Course Summary
This structured PhD programme is designed for students who want to develop multidisciplinary expertise on the structures and dynamics of European governance – a complex and increasingly-important field of study. The programme is offered jointly by the UCD School of Law and the UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe), both of which have a large, internationally-renowned faculty in this area.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
In order to be considered for admission, applicants will normally have completed and earned high grades in a taught or research Masters in the areas of law, politics and international relations, or a cognate field, and articulate a research interest that fits with the expertise of an academic staff member in either of the sponsoring schools. (Applicants with a very good primary degree in law will also be considered.) In most cases, applicants to the ELG PhD with prior training in politics, international relations and other social sciences are considered for admission through SPIRe, whilst applicants with prior training in law are considered for admission through the School of Law.
English Language Requirements for the PhD in Law Programme
• Applicants whose first language is not English must submit satisfactory evidence of competence in written and spoken English, i.e. overall IELTS 6.5 (including a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and writing parts and no part below 6.0) or 90 in the TOEFL iBT (with a minimum of 22 (reading) and 24 (writing) and no part below 20.) The test results must be less than 2 years old.
• International applicants should visit the UCD International Office website (www.ucd.ie/international) for information regarding our campus, location of UCD, visa information, registration and orientation.
Application Details
Application Process
Applications cannot be considered until we have received the following documentation:
Thesis proposal (3-5 pages maximum) which indicates a research question and intended methodology and explains how the proposed project relates to existing scholarship in the proposed area of study (with an indicative bibliography)
Copies of all academic transcripts (undergraduate and postgraduate)
C.V. or resume (two pages maximum)
Two academic references: Actual letters required. If sending by email they should be on headed institutional paper.
Evidence of English language competence, where non-native English speaking applicants have NOT obtained previous university degrees from an English-speaking country.
Prospective applicants should submit their materials by email to both Prof. Joseph McMahon ([email protected]) and Dr Alexa Zellentin ([email protected]) explaining their motivation for pursuing the degree and briefly identifying their intended area of research.
Starting September & January.
Fees
Applications cannot be considered until we have received the following documentation:
Thesis proposal (3-5 pages maximum) which indicates a research question and intended methodology and explains how the proposed project relates to existing scholarship in the proposed area of study (with an indicative bibliography)
Copies of all academic transcripts (undergraduate and postgraduate)
C.V. or resume (two pages maximum)
Two academic references: Actual letters required. If sending by email they should be on headed institutional paper.
Evidence of English language competence, where non-native English speaking applicants have NOT obtained previous university degrees from an English-speaking country.
Prospective applicants should submit their materials by email to both Prof. Joseph McMahon ([email protected]) and Dr Alexa Zellentin ([email protected]) explaining their motivation for pursuing the degree and briefly identifying their intended area of research.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Career Progression
We have an excellent Careers Development Centre here at UCD, designed to help you with information regarding future employment or studies. Individual supervisors and the Programme Director work closely with Doctoral students on their career plans. In addition, UCD hold a number of graduate events throughout the year including a dedicated law fair at which at which many big law firms will be in attendance. The School of Law has a dedicated careers advisor on its Academic staff and a staff member from the careers office is in attendance at the School of Law on a number of occasions throughout the academic year. To see the full range of services offered by the careers office go to http://www.ucd.ie/careers/