PhD/Masters by Research | Programmes

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD in Education (Level 10 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications) is a full-time (within 4 years) or part-time programme (within 6 years) which is intended to provide graduates with a wide range of research skills, as well as in-depth knowledge, understanding and expertise in their chosen field of educational research.

You will be registered in one of the six Schools in the Institute of Education during your studies, depending on your area of focus. These are:

Arts Education & Movement | Human Development | Inclusive & Special Education | Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education | Policy & Practice | STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies

The core component of a PhD programme is the advancement of knowledge through original research. At the same time, the PhD is designed to meet the needs of an employment market that is wider than academia. In that context, the PhD involves a high-quality research experience, training and output consistent with international norms and best practice.

Masters by Research

The Master’s degree by Research, (Level 9 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications) is awarded, without classification, on the basis of a thesis submitted for examination and is usually completed within 2 years full-time and within 4 years part-time.

Graduate Training

All PhD and Masters by Research students in the Institute of Education also benefit from seminars and workshops designed for postgraduate research students. These Graduate Training Elements (GTE) are available to both full-time and part-time students. All research students are allocated at least one supervisor and have the support of The Chair of Postgraduate Studies by Research,  a supervisory panel and the Graduate Studies Office in DCU.

More information on Graduate Training Elements »


PhD/Masters by Research: Welcome | Programmes | Application | Postgraduate Research Projects