The answers to many of your questions will be contained in the UCD Graduate Studies Research Handbook relevant SPIRe programme handbook.
Other frequently asked questions are answered below:
The majority of students will be able to sign up to modules on SisWeb.
For certain modules, and for Jan or May start students, an online module registration process is in place.
For further information on both methods, click here
Note that, outside of core modules, students must liaise with their supervisor before registering for any additional modules.
If you encounter any difficulties with registering for modules, contact dara.gannon@ucd.ie
In addition to your supervisor, your School will appoint a Research Studies Panel (RSP) within three months of the date of initial registration. Typically, RSP members are nominated by the School in consultation with the supervisor. It normally comprises of the supervisor(s), two advisors (one of which will act as the panel Chair) and the student. The purpose of the RSP is to support and enhance the supervisor-student relationship, to monitor progress during the course of the doctoral studies, and to provide advice and support both to the student and the supervisor. One of the nominated advisors will have academic expertise relevant to the student’s research work and also have experience in supervising doctoral students.
The RSP should have its first meeting within six months of the student’s initial registration in order to review the student’s Research and Professional Development Plan (RPDP). At least one additional meeting should be held in the first year of the student’s registration. Thereafter, it is recommended that students should have two RSP meetings per academic year. Students should be pro-active in arranging such meetings in conjunction with their supervisor. The student, or another member of the RSP, may convene a meeting of the panel at any stage if it is considered desirable or necessary to address any relevant issue(s) that may arise.
Students should submit a copy of each signed RSP report to the PhD Administrator for central record-keeping and they should also upload themselves on InfoHub.
The RPDP consists of three sections. The first highlights guidance on research planning, the second highlights guidance on professional development planning and the third section is the RPDP Form itself. Part 1 of the RPDP form is a record of the student’s activities and Part 2 is the Research Studies Panel (RSP) Meeting Report.
Academic Regulations stipulate that the completed and signed Research and Professional Development Planning Form from your most recent RSP meeting is submitted as one of the required documents to a Transfer Assessment Panel (TAP) where a student seeks to:
For full information on the RPDP process see the Graduate Studies page
The RPDP consists of three sections. The first highlights guidance on research planning, the second highlights guidance on professional development planning and the third section is the RPDP Form itself. Part 1 of the RPDP form is a record of the student’s activities and Part 2 is the Research Studies Panel (RSP) Meeting Report.
Academic regulations stipulate that the completed and signed Research and Professional Development Planning Form from your most recent RSP meeting is submitted as one of the required documents to a Transfer Assessment Panel (TAP) where a student seeks to:
For full information on the RPDP process see the Graduate Studies page
Students should submit a copy of each signed RSP report to the PhD Administrator for central record-keeping and they should also upload themselves on InfoHub.
UCD has a funding scheme available that is open to staff and research students to apply for relatively small grants, for example attendance at a conference or other dissemination costs. Procedures change year-on-year, but further details can be found (opens in a new window)here: (requires UCD connect details)
Funding from the UCD SPIRe Research Committee is for PhD researchers to facilitate research and dissemination of research by supporting costs including for organizing academic events, for research support (e.g. access to databases, research assistance, translation, software) travel, accommodation, conference or summer school registration fees and subsistence.
The amount of the grant is up to €750 for any single request. Applications will be reviewed tri-annually by the UCD SPIRe Research Committee and funding calls will be communicated via the SPIRe PhD email list.
Early-career researchers, who are members of the PSAI, can apply for up to €400 to travel and present a paper. Researchers can receive funding of up to €800 for a maximum of two conferences per academic year.
More details below and at: (opens in a new window)https://www.psai.ie/funding-
There are a number of training and development opportunities, which can be accessed via the Graduate Studies website
SPIRe organises a seminar series for all staff and graduate students in the school. Attendance at these seminars provides an excellent opportunity for you to develop your presentation skills, learn about research that takes place across the school, and practice providing constructive feedback in an academic setting. Attendance at the SPIRe Seminar Series is a core requirement for students on the Politics and International Relations programme. Students on other programmes with a SPIRe supervisor are strongly encouraged to also attend.
