The School has approximately 80 students in research across our structured PhD and D.Ed. programmes. The School plays a leading role in educational research in Ireland and has also developed a strong international profile. Our research covers a wide range of areas including: policy and practice in primary and post-primary education; higher education policy; inclusion in education and science, arts and music education technology and innovation.
Education - Research
Entry requirements
Entry Requirements
Postgraduate work in Trinity College Dublin is very academically challenging and as a result the University has high academic entry requirements.
Applicants will need to hold:
at least a 2.1 honors degree from an Irish university or equivalent result from a university in another country
a fluent command of the English language
Some courses may require higher standards or require you to take further tests or attend an interview.
Postgraduate Research Degrees
All students undertaking a research degree are assigned to a single principal supervisor. The supervisors role is essentially that of an academic guide and mentor.
If you plan to carry out your degree by research, you are advised to contact the appropriate School with your research proposal and arrange a suitable supervisor before submitting your application. You should initially consult the School website for further information.
Research students are placed either directly on the Ph.D. register or on the Masters register. Research students on the Masters register may then transfer to the Ph.D. register if their progress has been satisfactory. Such transfers usually occur during the second year of full-time study.
Further enquiries
Head of School: Prof. Michael Shevlin
Director of Teaching Learning (Postgraduate):
Dr. John Walsh
Course Administrator: Kristina Karpovas
Telephone: + 353-1-896 3583
Email: phdresearch@tcd.ie
Application date
Research Applications
No closing dates apply for application for higher degrees by research but there are only two registration periods (September and March). Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible prior to their chosen registration period as supervisory capacity may be limited.
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
Research areas
The School has a thriving and vibrant research culture organised around two College research centres and four research groups. The two research centres are:
Research Centres
The Cultures, Academic Values in Education (CAVE) research centre focuses on the area of higher education both nationally and internationally.
The Centre for Research in Information Technology in Education (CRITE) is a joint collaborative initiative between the School of Education and the School of Computer Science and Statistics.
The four research groups are:
Research Groups
Inclusion in Education and Society (IES) has a high profile in special needs education, student voice, psychology of aggression and prejudices and related fields.
Research in School Education (RISE) is currently exploring areas such as learning environments, reform of Junior Cycle, models of teaching, learning and assessment, and the work of Lev Vygotsky.
The Arts Education Research Group (AERG), has a focus on music, drama and arts education.
Science, Technology, Engineering Mathematics: Education, Research and Communication (STEM_ERC) is a new group which is developing a research agenda in the area of STEM learning, both formal and informal across all sectors of education.
The School has, for a number of years, been highly active in offering a programme of events ranging from workshops, lunchtime and one-day research seminars to international conferences which, alongside its publications, has helped establish the School as the leading centre for educational research in Ireland.
Enrolment and start dates
March 2017 Entry
Doctor in Philosophy, Education (Part-Time)
Doctor in Philosophy, Education (Full-Time)
Master in Letters in School of Education (Part-Time)
Master in Letters in School of Education (Full-Time)
Education (D.Ed.)
Education (D.Ed.)
September 2017 Entry
Doctor in Philosophy, Education (Part-Time)
Doctor in Philosophy, Education (Full-Time)
Education (D.Ed.)
Master in Letters in School of Education (Part-Time)
Master in Letters in School of Education (Full-Time)
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