Planning for Postgraduate Study
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Introduction
The Path to Postgraduate Study
Research Postgrads at UL
Postgraduate Study Overseas
Funding for Postgraduate Study
Q&A
The Path to Postgraduate Study
Dr John Breen
Dean, Graduate School
How do I become a postgrad?
Is it worth it – time, effort?
Some Statistics
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26% of UL graduates of 2004 in further study
PGs in Ireland = approx 25% of student
population
18.3% of total UL students are postgrads
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1200 taught postgrad programmes
808 research postgrads
45% funded
Graduated 131 research postgrads 2006
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44 Masters and 87 PhDs
Why Postgraduate Study?
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What are your goals?
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Career objectives / plans
Employment prospects
Interest in the academic area / academia
Professional requirement
Subtle change to a new area
Key issues you need to think about…
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Sufficient motivation
Academic ability, suitability and your needs
Time and money
Types of Postgraduates
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Taught versus Research programmes
Taught Grad Diplomas/Masters degrees
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Dr Siobhán Tiernan will speak about “taught postgrads”
Research degrees
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Entry requirements: usually 1st & 2nd Class Hons. degrees
Full-time and part-time
May include some taught elements (methodology, etc)
Generic and transferable skills
Research proposal and plan
Masters: 1-3 years; PhD: 3-5 years
Timing and Location
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When to study
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After your first degree … easiest time
After a break
After working full-time
While still working full or part-time
Where to study
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In Ireland: Limerick or elsewhere
Overseas: planning and timeframe
Advantages/disadvantages of moving institution
Personal/professional considerations
Evaluate what is on offer
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Type of course
Number of places
Selection criteria
Closing date
Employment record
Fees and finance
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Size of Department
Research interests
Type of supervision
Facilities
Inside story
Publishing rights
What’s on offer at UL
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70+ taught PG Programmes
Research Masters / PhD
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All Colleges
Look at College / Department Web sites for
research interests
Research your options … now!
Compare and contrast UL with other
institutions
Funding at UL: research p’grads
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Privately funded
Advance Scholars’ Awards
University / department scholarships
Limited number of EU fee waivers
Maintenance … tutorial assistants,
demonstratorships …ask HODs/ADsR
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University demonstratorships
€6,864 Masters; € 8,232 PhD + fees
External funding
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Irish Research Councils
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Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS),
www.irchss.ie (5 in 2007)
Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET),
www.ircset.ie (2 calls?) (36 in 2007)
Some available to “non-EU” applicants
Research Grants (“won” by supervisors)
Local Authority Grants
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1 PG programme; fees plus 3 x €837 per annum …
goes directly to student
Other funding possibilities
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HEA Programme for Research in Third Level
Institutes HEA – PTRLI
Other agencies: Health Research Board,
Marine Institute, etc.
See UL website for more details
http://www.graduatestudies.ul.ie
Fourth level Ireland
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Moving towards more
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Structured PhD programmes (4 years)
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In first 1 to 2 years taught modules, beginning of
the project, then
2 years research programme
You will hear about “Greps”
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Graduate Research Education Programmes
Name used by IRCSET / IRCHSS for
“structured PhD programmes”
The national policy is to…
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Double the output of people with
postgrad qualifications by 2013
A national “upskilling”…
Why more PhD graduates?
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Your country needs you!
Number of researchers per 1000
population: Ireland 14th of 30 OECD
countries
National targets for the universities
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SET: 543 (2005)  997 (2013)
HSS: 187 (2005)  315 (2013)
UL: 67 (2005)  134 (2013) – all PhDs
UL Research institutes
So, example: MSSI
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34 Academic Staff,
38 Postdoctoral Fellows,
139 Postgraduate students
211 Researchers
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Chemistry
Materials Science
Physics
Mechanical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Biochemistry
And…
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PhDs are the norm for academic positions
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Masters and PhDs are usually required for
more senior positions in
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(usually = almost invariably! In fact Post-doc
experience plus publications plus research funding
Science)
Research labs / Labs in industry
Many industries are opting to pay for their
laboratory staff to register and complete a
postgraduate degree Part Time!
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Continuous Professional Development CPD in
jargon!
