MSc/PhD by Research
Applications are invited from candidates interested in pursuing a full-time MSc/PhD by Research in Dublin City University starting in September 2024
Co-production of a Health Literacy programme for DCU students
MSc/PhD by Research
Applications are invited from candidates interested in pursuing a full-time MSc/PhD by Research in
Dublin City University starting in September 2024. The applicant will be supervised by Dr Louise
Hopper, Associate Professor in the DCU School of Psychology and Dr Hannah Goss, Assistant
Professor at DCU School of Health and Human Performance. This studentship is funded for 2 years by
DCU Student Support and Development. The selected candidate will receive an annual non-taxable
stipend of €22,000. EU full-time fees will also be covered for years 1 and 2. The selected candidate
will have the opportunity to move from an MSc to pursue a PhD subject to performance and obtaining the required funding.
The candidate will be supported to seek such funding (e.g. IRC Post-
graduate Studentship) if they wish to do so.
Background
“Health literacy is linked to literacy and entails people’s knowledge, motivation and
competencies to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information in order to
make judgements and take decisions in everyday life concerning healthcare, disease
prevention and health promotion to maintain or improve quality of life during the life
course” (Sorenson et al., 2012, p3)
Health literacy is a major concern in modern society, including among university students, and spans
all aspects of the health spectrum, including psychological health and wellbeing, sexual health,
substance misuse, and nutrition and physical activity, to name a few. Being health literate means
having the capacity, awareness, and motivation to place one’s own health into context,
understanding which factors are influencing it, and knowing how to address them. Students and
graduates with an adequate level of health literacy will have the capability to take responsibility for
their own health, now and into the future, and health literacy is univocally aligned with the overall
institutional mission of DCU. Additionally, health literacy is one of 17 transversal skills approved by
DCU under the DCU Futures project. The intention is that DCU’s Health Literacy Programme will have
the potential to make a novel and genuine impact on the well-being of students.
The objective of this MSc is to engage with DCU students and the wider DCU community (e.g.
Student Support and Development, Health Promotion) to co-design, pilot, and evaluate an evidence-
based health literacy programme for third level students in DCU.
Relevant issues include:
1) Identifying international examples of evidence-based, state-of-the-art, health literacy
curricula for third level students
2) Determining the unique health literacy challenges of students in DCU
3) Exploring what our students feel are the greatest strengths and challenges they face across
the health spectrum
4) Co-developing a health literacy programme for DCU
5) Completing a pilot evaluation of the programme
Candidates for the studentship must have an excellent academic record (first class primary degree or
postgraduate qualification e.g. Taught MSc) in a relevant health-related discipline (including but not
limited to, psychology, social sciences, sports science and health, education). Relevant professional
experience will also be considered. All candidates must be fluent in English with good writing skills.
The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on their MSc and to contribute to selected
research and teaching activities in the context of DCU School of Psychology and DCU Health Literacy
Research Cluster. The selected candidate will have the opportunity to move from an MSc to pursue a
PhD subject to performance and obtaining the required funding. The candidate will be supported to
seek such funding (e.g. IRC Post-graduate Studentship) if they wish to do so.
The MSc candidate’s specific duties will include:
• Undertake research leading to an MSc;
• Produce academic papers and reports throughout the course of the MSc;
• Identify and make funding applications for further research on related topics;
• Collaborate with colleagues in the School and the cluster;
• Attend meetings and produce reports.
Informal Enquiries in relation to this role should be directed to:
Dr Louise Hopper, Associate Professor and Chair of the BSc in Psychology and Mathematics, School of
Psychology, Dublin City University.
Email: louise.hopper@dcu.ie
Application Procedure:
To apply, please submit your curriculum vitae, a targeted cover letter (expressing your suitability for
the position and why you wish to pursue an MSc in health literacy) electronically to:
louise.hopper@dcu.ie. The closing date for applications is July 22nd, 2024.
Interviews will be arranged in early August 2024.