Courses / Course

Applications will be considered 5 times during the year by the PhD Admissions Panel (in November, February, April, May and June). Before sending your proposal or making a formal application, please note that we will hosting regular proposal writing workshops on the following days in 2023-2024 (all times are Irish time):  

 To register for a workshop, please click here

After attending one of these workshops, you can send in a proposal which will be reviewed by the PhD Admissions Panel at one of their meetings. We will then decide on supervision capacity and advise you on submitting a formal application. At that stage, you must make an application via the Postgraduate Application Centre www.pac.ie/maynoothuniversity Please note that there is also a Doctorate in Education with Specialisms and this is a different programme.

Students should try to develop a provisional research question and to locate a topic for research. In terms of the parameters of a PhD project, it is expected to make an original contribution to a field of research in education, so this should be born in mind when¿reflecting¿on a topic. This might be addressing a problem or gap in, or synthesis of, existing research.¿Students will also find it helpful to review staff profiles and identify staff with areas of interest relating to their proposed research question. Staff profiles are available at https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/education/our-people 

Applications will be reviewed by the PhD Admissions Panel and interviews will take place 4-6 weeks after receipt of applications. Please note that applicants should ensure that PhD applications are submitted before 15th June 2024 for a start date in September 2024. For applications received in the last quarter (May and June 2024), interviews will take place in June 2024.

Please note you will be asked to submit the following documentation when making your PAC application:

(a) Certified copies of all official transcripts of results for non-Maynooth University primary degree and post-graduate qualifications.

(b) Non-Maynooth University students are asked to provide a copy of their birth certificate or valid passport.

(c) A research proposal giving an outline of the rationale for your research, its proposed contribution to education and a provisional research plan.

(d) The names and contact details of a minimum of 2 academic referees who are familiar with the applicant’s academic work and can comment on their ability to work independently.

(e) A full curriculum vitae.

(f) A 3,000-word writing sample.

Subject to meeting university requirements and to providing a research proposal that is at an appropriate level and aligned with staff expertise, students will be called to interview.

Maynooth University, Department of Education offers a structured PhD programme which incorporates 30 credits of taught modules for students with a Masters (60 credits for students without a Masters). The course can be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis. The normal duration of a part-time PhD is 4-6 years, and a full-time PhD takes 3-4 years.

The modules are designed to support the research process and assignments are negotiated with your supervisor. Please note that key introductory Education modules are usually held on Thursdays from 4.00-7.00 pm in both semesters, however since a suite of modules is offered by the Faculty and Graduate Studies, dates and times will vary for subsequent modules. It is suggested that you set aside Thursday afternoons for coming to campus, particularly in the first year.

All first-year students take these key introductory modules and determine, with their supervisors, appropriate additional modules. Modules are undertaken throughout the programme in line with student needs and interests.

Funding awards such as the IRC and Maynooth University's John and Pat Hume Doctoral Awards have deadlines in November and January respectively. Further details can be found at the following links:

Graduate Studies Office 

Irish Research Council