Business - Doctor of Philosophy - Research - Waterford

A wide range of modules are available for selection on the programme, designed to enable you to develop your ability to undertake independent research at an advanced level. Both Universal modules (designed to develop generic skills) and Project Path modules (designed to develop discipline-specific skills) are made available. You are required to complete 30 ECTS before submitting your doctoral thesis.

Universal PhD Modules available to research students
The following Universal Path Modules are provided to enable you to develop important generic skills. Students must complete a minimum of 10 credits from these modules:

Full Title Credits Module ID

Research Planning and Project Management 5 RESA-0183
Innovation and Entrepreneurship 5 ENTR-0038
Statistics and Quantitative Data Analysis 5 STAT-0055
Research Integrity and Ethics (mandatory) 5 RESA-0180
Introduction to Research Methodologies 5 RESA-0179
Research Communication 5 COMM-0078
Academic Writing for Research Postgraduates 5 RESA-0182
Practical Pedagogy for Research Postgraduates 10 RESA-0181
Power, Place and Knowledge Production 5 PROD-0019

Project Path Modules available to research students
The following Project Path modules are designed to enable you to develop important discipline-specific skills. Students must complete a minimum of 10 credits from these modules.

Full Title Credits
Professional Skills Development 1 5
Business Theory Development and Application 1 5
Research Philosophy 5
Qualitative Data Analysis 5
Advanced Statistical Analysis 5
Directed Independent Learning 5
External Advanced Research Learning 5
External 5 Credit Module 5
External 10 Credit Module 10

The entry requirement for registration on a PhD research degree is an Honours Bachelor degree (minimum level: Second Class Honours) in a field of study related to the subject matter of the PhD degree sought.

For applicants whose first language is not English, demonstrable competence in English, both spoken and written, is also required (e.g. 6.5 IELTS). Please see SETU Waterford’s English Language Requirements for details.

The application procedure for research degrees in SETU Waterford varies depending on whether you plan to pay fees and other costs yourself (“self-funded”) or whether you are applying for a position funded by a research grant awarded to a SETU Waterford staff member (“funded”).

Funded Research Positions:
Opportunities for funded research projects leading to postgraduate awards are typically advertised through the media and on the SETU Waterford website.

All applications for admission to funded postgraduate research degrees at SETU Waterford are made via the submission of a completed application form submitted by email to the Postgraduate Admissions Office.

Useful Guide

Self-Funded Research Positions:
The School also welcomes applications for self-funded research projects, i.e. those that are not, at the time of your initial interactions with SETU Waterford, funded by an external research funding body. Typically, in this case, you may approach the School with your own concept for a research project, which you plan to self-fund for the duration of the project.

Applications for admission to self-funded research degrees at SETU Waterford are made through the Postgraduate Application Centre . However, before you make an application for a self-funded PhD, you are requested to complete the pre-application steps below.

Pre-Application Steps for Self-Funded Research Positions
It is strongly recommended that preliminary discussions take place between the potential applicant, a prospective supervisor and the Programme Leader/Head of Department, before a formal application to join a research programme is made. This is to ensure that the School has the requisite expertise, capacity and authority to offer supervision to you.

For help finding a prospective supervisor for a self-funded research position, please contact the PGR Research Programme Leader, Dr. Anne Sweeney , forwarding a brief research proposal and a full CV.

Guidelines for Preparing a Research Proposal
To identify potential supervisors, you are requested to forward a brief research proposal to the Programme Leader, Dr. Anne Sweeney. The proposal should set out precisely the nature of the study area, the objective of the research you plan to pursue, the research question(s) you seek to answer, an outline of the proposed methodology, and an assessment of the contribution the study would make. This should be written in a formal academic style, with proper and appropriate academic citations and references, and should enable a potential supervisor to decide if the proposal is congruent with their current research interests. As stated above, this should be accompanied by a full CV.

If a suitable supervisory team is identified at this stage, you will be advised to make an application for a self-funded research position through the Postgraduate Application Centre. If however, the School does not have the capacity to provide supervisors for your research project, you will be advised not to submit an application.

Useful Guide

Enrolling on the Postgraduate Research Register
Once an application to join a research programme has been submitted and approved by the Head of Department, (and eligibility criteria is checked by Registry), you and your supervisory team will then submit a completed PG_A2 Form, to enable you to enrol on the postgraduate research register at SETU Waterford. Once the PG_A2 Form is approved, you will be invited to register at SETU Waterford and the research programme commences.

4 - 6 years, blended.

NEXT INTAKE Rolling intake

Aligned with our School’s aim of developing a deep understanding of important global, societal and economic issues, our current doctoral students are engaged in researching a wide range of topics. A summary of the research projects currently taking place is provided at this link https://www.wit.ie/courses/doctor-of-philosophy-business-programme#opportunity