of our campuses
If I'm studying on the St Patrick's campus, can I use the library and sports centre on the Glasnevin campus?
Yes, all facilities such as sports and accommodation are open for all DCU students to avail of.
Are there libraries in DCU and if they have wifi and work stations?
We have a brand new state of the art four floor library on our St. Patrick's Campus which complements the existing library on the Glasnevin campus. There is free wifi, work stations as well as desktop computers.
Does DCU provide accommodation?
DCU does have on-campus accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and you can find out more and apply via the Accommodation Office webpage.