A variety of supports are available within UCD to help you with your academic skills. Academic writing at postgraduate level demands a more structured and in-depth approach than undergraduate work. To meet these demands, graduate taught, and graduate research students may benefit from different types of support, tailored to their distinct academic pathways. Any students with a disability who wish to avail of support should contact us at (opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie to arrange a Needs Assessment appointment, where recommended reasonable accommodations can be put in place.
UCD postgraduate students (both taught and research) with permanent or long-term disabilities are encouraged to book a Needs Assessment appointment with a member of the Disability Support team in UCD Access and Lifelong Learning, to ensure that appropriate reasonable accommodations are put in place.
During this meeting, reasonable accommodations tailored to your course and level of study will be identified and discussed. It is important to note that support at postgraduate level may differ from those offered at undergraduate level, depending on the specific academic requirements.
We recognise that disclosing a disability can be a sensitive decision, and it is entirely your choice. However, we encourage you to talk openly with your supervisor or module coordinator/lecturer about how your disability may affect you. This can help them understand your needs and offer better support during your studies. Establishing a good working relationship early on can make a big difference and help you succeed.
If you would like to arrange a Needs Assessment appointment with UCD Access and Lifelong Learning, please email us at (opens in a new window)disability@ucd.ie. For guidance on specific examination formats such as the Stage Transfer Assessment (STA) required for doctoral (research) students, please discuss with your assigned supervisor.
Support for Postgraduate Students
Postgraduate taught students will usually complete their course over one or two years, depending on whether they are full-time or part-time. Their curriculum will typically include a significant taught module component (often at level 4 or 5) but Masters level programme may also include research project.
Postgraduate research students complete a programme of supervised research and advanced education and training (a minimum of 30 taught credits over their entire programme for doctoral students). Postgraduate research students will be registered to their programme from a minimum of 1 (for full-time research master’s students) to 3 (for full-time doctoral student doctoral students) years.
While a graduate research student will complete taught modules during their programme, their primary academic relationship will be with their supervisors and their Research Studies Panel (RSP). In addition to their thesis examination, and any assessment for their taught modules, a doctoral student will have to complete a transfer assessment to progress to Stage 2 of their degree. This usually happens during the second year depending on whether they are full-time or part-time.
Exploring Assistive Technology for your academic projects can be extremely beneficial for postgraduate students. Software tools are highly recommended as they can support you with your research reading material, collect and analyse data, prepare presentations and with your writing. We highly recommend exploring these resources early in your studies. As part of your Needs Assessment, you may be referred to our Assistive Technology Coordinator to discuss Assistive Technologies that best fits your needs and where you learn how to use them effectively.
Helpful Links
- Managing Graduate Studies with a Disability
- Post Graduate Supports
- Research Student Handbook
- Training and Development for Postgraduate Students
- Postgraduate Student Adviser
- Graduate Welcome Guide
- Manage your Wellbeing
- (opens in a new window)Neurodiversity Collective
- (opens in a new window)The LaunchPAD Community