Law (Structured PhD)

If you are considering applying for a PhD, you should first prepare a research proposal – see this Graduate Research Proposals in Law guidance document for more on what this should contain.

You should also consider how you will fund your studies. The two main sources of scholarships in Galway are the Hardiman scheme and the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. The College of Business, Public Policy and Law, the School of Law and the Research Centres will also sometimes have funding for specific projects from time to time – please check our social media presences to stay up to date on those. In general, individual staff will not have funding for new PhD students and sourcing this is your responsibility.

Areas of expertise include:

• Human Rights 
• Disability Law
• Housing Law and Policy
• Family Law
• Constitutional Law
• Criminal Law
• Criminology
• Refugee and Immigration Law
• Information Technology Law
• Lawtech/Legaltech
• Intellectual Property Law
• EU Law
• Commercial Law
• Jurisprudence

Once you have a well-developed proposal and have considered the practicalities, you should review the profiles and expertise of our staff to locate individuals who are a good match for your research proposal. You can also use our online portal to help locate a supervisor in a research area. Candidates who are unsure who to contact in relation to supervision, or who wish to obtain more information, should review the current relevant staff listing or contact Dr. Charles O'Mahony or the School of Law Administration.

A generic message to all staff is unlikely to yield success. Contact an appropriate expert with your proposal and CV, explaining clearly how your project fits with their interests. If your intended supervisor responds positively, they will assist you in finalising your application, which then needs to be submitted through the relevant online platform. Your application will then be considered by the School of Law. Candidates, proposed topic, and intended supervisor of research must be approved by the School.