PhD students applicants should have an academic background necessary to support doctoral level research. A potential supervisor may be able to advise on the knowledge they expect their potential students to have gained before applying for entry to the programme. We welcome students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds.
Since the PhD programme includes 30 credits of classwork, you will have the opportunity to learn some of the skills and knowledge you will need to complete your thesis.
PhD Research Programme
The UCD School of Information and Communication Studies doctoral programme provides an environment that enables creative, energetic, and motivated students to complete original research that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in information, communication, media and library science. Our PhD students work with research active supervisors in a variety of fields and have the opportunity to join and collaborate with research groups in the school and across the university.
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Ongoing PhD Opportunities
The staff of ICS work in a wide variety of research areas encompassing many aspects of information and communications studies. Please take a look at staff profiles to see if your project would fit with our staff interests and expertise. To be considered for admission to the School, you will need to have the support of at least one of our staff who are willing to supervise your thesis project. Staff will want to see a CV and a draft of your proposed project before agreeing to supervise so please contact staff before applying. It is the applicant's responsibility to find an appropriate supervisor; the PhD coordinator will not be able to do so.
Amber Cushing
Benjamin Cowan
Claire McGuinness
Crystal Fulton
Eugenia Siapera
Lai Ma
Kalpana Shankar
Marguerite Barry
Marco Bastos
Páraic Kerrigan
Susan Leavy
Patrick Brodie
Kevin Doherty
Brendan Spillane
James Steinhoff
PhD scholarship: one fully funded PhD scholarship under the supervision of Dr Brendan Spillane.
Combating the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe.
Details in the Scholarship section below. Starting date: 10th January 2024. Deadline for application: 10th of November 2023. The application system opens on the 1st October 2023.
1. Check admission requirements.
a. A minimum 2.1 primary degree (GPA greater than 3.08) in any field of study*; OR
b. A minimum 2.1 (GPA greater than 3.08) master’s degree in information science, library science, communication studies or a related field.
For non-native English speakers, an English language certificate is required: IELTS overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section.
*If an applicant does not hold a master’s degree, they will be required to enter the PhD programme via the MLitt programme and will be provided the option of advancing to stage two of the PhD programme after successful completion of a Transfer Assessment Panel (TAP). Only applicants who meet the master’s degree requirement will be considered for funding.
2. The online application system opens in February each year.
Although you may submit at any time, applications are not reviewed until after the May 1st deadline (if you are applying for the UCD China Scholarship Scheme or other schemes the deadlines are usually much earlier- please contact the PhD Coordinator or UCD Graduate studies). We will attempt to notify you about the outcome of your application as soon as possible. After your application is reviewed, you may be asked to complete an online interview to provide the application committee with more information.
**APPLY NOW!**
If you have further questions please contact the PhD coordinator: kalpana.shankar@ucd.ie
For current UCD Postgraduate research fees:
For information about moving to and the cost of living in Dublin.
PhD scholarships.
One fully funded PhD scholarship under the supervision of Dr. Brendan Spillane:
Combating the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe.
University: University College Dublin
School: Information and Communications Studies (ICS)
Supervisor: Dr. Brendan Spillane (brendan.spillane@ucd.ie)
Starting date: 10th January 2024
Deadline for application: 10th of November 2023
Interviews with short-listed candidates: 27-28th of October 2023
Position: 100%, full-time position, tuition fees waived by the School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS).
Remuneration: PhD studentship renewable for up to four years and consisting of:
- PhD student stipend of €18,500k per annum (tax free)
- Scholarship students will be prioritised when applying for travel funding and overheads from ICS.
- Some equipment and travel funding will be available from the two Horizon Europe research projects depending on the level of contribution the proposed PhD makes to each.
Eligibility: EU and non-EU students are equally eligible for studentships under this award
Requirement: Students accepted under this scheme must meet the university entry standards.
Description of the Post:
The School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) at University College Dublin (UCD) is inviting one fully funded PhD scholarship under the supervision of Dr. Brendan Spillane.
The successful candidate will be interested in developing methods and techniques to monitor and counter the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe. The candidate will complete a project of their own design. Suggested topics of focus include:
- Developing methods and techniques to identify common, new, and trending disinformation narratives in countries and regions across Europe. This may include identifying common markers and cues in disinformation which may indicate whether it is part of a FIMI campaign. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would possess strong technical, programming and quantitative data analysis skills.