What is a research Masters?
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In UL, titles like MSc, MTech, MEng, MA, MEd
etc.
Full time: minimum of one academic year
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In practice… usually 2 academic years but (should
be) easily completed in that time
You are expected to complete a substantial
volume of research and present it as a thesis
Good option if you want an additional
expertise
Or slight change in direction from your
undergraduate course
PhD: Four years, not for years!
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Full time: a minimum of 3 academic years
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You are expected to undertake a substantial
amount of independent research
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To be fair, most take ~ 4 years
It must be publishable in peer reviewed journals … original
You present it as a thesis… perhaps with published papers
You must demonstrate that you are capable
of independent research and be able to
design and carry out a research project
Applications
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Applications (UL)
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Deadlines: research (applications considered monthly)
versus taught (early June)
Information: College / Department booklets / websites
Talk to potential supervisors / ADsR
If thinking about postgrad you may want to “choose” your
final year project supervisor!
Admission forms (see web site)
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http://www.ul.ie/graduatestudies/
Usually register for MSc and transfer to PhD –
seminar and a Transfer Document
Research Postgrads… at UL
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Discuss possible project and get “advice”
from your supervisor on the Project
Description
“advice” = AGREE!
Fill out the Postgraduate Form (research
version)… all the forms are on the Graduate
Studies website. Submit form by 15th of any
month
Applications are considered on the first
Tuesday of each month (except August)
Offers of places the following week
No project, No supervisor?
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Discuss possibilities with your FYP supervisor
Consult the ADR in your college …
I usually suggest writing out a SHORT cv: one
page MAXIMUM, with qualifications to date,
FYP title and supervisor, special methods used
etc.
Give this to Head of Dept saying you are
interested in “doing postgrad”!
So you’ve submitted your thesis…
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Chair, External and
Internal Examiner
Viva voce
examination
You graduate…
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Dr!
In Germany they
retain all their titles:
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Herr Professor Dr Dr!
Photographer in action at a
College of Science graduation!
What now … Sem 1, year 4 ?
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Start expressing interest
You will achieve a 1st or 2:1 degree
(hopefully)
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Not all lost with a 2:2, but funding not as
easy!
Discuss with potential supervisors
Get working on funding applications
Please note … some facts of life
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Applications e.g. to Irish Research Councils
for Humanities and Social Sciences / Science
and Technology (IRCHSS, IRCSET) are
submitted by and for the candidate (you!)
 In theory!
However: you must involve your potential
supervisor in the application
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Reference
“Help” with the project description
IRCHSS seminar
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MBA Room, 11-12, Monday 19th
November
Be there!
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IRCSET seminar to follow
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ADsR, in each College
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Business, Dr Siobhan Tiernan
Education, Dr Roland Tormey
Humanities, Prof. Tom Lodge
Informatics, Dr Seán McGrath
Engineering, Dr Patrick Frawley
Science, Dr Ciarán MacDonncha
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Note the name and enquire in your College
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Taught Postgraduate Studies
at the University of Limerick
Dr. Siobhan Tiernan
ADR Kemmy Business School
Taught Versus Research
Postgraduate Studies
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Taught Grad Diplomas/Masters degrees
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Full-time/part-time/bloc release
Conversion courses
Development of an academic specialism
Entry requirements vary (2.2 Hons. plus)
Duration – 12 -16 months
Which route suits you is a fundamental
decision
Depends on career options and personal
preferences
Example of a Taught Masters
Structure & Content - HRM
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Autumn Semester
HRM in Transition
Issues in
International
Political Economy
Comparative IR
Psychology of
Strategic Decision
Making & Change
Masters Thesis A
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Spring Semester
Irish & EU
Labour Law
Theory &
Practice of
Negotiations
HRD
International
Innovations in
HRM
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Summer
Masters
Thesis
Advantages of Taught
Programmes
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Degree of continuity from undergraduate
programme
Mixture of taught modules and a research
dissertation
Many of the programmes are recognised by
professional bodies
Could provide the basis for subsequent PhD
When to study
After your first degree … easiest time
 After a break
 After working full-time
 While still working full or part-time
 Many of the taught programmes offer part time
variants
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Where to study
In Ireland: Limerick or elsewhere
 Overseas: planning and timeframe
 Advantages/disadvantages of moving
institution
 Personal/professional considerations
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What’s on offer at UL
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70+ taught PG Programmes
 Graduate Diplomas / Masters
 Masters
 Look at College / Department Web sites
Research your options … now!
