Nursing & Midwifery - Research

The School of Nursing and Midwifery was established in 1996 at a time of great change in nursing education in Ireland. Subsequently a rapid expansion followed to a point where postgraduate programmes are offered catering for many branches of nursing and midwifery as well as other Healthcare professions. The School has a definite research profile and has formed many national and international links.



Research Programmes

The School has a growing record of attracting research funding in various health care areas. Research interest groups are working in collaboration with international experts in the areas of Maternal, Child and Family Health, Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities, Mental Health and Recovery, Healthcare Innovation and Integration. This work has created opportunities for full-time research posts.



Our Ph. D. programme follows a structured model. Students are required to participate in taught modules and obtain between 10 and 30 ECTS in doing so during the lifespan of their PhD research. At least a quarter of those credits will be fulfilled by the Research Integrity in an Open Scholarship Era module, which all Ph.D. students must complete. A foundation module entitled Research Methods for Health Care (10 ECTS) is available to all students. This is delivered through the monthly Research Support and Education Seminars and is provided to assist students in their development and to facilitate networking with other students and staff.

There are opportunities to study for a Ph.D. full-time taking approximately 4 years or part-time over a period of 6 years. Students can commence their programme of study from September or March in each academic year.



The School offers a number of research student bursaries each year and interested students should contact the Director of Research in the School.

March 2025 Entry

Master in Science, Nursing and Midwifery (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Master in Science, Nursing and Midwifery (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy, Nursing and Midwifery (Part-Time) - Part-Time 31/Mar/2025

Doctor in Philosophy, Nursing and Midwifery (Full-Time) - Full-Time 31/Mar/2025



September 2025 Entry

Master in Science, Nursing and Midwifery (Part-Time) - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

Master in Science, Nursing and Midwifery (Full-Time) - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025

Doctor in Philosophy, Nursing and Midwifery (Part-Time) - Part-Time 30/Sep/2025

Doctor in Philosophy, Nursing and Midwifery (Full-Time) - Full-Time 30/Sep/2025



In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to register retrospectively. Applicants wishing to be considered for retrospective admission should contact the Graduate Studies Office by emailing research.admissions@tcd.ie

Next Intake: March 2025 / September 2025

School Description:


The School of Nursing and Midwifery was established in 1996 at a time of great change in nursing education in Ireland. Subsequently a rapid expansion followed to a point where postgraduate programmes are offered catering for many branches of nursing and midwifery as well as other Healthcare professions. The School has a definite research profile and has formed many national and international links.


Research Programmes


The School has a growing record of attracting research funding in various health care areas. Research interest groups are working in collaboration with international experts in the areas of cardiovascular, oncology-palliative care, child health care, midwifery-led care, generic and intellectual disability, autism, health care management, mental illness and adult education issues. This work has created opportunities for full-time research posts.


In partnership with Queen's University Belfast, staff have assisted the School of Nursing in Jordan University of Science and Technology to develop two existing M.Sc. programmes and to institute a third. This work is funded by an EU TEMPUS grant. Staff are also working with universities in five countries including Charles and Pardubice Universities in the Czech Republic, Turku and Stadia Polytechnics in Finland, Murcia University in Spain, and Dundee and Paisley Universities in Scotland on a study investigating the development of ethical reasoning in student nurses as a care skill. The School has also been granted support by the Leonardo Da Vinci Programme for an exchange project aiming at exploring educational issues relating to the training of professionals to care for people with intellectual disability with Akershus University College in Norway.


Furthermore, an important study, involving several EU countries, is in preparation, and is being submitted for EU FP7 funding.


The School offers a number of research student bursaries each year and interested students should contact the Director of Research in the School.