Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)

The School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy offers a wide range of specialist research fields from which to choose and is delivered through a Structured PhD programme. This has proven to be highly successful and enables our PhD students to achieve the best possible experience of graduate research and training. Making a substantial and original contribution to knowledge, normally leading to peer-reviewed publications, remains the core objective of doctoral studies in the School. We offer structured PhDs in each of the major disciplinary areas of the School.

The School is committed to providing excellent facilities and training for research students, including well-equipped research suites and laboratories for students with state-of-the-art computing facilities, on-site library services, access to taught modules across the University and regular student and staff seminars. All research students are supervised by one or more members of the academic staff with a recognised expertise in a field related to your chosen area of study.

The structured PhD includes several measures designed to support you in achieving your academic and professional objectives. One of these measures is the requirement for each PhD student to have a Doctoral Studies Panel. The purpose of the Doctoral Studies Panel is to support and enhance the supervisor-student relationship, to monitor your progress during your doctoral studies and to provide advice and support both to you and your supervisor(s). The panel consists not only of your supervisor(s) but also additional advisors. A further measure of support is the requirement to complete at least 30 credits of graduate taught modules at the early stages of your study. Thus, each student gains important experience not only in research but also in the broader academic field of study.

The Degree is awarded following the successful completion of a programme of supervised research and advanced education and training. The degree will be awarded only where the outcome of the research makes an original and substantial contribution to knowledge and where the candidate has demonstrated the capacity to pursue original research and scholarship. The research is described in a thesis or similar appropriate format, per international norms, which forms the basis for the examination for the award of the degree of PhD, and which must contain material of a standard and form appropriate for peer-reviewed publication.

For further information, please contact the School Manager, Mr. Adam Trodd, at archadmin@ucd.ie.