Course Summary
One of the most challenging and rewarding ways to study is to travel your own path and do a research degree at PhD level.
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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
For applicants whose first language is not English, demonstrable competence in English, both spoken and written, is also required (e.g. 6.5 IELTS). Please see SETU Waterford’s English Language Requirements for details.
Application Details
The application procedure for research degrees in SETU Waterford varies depending on whether you plan to pay fees and other costs yourself (“self-funded”) or whether you are applying for a position funded by a research grant awarded to a SETU Waterford staff member (“funded”).
Funded Research Positions:
Opportunities for funded research projects leading to postgraduate awards are typically advertised through the media and on the SETU Waterford website.
All applications for admission to funded postgraduate research degrees at SETU Waterford are made via the submission of a completed application form submitted by email to the Postgraduate Admissions Office.
Useful Guide
Self-Funded Research Positions:
The School also welcomes applications for self-funded research projects, i.e. those that are not, at the time of your initial interactions with SETU Waterford, funded by an external research funding body. Typically, in this case, you may approach the School with your own concept for a research project, which you plan to self-fund for the duration of the project.
Applications for admission to self-funded research degrees at SETU Waterford are made through the Postgraduate Application Centre . However, before you make an application for a self-funded PhD, you are requested to complete the pre-application steps below.
Pre-Application Steps for Self-Funded Research Positions
It is strongly recommended that preliminary discussions take place between the potential applicant, a prospective supervisor and the Programme Leader/Head of Department, before a formal application to join a research programme is made. This is to ensure that the School has the requisite expertise, capacity and authority to offer supervision to you.
For help finding a prospective supervisor for a self-funded research position, please contact the PGR Research Programme Leader, Dr. Anne Sweeney , forwarding a brief research proposal and a full CV.
Guidelines for Preparing a Research Proposal
To identify potential supervisors, you are requested to forward a brief research proposal to the Programme Leader, Dr. Anne Sweeney. The proposal should set out precisely the nature of the study area, the objective of the research you plan to pursue, the research question(s) you seek to answer, an outline of the proposed methodology, and an assessment of the contribution the study would make. This should be written in a formal academic style, with proper and appropriate academic citations and references, and should enable a potential supervisor to decide if the proposal is congruent with their current research interests. As stated above, this should be accompanied by a full CV.
If a suitable supervisory team is identified at this stage, you will be advised to make an application for a self-funded research position through the Postgraduate Application Centre. If however, the School does not have the capacity to provide supervisors for your research project, you will be advised not to submit an application.
Useful Guide
Enrolling on the Postgraduate Research Register
Once an application to join a research programme has been submitted and approved by the Head of Department, (and eligibility criteria is checked by Registry), you and your supervisory team will then submit a completed PG_A2 Form, to enable you to enrol on the postgraduate research register at SETU Waterford. Once the PG_A2 Form is approved, you will be invited to register at SETU Waterford and the research programme commences.
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Fees
Funded Research Positions:
Opportunities for funded research projects leading to postgraduate awards are typically advertised through the media and on the SETU Waterford website.
All applications for admission to funded postgraduate research degrees at SETU Waterford are made via the submission of a completed application form submitted by email to the Postgraduate Admissions Office.
Useful Guide
Self-Funded Research Positions:
The School also welcomes applications for self-funded research projects, i.e. those that are not, at the time of your initial interactions with SETU Waterford, funded by an external research funding body. Typically, in this case, you may approach the School with your own concept for a research project, which you plan to self-fund for the duration of the project.
Applications for admission to self-funded research degrees at SETU Waterford are made through the Postgraduate Application Centre . However, before you make an application for a self-funded PhD, you are requested to complete the pre-application steps below.
Pre-Application Steps for Self-Funded Research Positions
It is strongly recommended that preliminary discussions take place between the potential applicant, a prospective supervisor and the Programme Leader/Head of Department, before a formal application to join a research programme is made. This is to ensure that the School has the requisite expertise, capacity and authority to offer supervision to you.
For help finding a prospective supervisor for a self-funded research position, please contact the PGR Research Programme Leader, Dr. Anne Sweeney , forwarding a brief research proposal and a full CV.
Guidelines for Preparing a Research Proposal
To identify potential supervisors, you are requested to forward a brief research proposal to the Programme Leader, Dr. Anne Sweeney. The proposal should set out precisely the nature of the study area, the objective of the research you plan to pursue, the research question(s) you seek to answer, an outline of the proposed methodology, and an assessment of the contribution the study would make. This should be written in a formal academic style, with proper and appropriate academic citations and references, and should enable a potential supervisor to decide if the proposal is congruent with their current research interests. As stated above, this should be accompanied by a full CV.
If a suitable supervisory team is identified at this stage, you will be advised to make an application for a self-funded research position through the Postgraduate Application Centre. If however, the School does not have the capacity to provide supervisors for your research project, you will be advised not to submit an application.
Useful Guide
Enrolling on the Postgraduate Research Register
Once an application to join a research programme has been submitted and approved by the Head of Department, (and eligibility criteria is checked by Registry), you and your supervisory team will then submit a completed PG_A2 Form, to enable you to enrol on the postgraduate research register at SETU Waterford. Once the PG_A2 Form is approved, you will be invited to register at SETU Waterford and the research programme commences.
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.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
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.