EU · Master's
Trinity College Dublin
MPhil in Art History
Trinity College Dublin
Course Overview
Trinity College Dublin's MPhil in Art History is a one-year research-intensive master's housed in Trinity's School of Histories and Humanities — Ireland's oldest university (founded 1592) and ranked top 100 globally (QS 2025). The programme is small by design — typically 12-15 admits per cohort — giving each student significant supervision from faculty active in early modern European, Irish, modern and contemporary, and South / Southeast Asian art history.
Trinity sits 5 minutes from the National Gallery of Ireland, the Chester Beatty Library (one of Europe's most important Asian art collections, including substantial Sri Lankan palm-leaf manuscripts and Kandyan-era art), and the Irish Museum of Modern Art — all of which embed object-handling sessions and curatorial work into the curriculum. The MPhil culminates in a 25,000-word dissertation supervised by a single faculty member.
For Sri Lankan applicants from heritage / museum / curatorial backgrounds — Sri Lanka National Museum, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, the Saskia Fernando Gallery, the Geoffrey Bawa Trust — this is a strong European-priced credential with explicit research depth on South Asian collections. Ireland's 2-year Third Level Graduate Scheme post-study work visa adds a post-graduation runway.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle First or upper-second class (2:1) honours bachelor's degree in Art History, History, Architecture, or a closely-related humanities discipline.
- check_circle Sri Lankan applicants need a Second Upper / First Class from a recognised university (GPA 3.3/4.0+) — University of Kelaniya's BA History of Art and Aesthetic Studies and University of Visual & Performing Arts degrees are recognised.
- check_circle Sample of academic writing (3,000-5,000 word essay) submitted with the application.
- check_circle Personal statement (1,000 words) on research interests and proposed dissertation direction.
- check_circle Two academic references.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.0 Overall (min 6.5 in each component).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 100 Overall (min 23 in Writing).
- check_circle Cambridge English C1 Advanced: 185 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your bachelor's degree was taught and assessed entirely in English at a recognised institution within the last 2 years — most Sri Lankan applicants from English-medium degree programmes qualify with an MOI letter from the university registrar.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (€) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (12 months, non-EU) | €24,000 | Rs. 8,280,000 |
| Living Expenses (12 months, Dublin) | €15,000 | Rs. 5,175,000 |
| Student Visa + Health Insurance | €800 | Rs. 276,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | €39,800 | Rs. 13,731,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Ireland's 2-year Third Level Graduate Scheme (Stamp 1G) lets non-EU master's graduates work in Ireland on the same terms as locals for up to 24 months, after which a Critical Skills Employment Permit converts to PR after 21 months. Trinity Art History MPhil grads work at the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Christie's, Sotheby's, Tate (London), the Victoria & Albert Museum, plus auction houses, galleries, and doctoral programmes (Courtauld, Oxford, Yale). Sri Lankan returnees move into the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, Saskia Fernando Gallery, and the National Museum.
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