Course Overview

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 is 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.

A PhD dissertation should make a substantial and original contribution to its field of knowledge. The PhD degree is awarded for work that is 'worthy of publication, in whole or in part, as a work of serious scholarship' ( University of Galway Calendar). The length of the dissertation in English is normally 60,000 to 80,000 words. The duration of research is usually four years.

Programmes Available

Structured PhD (English)—full-time 
Structured PhD (English)—part-time
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System

Associated

Learning Outcomes

Entry Requirements

The minimum qualification necessary to be considered for admission to the PhD programme is a high honours, primary degree (or equivalent international qualification), or 'other such evidence as will satisfy the Head of Department and the Faculty of his/her fitness' (University of Galway Calendar). It is more usual, however, for successful applicants to have already gained a Master's degree.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Current research projects

’Confessions in Early Modern Literature’

’The Culture of Printmaking in Ireland in the Eighteenth Century’

’British Imperial Policy and Popular Theatre in Ireland, Canada and the US, 1888–1911’

Current funded research opportunity

Work Placement

Related Student Organisations

Career Opportunities

Find a Supervisor / PhD Project

If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search

Research Areas

Research interests of staff here.

Researcher Profiles

See 'Areas of Interest.'

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,750 p.a. (€5,890 including levy) 2024/25

Fees: Non EU

€14,500 p.a. (€14,640 including levy) 2024/25

Extra Information


EU Part time: Year 1 €4,250 p.a. (€4,390 including levy) 2024/25

All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy of €140.

Contact Us

Ms. Dearbhla Mooney
T 353 91 493 339
E dearbhla.mooney@universityofgalway.ie


What Our Students Say

Rosemary

Rosemary Gallagher |   English (Structured PhD)

As a PhD student in English you have the benefit of the different backgrounds and research interests of its vibrant and varied staff, as well as the support of your fellow postgraduate students. We’re very lucky here—it’s a great place to learn and work.