Download Structured PhD guidelines (PDF file) here

As part of the doctoral training available on the Structured PhD programme, students avail themselves of a range of interdisciplinary taught modules. The wide menu of available options include modules that:

• are Discipline-Specific in that they augment the student’s existing knowledge in their specialist area


• are Dissertation-Specific in that they supply core skills which are essential to completion of the research project, e.g., additional language skills


• acknowledge a student’s professional development e.g. presentation of a paper at an International Conference


• enhance a student’s employability through generic training, e.g,. Careers Workshops, computer literacy.

Each student will be assigned a primary Supervisor(s) and a Graduate Research Committee made up of experienced researchers to plan their programme of study and to provide on-going support to their research.

Both Continental and Analytic styles of philosophy are encouraged for research in this department. The main areas for postgraduate research are post-Kantian and contemporary Continental philosophy, aesthetics and bioethics. Within the Centre for Bioethical Research and Analysis (COBRA), which the department hosts, research projects in areas of bioethics and professional ethics are especially encouraged. Within the area of Continental philosophy we have particular interests in Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Art and Culture, and Philosophy of Religion. Postgraduate research is also invited in the areas of Political Philosophy, Modern Philosophy (early and late), Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Psychiatry, Philosophy of Mind and Irish thought.