Law - Structured

The purpose of structuring the doctoral programme is to provide the support and skills that students need to help achieve their academic and professional goals. The structured PhD is a formalised, integrated programme of education, training, research, personal and professional development activities. It enables the development of discipline-specific knowledge and research skills as well as generic transferable skills.



Supervision is by a principal supervisor (and co-supervisor where applicable) who is responsible for providing guidance on the research carried out by the student and manages the student’s training. The student and supervisor are supported by a Graduate Research Committee (GRC). The GRC formally monitors student progress through an annual review process in line with national and international best practice.



The Structured PhD is available as a 4-year Full Time programme or a 6–year Part Time programme (360 ECTS).



Each student must obtain a total of 30 ECTS through structured modules having a taught or skills component, over the course of the PhD and the remaining 330 ECTS are awarded for the Dissertation.



New entrants will normally register for the programme in September of each year.



Optional Modules:

Students select modules in consultation with their supervisor and/or Graduate Research Committee from the catalogue of PhD modules to support their professional development.

To be eligible for admission to the PhD programme, a candidate must normally have obtained an LL.M or other Master’s degree to honours standard (or equivalent international qualification). However, at a minimum, the candidate must have reached a high honours standard at the examination for the primary degree or presented such other evidence as will satisfy the Head of School and the College of his/her fitness.

Applications are made online via University of Galway's Postgraduate Applications System.

Structured PhD (full-time, four years; part-time, six years)