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Postgraduate Supervisory Practice

Postgraduate studies at UCD
Research application information

This document is intended to describe principles and guidelines for good supervisory practice.

Choice of Research Topic

• Applicants for postgraduate research should apply in writing to the Director of the Research Committee.
• Applicants should ensure that a member of staff is willing to supervise the research. If this is not the case the applicant will be ineligible to register for a research degree.
• With the supervisor, the applicant should draw up a detailed research proposal to be submitted to the Research Committee for final approval by September of the incoming year. The proposal should include a time schedule and a statement regarding resources for completion of the research.
• An agreed proposal should be copied to the Head of School to determine the financial and resource requirements for the proposed research programme. Provided that the supervisor and applicant have an agreed programme which can be accommodated within the resources of the School, the application will be endorsed by the Head of School and forwarded to the College of Human Sciences Standing Postgraduate Committee.

Proposed Good Practice

• The student-supervisor relationship is a professional one.
• The relationship implies an understanding designed to make unforeseen and unforeseeable difficulties manageable.
• Accountability is essential to the management of the relationship and should include the following guidelines:


1. it is the duty of the supervisor to provide adequate time to supervise the student. At postgraduate level this may be on a fortnightly basis, or as otherwise agreed between the student and the supervisor. The time for this meeting should be at least one hour and should include revision of work to date, plan further steps etc.
   
2. it is the duty of the student to attend appointed meeting with his/her supervisor and complete any work recommended.
   
3. monthly progress reports should be completed by both the student and the supervisor.
   
• notice shall be brought to School staff meetings regarding any student who fails to progress at a pace outlined by his/her supervisor.
  
• It is recommended by the School that students should endeavour to complete a research masters within two years.
  
• The responsibility for appointing an external examiner lies with the supervisor.
  
• Upgrading to Ph.D. will be at the discretion of the Research Committee on the recommendation of the student's supervisor and not by direct application by the student.
  
• A student who is being considered for upgrading shall give a written and oral presentation of completed work and plans for future work to the Research Committee.
  
• Each supervisor in conjunction with each supervised student shall submit formal half yearly reports to the Research Committee regarding the progress of the work and any difficulties encountered.
  
• In the case of serious or apparentlyintractable interpersonal difficulties, the student or supervisor should feel free to consult with the Head of School. Preferably, such consultations should include all parties involved.In addition, the student may consult with the Research Committee.

Information for applicants wishing to pursue an M.Litt in Psychology

• Entry requirements: Second Class Honours Grade 1 in final degree examinations where Psychology formed the major component of that degree or Second Class Honours Grade 2 where at least 50% of the papers were at Second Class Honours Grade 1 level.
• No. of places: This not limited but applicants must (i) submit a suitable research proposal to the Research Committee and (ii) be formally accepted by a member of staff who is willing to supervise the research.

Course objectives

The objectives of a research degree include the following: an ability to identify a worthy area of research, to propose a question that merits research, to design an appropriate method to answer the proposed question, to demonstrate an ability to understand appropriate analysis techniques, to use computerised statistical packages and a display a competence to interpret the research findings within the context of present literature and suggest future directions for that research.

Fees

As laid down by the Fees Office University College Dublin. The costs of research are the responsibility of the student. If resources are needed for completion of the thesis these cannot be supplied by the Department of Psychology.

Duration: The duration of the MLitt degree is two academic years.

Closing dates for application:

End of July for students who graduate in the year of application.

End of May for UCD graduates from previous years.

End of April for graduates from other universities who are graduates from previous years.

These dates are in line with the recommendations of the Faculty of Arts. A detailed research proposal must be discussed with the accepting supervisor which is then presented to the Research Committee.