Frequently Asked Questions | Registry
Postgraduate Research Programmes
If you have a question that is not answered in our FAQ section, please e-mail postgraduate.research@dcu.ie
A research degree involves the sustained and in-depth study of a specific topic, which is then written up as a thesis for examination.
The University offers the following research award types:
- PhD
- Master's by Research
- Professional Doctorate
Please see below (FAQ 2) for details of the entry requirements for each of these programmes. This and other information is also available on the DCU website at http://www.dcu.ie/registry/postgraduate/index.shtml
- PhD: Candidates holding an appropriate Master's degree obtained by research may apply for direct entry to the PhD register to conduct research in a cognate area.
- PhD-track: Candidates with a taught Master’s degree (Level 9) in an appropriate discipline with first- or second-class honours, and candidates with a primary degree in an appropriate discipline with first- or second-class honours, grade one, may apply and be considered for entry to the PhD-track register with a view to proceeding towards a PhD. Such candidates will undergo a confirmation procedure, as outlined in the Academic Regulations, before being admitted to the PhD register.
- Professional Doctorate: Candidates with a taught Master’s degree (Level 9) in an appropriate discipline with first- or second-class honours, and candidates with a primary degree in an appropriate discipline with first- or second-class honours, grade one, may apply and be considered for entry to the Professional Doctorate register.
- Master's by Research: Candidates must normally have obtained a primary degree classification (Level 8) equivalent to a second-class honours degree, grade two, in an appropriate discipline, from an approved university or an approved equivalent degree-awarding body, or have an approved equivalent professional qualification in an area cognate to the proposed research topic. Such candidates are considered for entry only on the research Master’s register initially. Students on the Master's register may apply for transfer to the PhD Register under the same conditions, and using the same procedure, as PhD-track candidates requesting confirmation on the PhD register.
Information on Scholarships and funding opportunities can be found at
- Graduate Studies Office webpage
- DCU Research webpage:
- Faculty websites:
All research students are appointed a Principal Supervisor. Your Principal Supervisor will be knowledgeable in your field of research and will provide guidance and advice throughout the research process.
The table below outlines the minimum, typical and maximum periods of registration for each research award. They are also available in Section 5 of the Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees by Research & Thesis.
|
Minimum Registration Period |
Typical Registration Period |
Maximum Registration Period |
|
| PhD (full-time) | 3 years | 4 years | 5 years |
| PhD (part-time) | 5 years | 6 years | 7 years |
| Research Master's (full-time) | 2 years | 2 years | 3 years |
| Research Master's (part-time) | 3 years | 3-4 years | 5 years |
| Professional Doctorate (part-time) | 4 years | 4-5 years | 6 years |
It is important to first find a potential supervisor and develop a research proposal.
Once you obtain permission from a potential supervisor, you may proceed to submitting a formal pre-application online.
After your pre-application form has been approved, you will be invited to submit a full application. After creating your account, completing an initial questionnaire and paying the application fee, you will need to upload the following to your application portal for assessment:
- Certified Academic transcripts for all previous third level qualifications, including modules taken and results obtained for all years of study.
- Copy of Parchment indicating title of degree
Note: Where transcripts/documents are not in English, certified translations carried out by a professional translator must also be submitted.
- Research Proposal
- Valid passport
- In some instances you may be required to provide professional and academic references
- If you are not a native English speaker, you will need to provide proof of your competence in the English language. Please click here for details of the qualifications recognised by DCU.
Please note failure to submit correct documentation will lead to your application being kept on hold until the required documentation is supplied.
When a completed application form is submitted, with all of the requested documentation, the Admissions Team in the Registry section assess the application. If all requirements have been met, the application is forwarded to the Faculty Office for final decision.
Successful Applications
Successful applicants are informed by email. The applicant must accept or decline the offer of Research with DCU by the date stated online. If an applicant has received a conditional offer, they must meet the condition before they can receive a firm offer. Once the acceptance of a firm offer has been received, the applicant will be able to register.
Unsuccessful Applications
Unsuccessful applicants are informed by email.
If you are offered a place on a postgraduate research programme at DCU, you will receive an offer online which you can accept in the application portal.
Depending on the time of year, your registration may differ slightly from the norm.
a. The majority of new students will start in line with the academic year in August/September. Students who fall into this category will register themselves during online registration. Please refer to the Registration webpage page for information on the registration timetable.
b. If online registration has closed, and the spring registration date has not passed (2nd March), these students will receive an email after their acceptance to advise that they are manually registered by Registry.
c. Finally, Students registering during the grace period (on or after 2nd March) will receive an email after their acceptance to advise that they are manually registered by Registry, and register themselves again during the online registration period.
All continuing postgraduate research students are required to register online, on an annual basis, normally in August/September. Please refer to the Registration webpage page for information on the registration timetable. This is also applicable to students who register for year 1 in the grace period (on or after 2nd March) which will mean registering twice within a short period of time.
Students who fail to register during the online registration period will be subject to a late registration fee.
All Postgraduate Research forms are available on the Registry Forms page.
