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Faculty of Science & Health

School of Health and Human Performance | Structured Doctoral Pathways 2024-2025

Link to PDF file of Health and Human Performance Structured Pathways

Overview

The School of Health & Human Performance was established in 1999 and has experienced rapid growth over this period. The School is renowned for both its excellence in teaching and learning and in research. We currently offer postgraduate research programmes in a number of exercise, health, physical education and injury-related disciplines in state-of-the-art facilities. Presently we
have 40 postgraduate research students.

The structured doctoral pathway for the School of Health & Human Performance is offered as a support to students in the completion of their doctoral research, with the focus being the development of a range of skills and competencies through taught modules and other learning opportunities. The overall focus of the PhD experience of course remains the completion of a piece of original research, presented in thesis format.

Selection and Registration

All research students may take a mix of credit bearing modules (Graduate Training Elements or GTEs), and other non-credited training opportunities such as workshops, seminars and short courses. The full list of GTE modules that students can avail of are listed on the Faculty’s GTE webpage. Engagement in these opportunities is an important component of the graduate researcher experience. Students following a structured pathway typically take between 20 and 40
credits, with the final year focusing solely on the completion of the research thesis.

Students should register for their approved Faculty GTE modules during the online registration process. However, if you wish to take a non-FSH GTE module you MUST first email the module coordinator listed to check that you are eligible to register for this module, then email
science@dcu.ie providing:

  • confirmation and proof of approval from module coordinator
  • module code and title
  • student id number
  • qualification code

The GTE modules noted on this pathway is only a starting point – students may choose to enroll on other modules offered by the University that are relevant to their specific discipline area regardless of whether they are listed in this document.

Progression

The structured pathway for each individual student must be discussed and agreed with the supervisor, with progress recorded on the annual PGR2 form. Once approval has been given, the student can register for their chosen GTEs during the online registration process.

Induction and Training

Students are encouraged to take advantage of centrally-offered non-accredited workshops and seminars on academic, software or transferable skills which align with their developmental needs. In year one, all students are required to attend the orientation sessions, the Graduate Studies Office (GSO) and library-run programme and other relevant induction sessions. GSO communicates details of the training schedule to each student at the beginning of each semester.
Students are further required to take the Online Research Integrity Training Module during Year one of their studies, however, Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance students take the Research Integrity Training in Year 3 of their registration.

Core Discipline Specific Modules

  • MT610: Qualitative Research Methods - 5 ECTS 

    Or / and 

  • MT611: Quantitative Research Methods - 5 ECTS
     
Core Transferable Skills Modules
  • PSYC609: Strategies for Getting Published – 5 ECTS
     
Elective Modules
  • TP602: Research Ethics – 5 ECTS

 

Non-accredited Training, Workshops and Masterclasses
Approval Date