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Education (Structured Phd)

Structured PhD (Education)

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Course Overview

This four-year, full-time Structured doctoral 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.

In the Structured PhD, the student combines a focused doctoral project, aimed at making an original and publishable contribution to knowledge, with a number of taught modules which support various aspects of the student’s research training and professional development. PhD students in the School of Education also benefit from additional seminars and workshops designed for doctoral students in Education. All PhD students work with a supervisor and have the support of a Graduate Research Committee (GRC).

Programmes Available

Structured PhD (full-time, four years); Structured PhD (full-time, six years).

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System. 

For the Structured PhD in Education, applications are accepted at any stage in the academic year, but normally no later than early July for commencement in autumn of that year. 

Associated

Learning Outcomes

Entry Requirements

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:

  1. Diversity and Inclusion in Education, and
  2. 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 of Doctoral Studies
School of Education
E: elaine.keane@universityofgalway.ie
T: +353 91 493 032
https://www.universityofgalway.ie/our-research/people/elainekeane/

Una

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.
Una

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.

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