After the transfer to Stage 2 of the PhD program (during the 3rd year of the program for full-time students), all Pol & IR students will be required to present at the regular weekly seminar series. Students on other programmes who wish to have an opportunity of presenting should make themselves known to the SPIRe Seminar Series Coordinator. For 2024-25 this is Dr Alexa Zellentin.
The current SPIRe Seminar Series schedule can be found here
In the first stage of the PhD program, there will be a workshop session scheduled at the end of each semester. All PhD students with supervisors in SPIRe will be required to present at these workshops at the end of their 2nd (usually May) and 4th trimester (usually December). The first of these two presentations could potentially take the form of presenting your research design. The second should take the form of a proper academic research presentation, i.e. either a paper or a chapter of your thesis. These presentations are a requirement for Pol & IR students for transfer to Stage 2. For each presentation, one of the academic staff members of the school will be assigned as discussant.
Please consult the Pol & IR Handbook for more details.
The Connected_Politics Lab organises a similar seminar series that is particularly relevant for students on the QCSS program. For these reasons, it is strongly encouraged that you attend all seminars in the school of your supervisor, as well as those of the Connected_Politics Lab.
The SPIRe Early Career Researcher Forum is a series of events at the School of Politics and International Relations. The Forum provides guidance to early-career researchers and facilitates informal discussions between SPIRe faculty and PhD students.
Two SPIRe faculty members will provide a short overview of the topic and reflect on their experiences. The remaining time will be devoted to questions and answers.
Students who, under unforeseen circumstances, need to take time out of the programme, can apply for a leave of absence (LoA). An LoA can be for up to a maximum of one-third of the length of the programme (four semesters for full time students and six semesters for part time students).
Ordinarily you should apply for an LOA in advance of the start of the Leave of Absence but, in principle, you can apply for an LOA up to eight weeks into a trimester. Normally you are eligible for a refund of any fees paid but it's best to check with the Student Desk to confirm this. Anything beyond the eight weeks and it's considered a retrospective leave of absence, which is more difficult to obtain.
Note also that, barring very exceptional circumstances, you cannot obtain an LOA for the first trimester of your studies.
More detail on the process and an FAQ can be found here
In the first instance, students should contact their supervisor, School or Graduate School on the process. A student on LoA cannot be active on the programme i.e. they cannot meet with supervisor(s), attend lectures, access the library or receive grants/scholarships. However, students will continue to have access to their UCD Connect account, including email, during this time.
Please ensure to inform the PhD Administrator if you apply for a Leave of Absence online
For more details, see the FAQ on this page
Information on the services provided by the UCD Careers Network can be found here.
It is possible for graduate research students to book a 60-minute F-2-F consultation with a Career and Skills consultant - see here for further details.
Different theses in SPIRe have very different forms, please work with your supervisor and RSP on determining which thesis form (monograph or thesis as a collection of papers), structure, and length etc. is best suited for your project.
You can find the general university requirements for a PhD thesis here.
The current Graduate Research Board guidelines on thesis formats can be accessed here.
However, in the case of the multiple-paper format thesis there are some subject-specific requirements which apply to PhD candidates at SPIRe. These must be also taken into account and can be found here.
If you intend to pursue this thesis format, this should be discussed in advance with your supervisor.
These are the main sources of information on Thesis Submission and the Viva Voce:
Note: Students in thematic programmes should consult their respective handbooks for any items specific to their programme e.g. credit requirements.
Thesis Boot Camp is a free event provided by UCD Graduate Studies. You are an eligible Thesis Boot Camp recruit if you are:
For more details and to sign up click here.
UCD Research provides a range of supports for the (opens in a new window)IRC postgraduate call - details can be found (opens in a new window)here
UCD Research provides support for applicants to the (opens in a new window)IRC Post-doctoral Fellowship
Details can be found (opens in a new window)here.
Further information is available on the UCD Research Portal
SPIRe has a boilerplate document of various facts and figures relating to UCD. Please email (opens in a new window)melina.ziegel1@ucd.ie to request this.
For September and January start students, the STA takes place at the beginning of trimester 5 for full-time students and at the beginning of trimester 7 for part-time students.
The next deadline for the submission of Stage Transfer Assessment documents is TBC
For more information on the Stage Assessment Transfer process and documents required, please review the Graduate Research Studies Handbook and the SPIRe Programme Handbooks.