Planning for Postgraduate Study
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 BreenDean, Graduate School
How do I become a postgrad?
Is it worth it – time, effort?
Some Statistics 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
1200 taught postgrad programmes 808 research postgrads 45% funded
Graduated 131 research postgrads 2006 44 Masters and 87 PhDs
Why Postgraduate Study? What are your goals?
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… Sufficient motivation Academic ability, suitability and your needs Time and money
Types of Postgraduates Taught versus Research programmes Taught Grad Diplomas/Masters degrees
Dr Siobhán Tiernan will speak about “taught postgrads”
Research degrees 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 When to study
After your first degree … easiest time After a break After working full-time While still working full or part-time
Where to study In Ireland: Limerick or elsewhere Overseas: planning and timeframe Advantages/disadvantages of moving institution Personal/professional considerations
Evaluate what is on offer
Type of course Number of places Selection criteria Closing date Employment
record Fees and finance
Size of Department
Research interests Type of
supervision Facilities Inside story Publishing rights
What’s on offer at UL 70+ taught PG Programmes Research Masters / PhD
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 Privately funded Advance Scholars’ Awards University / department scholarships Limited number of EU fee waivers Maintenance … tutorial assistants,
demonstratorships …ask HODs/ADsR University demonstratorships €6,864 Masters; € 8,232 PhD + fees
External funding Irish Research Councils
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
1 PG programme; fees plus 3 x €837 per annum … goes directly to student
Other funding possibilities 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
Moving towards more Structured PhD programmes (4 years)
In first 1 to 2 years taught modules, beginning of the project, then
2 years research programme
You will hear about “Greps” Graduate Research Education Programmes Name used by IRCSET / IRCHSS for
“structured PhD programmes”
The national policy is to… Double the output of people with
postgrad qualifications by 2013 A national “upskilling”…
Why more PhD graduates?
Your country needs you! Number of researchers per 1000
population: Ireland 14th of 30 OECD countries
National targets for the universities SET: 543 (2005) 997 (2013) HSS: 187 (2005) 315 (2013) UL: 67 (2005) 134 (2013) – all PhDs
UL Research institutes
So, example: MSSI
34 Academic Staff, 38 Postdoctoral Fellows, 139 Postgraduate students
211 Researchers
Chemistry Mechanical Engineering Materials Science Electronic Engineering Physics Biochemistry
And… PhDs are the norm for academic positions
(usually = almost invariably! In fact Post-doc experience plus publications plus research funding Science)
Masters and PhDs are usually required for more senior positions in Research labs / Labs in industry
Many industries are opting to pay for their laboratory staff to register and complete a postgraduate degree Part Time! Continuous Professional Development CPD in
jargon!
What is a research Masters? In UL, titles like MSc, MTech, MEng, MA,
MEd etc. Full time: minimum of one academic year
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!
Full time: a minimum of 3 academic years To be fair, most take ~ 4 years
You are expected to undertake a substantial amount of independent research
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 Applications (UL)
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)
http://www.ul.ie/graduatestudies/ Usually register for MSc and transfer to PhD –
seminar and a Transfer Document
Research Postgrads… at UL 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? 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…
Chair, External and Internal Examiner
Viva voce examination
You graduate… Dr!
In Germany they retain all their titles:
Herr Professor Dr Dr!
Photographer in action at a College of Science graduation!
What now … Sem 1, year 4 ? Start expressing interest You will achieve a 1st or 2:1 degree
(hopefully) 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 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 Reference “Help” with the project description
IRCHSS seminar MBA Room, 11-12, Monday 19th
November Be there!
IRCSET seminar to follow
ADsR, in each College Business, Dr Siobhan Tiernan Education, Dr Roland Tormey Humanities, Prof. Tom Lodge Informatics, Dr Seán McGrath Engineering, Dr Patrick Frawley Science, Dr Ciarán MacDonncha
Note the name and enquire in your College
Taught Postgraduate Studies at the University of Limerick
Dr. Siobhan TiernanADR Kemmy Business School
Taught Versus Research Postgraduate Studies Taught Grad Diplomas/Masters degrees
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
Autumn Semester HRM in Transition Issues in
International Political Economy
Comparative IR Psychology of
Strategic Decision Making & Change
Masters Thesis A
Spring Semester Irish & EU
Labour Law Theory &
Practice of Negotiations
HRD International
Innovations in HRM
Masters Thesis B
Summer
Masters Thesis
Advantages of Taught Programmes 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
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
When to study
Where to study
In Ireland: Limerick or elsewhere
Overseas: planning and timeframe
Advantages/disadvantages of moving institution
Personal/professional considerations
What’s on offer at UL
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
Type of course Number of places Selection criteria Closing date Employment
record Fees and finance
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/
Funding for Postgraduate Study …etc
Mary SweeneyHead of Careers
Cooperative Education & Careers Division
Where do UL graduates study? Survey of 2006 graduates 22% in further study
90% in Ireland 10% overseas
29 UK 4 USA 3 EU 1 other
Postgraduate Study USA (cont.)Application Procedure
Research Universities Consult UL faculty member and Careers Service 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
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
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
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
USA Fulbright Awards O’Reilly Foundation; John F Kennedy Fund University Scholarships and Assistantships
E.g. Conlisk MBA Scholarship Other
Japan Foundation Program 2008/2009 Mexican Scholarships 2008/2009
Further Information www.education.ie
Fulbright Student Awards For postgrad study or research in the USA Value: Up to €20,000 for full academic year Disciplines
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 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 Irish Research Council for the
Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS)
Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET)
Maintenance Awards IRCHSS - €12,900IRCSET - €16,000
Sources of Information 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 Postgraduate Study Fair
13th February, 2007 All UL Faculties Other Irish Universities & Institutions Some UK Universities Opportunity to review options
Postgraduate Courses in Education Wednesday, 14th Nov @ 6.30 in D1050