- Identifying which countries and regions are the most susceptible to FIMI linked disinformation campaigns. This would include analysing their cultural, political, media, and regulatory environments to understand the underlying causes of the susceptibility and developing policy, legal, media and societal recommendations to counter it. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would have some technical and programming skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
- Identify common Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) of FIMI campaigns with the aim of being able to attribute them to specific foreign actors. Candidates would be expected to identify or create their own datasets using real examples FIMI campaigns across Europe and apply standard quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would have some technical and programming skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
- Develop new and innovative methods for policy makers and state institutions to counter FIMI linked disinformation campaigns. Candidates would review and analyse existing methods to combat disinformation at a national level to understand their effectiveness, identify how they can be improved upon and develop new and innovative methods to counter disinformation. Candidates interested in focusing on this or a similar topic would have some technical skills and a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.
- Candidates are also encouraged to modify and build upon one or more of these topics, or to propose their own PhD topic which will help to counter the spread of disinformation linked to Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) across Europe. There is a preference for topics with an empirical and quantitative focus, but social science and qualitative projects will be considered.
Depending on the topic, the successful candidate should have a background in Computer Science, Information Science, Media and Communications, Journalism, or other related subject areas. The candidate should also demonstrate that they are willing to learn new methods, techniques, tools, and technologies as necessary to undertake research related to this PhD. Candidates should be methodical, rigorous, analytical and have a strong attention to detail. They should be capable of working independently, while also making contributions to the related projects, The School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/), UCD, and to the ADAPT Centre (https://www.adaptcentre.ie/).
Research Area.
The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Spillane, and will contribute to the ongoing €4m Horizon Europe VIGILANT (https://www.vigilantproject.eu/) and a new €3.1m Horizon Europe ATHENA project focused on combatting disinformation in Europe, and to the wider body of knowledge on combating disinformation. The candidate is expected to have a strong general interest in FIMI, misinformation and disinformation (and related forms of problematic content e.g., hate speech, radicalisation, extremist), their effect on society and ongoing efforts to combat it. This PhD will intersect with other related domains including politics, geopolitics, international relations, public policy, security, news and current events, journalism, information studies, and sociology.
Dr. Spillane’s work is focused on Human Judgement of Information which is at the intersection of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Behavioural Science and Information Science. Common topics in his work include Bias, Credibility, Misinformation and Disinformation, News, and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
The successful candidate will be encouraged to draw upon the interdisciplinary research and expertise within ICS to suggest new and innovative methods and techniques to complete their PhD.
Responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to write and successfully defend a PhD thesis focused on the areas listed in the description of the post and meet the degree requirements set by UCD to advance through the PhD programme.
The candidate is also expected to produce research outputs in relation to their doctoral research and attend conferences to disseminate the research findings. The post-holder will collaborate closely with their supervisor to produce outputs on their combined research areas. The candidate will ideally produce single-, first-, and co-authored research by the end of the post. The candidate is expected to take part in seminars, workshops, and events organised within ICS and across UCD that are relevant to the project. The post-holder will be expected to contribute to the intellectual life in ICS and UCD and participate in research activities to the level and extent of their qualifications. The candidate will also join and contribute to the Science Foundation Ireland (https://www.sfi.ie/) ADAPT Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology (https://www.adaptcentre.ie/) in which Dr. Spillane is a Funded Investigator and where he founded a Harmful Information Working Group. The ADAPT Centre can provide significant additional resources to its member researchers who are spread
across eight Irish universities.
The candidate will also be expected to complete a total of 30 ECTS credits spread across the post as part of the university’sstructured PhD path. Finally, the candidate will engage in teaching and tutoring during their PhD.
Role profile
Depending on the topic chosen or proposed, the successful candidate is expected to be familiar with and/or proficient in (or willing to learn) the necessary research and technical skills.
- For PhDs with a heavy technical focus, candidates are expected to have a strong technical background with good knowledge of programming. They have experience of or must be willing to learn quantitative research methods and data analysis techniques. It would be beneficial if candidates had a Computer Science, Information Science, Engineering or a similar technical background, or they can demonstrate practical and applicable technical skills.