Only up to date forms will be accepted. The current academic year is indicated in the header of each form.
A Student’s progress is formally evaluated on an annual basis. This is known as the annual progression process or PGR2. The process involves two stages:
- an annual review meeting with the Student, Supervisors, and Independent Panel Member
- followed by completion of a report online at https://loop.dcu.ie/
Only after a review meeting has taken place should the report be started online.
The deadline for completion is mid-end of June each year. See the Academic Calendar for the definitive deadline.
If you have any technical problems/queries in relation to accessing or using the system, please email postgraduate.research@dcu.ie
Students initially admitted on the PhD-track register, will have to undergo a confirmation procedure generally no earlier than 12 months and no later than 21 months registration for full-time students and at an appropriate corresponding time for part-time students.
Applications must be supported by the Principal Supervisor and will be subject to satisfactory performance in an oral examination conducted by the Principal Supervisor and Internal Examiner. Further information on this process is available in Section 8.2 of the Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees by Research & Thesis.
The PGR3 Application for Transfer to/Confirmation on the PhD Register form should be completed and submitted to the Registry at least two weeks in advance of the next Graduate Research Studies Board (GRSB) meeting. Form submission deadline dates for the GRSB meetings are available on the Registry webpages.
Students on the Master's register may apply for transfer to the PhD Register under the same conditions, and using the same procedure, as PhD-track candidates requesting confirmation on the PhD register.
See FAQ 15 above for further information.
PhD Thesis - the maximum word length, including bibliography and notes, for a monograph thesis is 90,000. Any appendices remain outside the word limit.
Master's Thesis - the maximum word length, including bibliography and notes, is 45,000. Any appendices remain outside the word limit.
Professional Doctoral Thesis - the acceptable word length should fall between the parameters of a Master's thesis and a PhD thesis, and is a matter for discussion between the supervisor and the student.
In the case of scientific and technological theses, the amount of text may be less. Because of this variation from subject to subject, the advice of your supervisor should be sought at an early stage in the preparation of the thesis.
When the notice of intention to submit for examination (PGR4) has been approved, a letter of Invitation will be issued to External Examiner(s). This includes a standard confidentiality clause, suitable for most academic and Intellectual Property (IP) protection purposes.
Where a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is required for thesis examination, this should be indicated on the PGR4 form. Further information on NDA's can be located on the Research Support page at this link.
Registry will then notify Invent to liaise with your Principal Supervisor to comprise the document.
Some examples where Non-Disclosure Agreements may be required are:
- Employment based PhD's funded by the Irish Research Council (IRC).
- Fully funded PhD scholarships where industry has additional specific secrecy/confidentiality agreements.
Please see FAQ 6 for the minimum, typical and maximum registration periods for each postgraduate research degree.
If a student does not complete a thesis within the maximum period stipulated, they must seek permission from the Graduate Research Studies Board (GRSB) to be allowed to continue their studies. Such extensions will be granted in exceptional cases only.
The request should be made on a PGR14 form and submitted to the Registry at least two weeks in advance of the next Graduate Research Studies Board (GRSB) meeting. Form submission deadline dates for the GRSB meetings are available on the Registry webpages.
For more information on Submission Dates for the next Conferring Ceremony, please visit the Key Dates page at: https://www.dcu.ie/registry/postgraduate-research-registry
You must submit one single PDF file of your thesis (entitled 'pre-examination copy' with Student I.D. Number & date), together with, a PGR7 Thesis Access Consent form to postgraduate.research@dcu.ie
Note: We may also require two printed softbound copies for examination if requested by examiners.
In no instance, should a supervisor or student, send the thesis directly to the examiners, either in soft-bound printed or electronic format.
The viva voce is an oral examination where the candidate should demonstrate that the thesis presented is their own work, and that they have an adequate understanding of the research topic and of the broader field of knowledge to which the research belongs.
Further details are available from:
- The Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees by Research
- Thesis Submission and Oral Examination guide published by the Graduate Research Studies Office Note: access to this page requires a valid DCU account
You must submit two copies of your final hardbound thesis, together with a PGR12 E-thesis submission declaration form to the Registry, in the Henry Grattan Building, Glasnevin Campus.
Note: the Front Cover and Spine should have the calendar year in which the Faculty Awards Board for Research Degrees approves the award.
You may also want to submit a PGR8 Temporary Restriction of Access form, but this is not compulsory.
The PGR6 Examination Report should be submitted to the Registry by the Independent Chairperson or Internal Examiner.
One copy of your final hardbound thesis is formally presented to your Principal Supervisor following the Faculty Awards Board for Research Degrees and the second copy is delivered to the Library following conferral.
For more information on Submission Dates, please visit: https://www.dcu.ie/registry/postgraduate-research-registry
A transcript of your results will be issued after formal approval of your award by the Faculty Awards Board for Research Degrees.
Your award parchment will be presented to you at the graduation ceremony. If you are unable to attend the graduation ceremony you should e-mail graduation@dcu.ie to advise that you will not be in attendance and that you would like your award parchment to be posted to you after the ceremony.
Please ensure that your contact details are up to date before graduation.