Frequently Asked Questions

GCAS (The Global Centre for Advanced Studies) College Dublin is the world’s first debt-free college offering EU-accredited degrees, co-owned by its faculty, staff, and graduates. Founded in 2013, we offer accredited BA, MA, LL.M., and PhD programmes through our partnership with Woolf.

Unlike traditional universities, GCAS operates as a cooperative. Tuition is significantly lower than at comparable institutions — a full degree with GCAS can save you up to €100,000 — and all accepted students receive further tuition-reduction scholarships based on the merits of their application. We also offer sliding-scale fees based on your country of residence and income. Our goal is for every student to graduate without educational debt.

When you graduate from GCAS you become a co-owner of the institution alongside faculty and staff. That means a voice in the institution’s governance, lifetime access to our community, and a stake in the future of GCAS. We believe education should be a collaborative endeavour, not a commodity.

Yes. GCAS is a full member college of Woolf, an accredited, degree-granting Higher Education Institution recognised within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Our degrees comply with the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and use the ECTS credit system.

Yes. Our degrees are recognised across Europe and internationally, equivalent to degrees from traditional European universities. They follow Bologna Process standards and carry ECTS credits for international transferability.

We offer a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies (3 years), an MA in Philosophy, an MA in Psychoanalysis, an MA in Theology, an MA in Politics, a Master of Laws (LL.M.), a PhD in Humanities & Social Sciences, and a PhD in Natural Sciences. See our Accreditation page for details.

All courses are delivered fully online through live virtual seminars — not pre-recorded lectures. You engage in real-time discussion with faculty and peers from around the world, and sessions are recorded so you can revisit them. Seminars are typically held at weekends to accommodate working professionals across time zones. We also host optional in-person residencies in locations such as Florence and Paris.

Yes. We offer flexible scheduling for students balancing work, family, or other commitments. Most programmes can be completed at your own pace within a reasonable timeframe.

No. Our BA in Interdisciplinary Studies welcomes inquisitive, self-directed thinkers from every educational background. Secondary school completion is standard, but our admissions committee evaluates life experience, personal motivation, and writing ability holistically, alongside traditional transcripts.

No. The GCAS MA in Psychoanalysis is an accredited, non-clinical academic research degree focused on Lacanian studies, Freudian foundations, and cultural critique. It is designed for scholars, artists, and theorists applying psychoanalytic concepts to culture, technology, and philosophy, rather than for clinical psychotherapy practice.

Not at all. A Bachelor’s degree is required, but it can be in literature, the social sciences, the arts, or an adjacent discipline. We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate strong analytical writing and a deep interest in continental philosophy and critical theory.

Yes. Our 90 ECTS Master of Arts programmes are structured for maximum flexibility, with a one-year full-time track and a two-year part-time track. Live seminars are held primarily at weekends and in the evenings and are recorded, so working professionals can balance advanced study with career commitments.

No. The MA in Theology at GCAS is entirely non-confessional. We approach theology through critical political theology, radical ethics, and the philosophy of religion, examining belief systems as historical, social, and political forces.

Our PhD in Humanities & Social Sciences is an EU-accredited, research-only doctorate at EQF Level 8. There is no redundant taught coursework: your candidacy is focused entirely on original research, thesis writing of roughly 80,000 to 100,000 words, peer seminars, and your oral defence.

No relocation or visa is required — doctoral research and one-to-one supervision take place entirely online. On admission you work with a GCAS PhD supervisor for your first year, in order to narrow and define your research topic. After year one you are then paired with a supervisor for the remainder of your doctorate, who may be a GCAS faculty member or an expert from outside GCAS whose work matches your research area. Candidates are also invited, though not required, to attend optional annual research seminars in Europe. For more information about PhD supervision, see our PhD Supervisors page.

Requirements vary by programme. For the BA you need a secondary school diploma or equivalent; for Master’s programmes, a Bachelor’s degree; for PhD programmes, a Master’s degree. Standardised tests such as the SAT, ACT, and GRE are not required. All BA applicants are asked to write about why they want to study at GCAS.

No. Applications are open year-round on rolling admissions, so you can apply and begin your studies at any time. The process takes about two weeks from the day you start to a decision. Start your application.

Yes, we assess transfer credits case by case. For the one-year MA programmes we generally don’t accept transfer credit, as the programme is so short. Contact our admissions team with your transcripts for an assessment.

No. Because all programmes are delivered online, no student visa or relocation is required. You can study from anywhere in the world.

Tuition varies by programme and is significantly lower than at comparable traditional institutions. All accepted students receive tuition-reduction scholarships. See our Financial Aid page or contact us for specific programme costs.

Yes. Financial aid is available to all accepted applicants. We offer merit-based scholarships, sliding-scale fees based on country of residence, and flexible payment options. Our aim is that finances never prevent a qualified student from pursuing their education.