- For PhDs requiring a balance of technical and non-technical skills, candidates are expected to have some
quantitative analysis skills. Programming experience is a bonus but not a requirement. Candidates must have or be willing to learn quantitative and qualitative research methods and analysis techniques. Candidates should have an Information Science, Journalism, or Media and Communications background. Candidates with no technical experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn any necessary technical skills.
- For PhDs which mostly have a non-technical focus, candidates are expected to be familiar with and/or be proficient in qualitative methodologies including but not limited to, site-specific fieldwork, case-study, ethnographic and desk research, discourse, policy analysis, planning, and stakeholder analysis. However, as there is a preference for projects with some technical aspects, the successful candidate must be willing to learn any necessary technical skills and quantitative methods. Candidates should have a Media and Communications, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, or International Relations background. Candidates with no technical experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn any necessary technical skills.
Post Requirements
Strong written command of English is required. English proficiency at the C2 or C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is advised.
Candidates are expected to hold a strong Masters degree of 2:1 and above (or equivalent GPA) in Computer Science, Information Science, Media and Communications, Journalism, Political Science, Psychology, International Relations or other relevant subject areas.
The candidate should be able to demonstrate exceptional organisational experience and skills.
Preference will be given to candidates who:
- Can demonstrate experience and skills that match their proposed PhD topic - i.e., Those who propose a quantitative or data focused project should be able to demonstrate that they are technical, analytical, detailed and process orientated. Those who propose a non-technical PhD should be able to demonstrate an understanding of social science and qualitative methods and an ability to integrate or build upon robust theories from the literature.
- Have read some of the main literature related to their proposed topic
- Can see
Applications are open to students of all nationalities and backgrounds. Women and people of colour are especially encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Applications need to be submitted via UCD’s application portal:
https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/graduateapplicant/applying.
*The application system opens on the 1st October 2023.*
The candidate should apply to Programme Code W139 using the UCD Admissions online application portal (a €50 application fee applies). Please see the main ICS and UCD Graduate Studies sites for detailed application requirements:
https://www.ucd.ie/ics/study/phdresearchprogrammes/ and https://www.ucd.ie/graduatestudies/studywithus/applicationprocess/
The School of Information and Communication Studies (https://www.ucd.ie/ics/) requires PhD applicants to submit their curriculum vitae, an applicant statement (1,500-2,000 words), and a personal statement (32,000 characters). Candidates are advised to describe their research interests, explain why they believe this position fits their profile, and include a brief description of the topic they would like to explore in their PhD project. In addition to that, applicants should submit a writing sample, preferably a piece that has been published or a chapter of a thesis, as additional information.
Applications will be reviewed through our system of open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment of researchers. Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview for the position, which will be held online. Candidates will be given at least five days’ notice if selected to interview.
For any questions related to this post please contact Brendan Spillane (https://people.ucd.ie/brendan.spillane) at brendan.spillane@ucd.ie.
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Other sources of funding:
Please note that our PhD programme is face to face, especially during the early years when students will need to take taught modules. Other responsibilities will include attending supervisory sessions and Research Studies Panels. UCD School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) and other units at UCD offer numerous research events, training in research skills, and opportunities for enriching your education, and expanding your networks.
Further Information
Further information regarding the application process, scholarships and questions, can be found on the Graduate Studies website
UCD ICS hosts visiting PhD scholars for less than 6 months or less than 12 months. As a visiting PhD student scholar you will be provided a desk to complete your work, library access, and be invited to participate in School and university events.
Application process
1. Check eligibility requirements
Currently enrolled in an accredited PhD Programme in information science, library science, communication studies or a related discipline.
Be in good financial standing with your home university
For non-native English speakers, an English language certificate is required: IELTS overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section.
2. Conduct research on School staff areas of expertise.
Search the UCD staff profiles and search published literature on Google scholar to get an idea about staff research expertise.
3. Contact a school staff member and ask if they would be willing to supervise you for a temporary proposed project. You will not be considered for a place in the programme if a staff member has not agreed to supervise you. While the PhD Coordinator may be able to offer advice, it is expected that exceptional applicants will locate their own supervisor.
4. Apply to the PhD Programme Coodinator using the application form below.
If applying for the UCD China Scholarship Scheme, please see this page for details as the application process and timeline differs (https://www.ucd.ie/
Applications must include all necessary documents to be considered.