Compare and contrast UL with other
institutions
Evaluate what is on offer in UL
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Type of course
Number of places
Selection criteria
Closing date
Employment record
Fees and finance
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Size of Department
Research interests
Type of supervision
Facilities
Inside story
Publishing rights
Applications
Deadlines: (early June) although may close
off before that date
 Information: College / Department booklets
/ websites
 Talk to current or past students of the course
 Talk to potential supervisors / ADsR
 Admission forms (see web site)
 http://www.ul.ie/graduatestudies/
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Funding for Postgraduate Study
…etc
Mary Sweeney
Head of Careers
Cooperative Education & Careers Division
Where do UL graduates study?
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Survey of 2006 graduates
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22% in further study
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90% in Ireland
10% overseas
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29 UK
4 USA
3 EU
1 other
Postgraduate Study USA (cont.)
Application Procedure
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Research Universities
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Check directories and websites
Check Fulbright website
Select realistic choice: 3-7
Request Application Material ($30 - $100 fee)
Register for Tests GRE, GMAT
Compile application material
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Consult UL faculty member and Careers Service
Statement of Purpose (Fulbright guidelines)
Transcripts
References: 2/3
Complete application and apply for financial aid
Check visa requirements (US Embassy website)
Funding for Postgraduate Study Overseas
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UK
British Council, Research Councils e.g. Economic & Social
Research Council
 Scholarships for Irish graduates
 www.findaphd.com
 www.hotcourses.com/pg
Europe
 Government-funded International Scholarships
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The Finnish Government Scholarship Pool
National Scholarship program of the Slovak Republic
The Norwegian Government Scholarship Pool
Austrian Scholarship
Marie Curie Foundation/Framework 7
German Academic Exchange Scholarships
College of Europe, European University Institute
Funding for Postgraduate Study Overseas
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USA
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Other
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Fulbright Awards
O’Reilly Foundation; John F Kennedy Fund
University Scholarships and Assistantships
 E.g. Conlisk MBA Scholarship
Japan Foundation Program 2008/2009
Mexican Scholarships 2008/2009
Further Information
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www.education.ie
Fulbright Student Awards
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For postgrad study or research in the USA
Value: Up to €20,000 for full academic year
Disciplines
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Visual and performing arts
CRH award for Business Studies
Enterprise Irl for Science, Tech & Innovation
EPA for Environmental Science/Policy
Glen Dimplex for Science, Tech, Renewables
Teagasc for Agriculture & Food Science
Closing date: 14th December 2007
Details: www.fulbright.ie
Conlisk Scholarship - USA
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Fairfield University, USA
Scholarship for MBA or MSc Finance
Sponsored by Irish American community
Awarded to 10 UL graduates to date
Very positive feedback from graduates
Value =$45,000
GMAT required
Check www.ul.ie/careers News section
Irish Research Councils - Ireland
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Irish Research Council for the
Humanities and Social Sciences
(IRCHSS)
Irish Research Council for Science,
Engineering & Technology (IRCSET)
Maintenance Awards
IRCHSS - €12,900
IRCSET - €16,000
Sources of Information
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www.ul.ie/careers (Postgraduate Study section)
www.graduatestudies.ul.ie
www.postgradireland.com
www.findaphd.com
www.education.ie
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.britishcouncil.org/education/funding/
www.fulbright.ie
www.eurograduate.com
www.ets.org/gre - information on GRE & GMATtests
www.petersons.com – Guide to studying in the US
www.idp.com – Online applications to Australian Universities
www.irchss.ie
www.icrset.ie
www.npc.org.uk
Other Resources
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Postgraduate Study Fair
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13th February, 2007
All UL Faculties
Other Irish Universities & Institutions
Some UK Universities
Opportunity to review options
Postgraduate Courses in Education
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Wednesday, 14th Nov @ 6.30 in D1050