The 7 Irish universities, the Institutes of Technology and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are committed to strengthening their graduate research capacity.
The development of doctoral studies in Ireland involves an enhanced research environment in our universities and institutes. Structured PhD programmes have been developed which preserve the PhD’s traditional strengths and embed activities that support the acquisition of a range of relevant specialist and generic skills.
A PhD graduate receives an education that equips them with the skills and attributes of an independent researcher and the thesis involves a contribution of new knowledge to an area of learning. However, the skills and attributes the PhD experience bestows are transferable across a broad range of professional careers.
The doctorate constitutes the most advanced form of graduate education. The core component of doctoral education is the advancement of knowledge through original research. In Irish HE Institutes, the doctorate principally takes three forms. The predominant form is the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). The core of a PhD is the thesis, which is a significant contribution to knowledge through original research that extends knowledge frontiers or professional practice parameters by the development of a body of work, some of which merits publication in national or international refereed journals.
Professional doctorates are relatively few. A professional doctorate is a doctoral level award where the field of study is a professional discipline and distinguished from the PhD by a title that refers to that profession. The degree is normally characterised by a shorter research thesis and the research normally has a professional environment context; for example, exploring the development and operation of a new work practice, data management or marketing techniques.
Universities award higher doctorates to those who have demonstrated an exceptional contribution to their field and new knowledge through published work. There is no formal coursework or programme of study. Those awarded higher doctorates are typically very experienced and senior researchers.
A wide range of Masters both taught and research and post-graduate diploma programmes, are available in most disciplines in all Irish universities. These cater for a wide range of potential students including those with other commitments and those who are seeking to enhance their professional profile.