Child & Youth Research - Structured

The PhD in Child and Youth Research is a four-year full-time or six-year part-time interdisciplinary structured PhD programme. Anchored within the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic studies and delivered in partnership with the Health Promotion Research Centre in the College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences, this structured PhD programme aims to create a learning community of child and youth scholars within a high-quality research environment.



The programme is aligned with the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies strategic objectives, which designates Childhood, Youth and Family as a signature research area. The programme provides an opportunity for graduates to undertake postgraduate research informed by a broad range of disciplinary areas, including (but not limited to): Applied Social Sciences, Children Studies, Education, English, Drama and Theatre Studies, Geography, Health Promotion, Psychology, Politics and Sociology. The Programme will support doctoral researchers to conduct high quality policy and practice-relevant research within their disciplinary area(s) of interest and to develop knowledge and skills in key theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to child and youth research.



All students complete a major dissertation (c.80,000 words, 330ects) alongside a range of taught modules (30ects). The taught modules, which are delivered across year one and two, provide programme participants with the opportunity to widen their disciplinary knowledge and skill base to inform the development of their thesis work.



The programme aims are:



To develop programme participants’ knowledge and skills in key disciplinary and inter-disciplinary theoretical and methodological areas relating to children and youth;



To prepare programme participants to conduct high quality policy and practice-relevant research with children and youth;



To provide graduates with the set of transferable work-skills to facilitate their successful entry into a full range of employment settings.



Course Outline:



Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.



Students will undertake a PhD induction module in year one. Other core modules for all students are as follows:



Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Children and Youth (Year One)

Research Ethics and Pragmatics (Year One)

Contemporary Issues Affecting Children and Young People (Year Two)



Two additional option modules will be selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor as part of the students Personal Development Plan and should be designed to enhance the student’s capacity to undertake and successfully complete their research project.



A list of the available option modules can be accessed here and includes:

Advanced discipline-specific modules.

Generic transferrable and professional skills modules specifically designed for postgraduate research students.

Applicants will be expected to have an upper Second Class Honours degree at level 9, 2:1 grade, (or equivalent international qualification) in a discipline relevant to the research project they are proposing. If applicants do not have a degree of that kind, they must have demonstrated high ability by some other means (e.g., through publications or achievement in a higher degree). Where applicants do not meet the formal academic requirements they can apply for entry through the University’s Recognition for Prior Learning Policy. Garda vetting is generally required for students participating in this programme.

Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System.



Applications must include the following documentation:



A personal statement (600 words)

A curriculum vitae

Two letters of reference from academic referees

A research proposal (1,000 words).

Candidates are encouraged to consult with a potential supervisor before applying.



The admission of applicants to the programme will take into account the qualifications and preparedness of the applicant, the availability of qualified and accessible supervisors, and the alignment of the research proposal with CASSCS research priorities.



Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Structured PhD (Child and Youth Research), full-time, 4 years.

Structured PhD (Child and Youth Research), part-time, 6 years.

Research Areas


The Social World of the Child

Research Ethics and Pragmatics

Qualitative Research Methods

Quantitative Research Methods

Global Policy and Research

Youth and Society