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About University of Galway
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Guiding Breakthrough Research at University of Galway
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Accessibility & LanguageEducation
Education (MLitt)
Course Overview
PhD
A student undertaking the Traditional PhD programme in the School of Education undertakes a focused doctoral project aimed at making an original and publishable contribution to knowledge. The Traditional PhD programme can be undertaken on a full-time or part-time basis. The programme facilitates engagement in educational research linked to the School of Education’s research priorities. The School’s research clusters (1. Diversity and Inclusion in Education, and 2. Technology-enhanced Learning) comprise the following core themes: widening participation in higher education, diversity in initial teacher education, special educational needs, gender and education, school leadership, mobile technologies in education, science education, and mathematics education. Applications are encouraged from suitably qualified candidates whose proposals align with the School’s current research projects linked to these themes.
PhD students in the School of Education also benefit from seminars and workshops designed for doctoral students in Education; these sessions are available to both full-time and part-time students. All PhD students work with a supervisor and have the support of a Graduate Research Committee (GRC).
MLitt
The MLitt facilitates engagement in educational research linked to the School of Education’s research priorities. The School’s research clusters (1. Diversity and Inclusion in Education, and 2. Technology-enhanced Learning) comprise the following core themes: widening participation in higher education, diversity in initial teacher education, special educational needs, gender and education, school leadership, mobile technologies in education, science education, and mathematics education. Applications are encouraged from suitably qualified candidates whose proposals align with the School’s current research projects linked to these themes.
MLitt students in the School of Education work with an individual supervisor and also benefit from seminars and workshops designed for research students in Education. These sessions are available to both full-time and part-time students.
Programmes Available
PhD (Education), full-time; PhD (Education), part-time
MLitt (Education), full-time; MLitt (Education), part-time
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System. For the Traditional PhD and the MLitt in Education, applications are accepted at any stage in the academic year.
Associated
Learning Outcomes
Entry Requirements
PhD and MLitt: Applicants will normally have a qualification at Master’s level (level 9, or equivalent international qualification) in education or a cognate area or, at minimum, a 2.1 in a primary honours degree (or equivalent international qualification). Admission to the Structured PhD is at the discretion of the School of Education Research Committee and the potential supervisor.
Completed applications are reviewed by the School of Education Research Committee.
We welcome applications from individuals whose proposals are directly aligned with our research priorities. The School of Education’s two core Research Clusters are: 1) Diversity and Inclusion in Education and, 2) Technology-Enhanced Learning. Further information on the clusters is available here. Please consult these pages, and individual academic staff research profiles, in preparation for making an application to ascertain if your research topic is aligned with research expertise and priorities in the School.
Supplementary documentation is required to support your application: please visit this website for full details.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Current research projects
Current funded research opportunity
Work Placement
Related Student Organisations
Career Opportunities
Find a Supervisor / PhD Project
If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search
Research Areas
Academic staff in the School of Education are currently engaged in a wide range of educational research based within two clusters:
- Diversity and Inclusion in Education, and
- Technology-enhanced Learning
Core themes within these clusters include: widening participation in higher education, diversity in initial teacher education, special educational needs, gender and education, school leadership, mobile technologies in education, science education, and mathematics education.
Researcher Profiles
Supervisors include Prof. Gerry MacRuairc, Dr. Elaine Keane, Dr. Kevin Davison, Dr. Veronica McCauley, Dr. Manuela Heinz, Dr. Tony Hall, Dr. Cornelia Connolly, Dr. Niamh Flynn, Dr. Ian Munday, Dr. Patrick Farren
Links to researcher profiles are available at this link.
Course Fees
Fees: EU
€5,750 p.a. (€5,890 including levy) 2024/25
Fees: Non EU
€14,500 p.a. (€14,640 including levy) 2024/25
Extra Information
EU Part time: Year 1 €4,250 p.a. (€4,390 including levy) 2024/25
All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy of €140.
Contact Us
Dr. Elaine Keane
Director, Doctoral Studies
School of Education
T +353 91 493032
E elaine.keane@universityofgalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/our-research/people/elainekeane/
Related links:
Scholarships
Research
Graduate Studies Office
Una Ní Sheanáin | PhD (Education) Graduate
I completed my PhD part-time at the School of Education, National University of Ireland, Galway while working as a primary school teacher. The level of guidance and mentorship I received from my supervisors and Graduate Review Committee was exemplary. I received regular, constructive feedback on each phase of the research process in a collegial environment. I also had the opportunity to meet a wonderful community of fellow PhD candidates. Pursuing a doctoral degree has opened doors for me both nationally and internationally, including working as a Postdoctoral Researcher in Boston College, USA. For all of this, I am forever grateful.
Seán Duignan | Past Student
I completed a PhD in Education at the National University of Ireland, Galway between 2006 and 2009, specialising in computer science education. Much of my research entailed practitioner-based enquiry and the supervisory guidance and mentoring I received in designing, implementing and analysing my interventions was outstanding. My experiences as a PhD researcher at NUIG's School of Education are overwhelming positive; I found it to be a welcoming and nurturing environment conducive to scholarly research.
