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Trinity College Dublin

Psychology - Research

School Description:

The School has a variety of research activities spanning a diverse range of areas. The School is prominently associated with seven research groups in the College: the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, the Global Brain Health Institute, TRiSS (Trinity Research in Social Science), the Centre for Global Health, the Research Centre for Psychological Health and the Centre for Innovative Human Systems. The School is well equipped with a student computer laboratory, multi-media facilities, EEG and behavioural neuroscience laboratories, video-observation suites and sound attenuated experimental testing suites and fMRI analysis capability. There are excellent contacts with hospitals and medical services. Members of the School receive significant research funding from national and international sources.

Our Postgraduate Programme develops high calibre psychologists who advance psychological science and practice. Leading international experts provide excellent training in research methodology and foster academic excellence in a range of research areas on our M.Sc. and structured Ph.D. programmes. The School encourages active participation in national and international collaborations, and attracts many visiting academics and international graduate students.

Students following the School's postgraduate programme by research are engaged in research spanning the wide range of expertise in the School. Further information about the research being conducted by individual members of staff in the School is available on the School website: http://psychology.tcd.ie/research/Research-people.php

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 supervisor's 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.

The School will consider applications for postgraduate research across the wide area of its expertise. However, intending applicants must have supervision arrangements in place, agreed by an academic member of staff in the School of Psychology before submitting an application. Postgraduate research students are expected to attend the School's research seminars, which take place on a regular basis during the teaching terms. Each postgraduate is expected to present a research proposal at an appropriate early point in the development of their ideas. Research students are encouraged to participate in formal and informal academic development exercises.
The School runs an annual appraisal system for all postgraduate research students aimed at facilitating and monitoring their progress throughout the course of their research. Two independent members of staff are assigned as the student's appraisal committee at the beginning of their studies. As part of this system each student is required to present a progress report to their appraisal committee every year.

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

Further enquiries

Head of School: Dr David Hevey
Director of Teaching & Learning (Postgraduate): Dr Jean Quigley
Telephone:+ 353-1-896 3907
Fax:+353-1-671 2006
Email: psychresearch@tcd.ie

Application date

There are two start/registration dates for postgraduate research programmes: September and March of each academic year.

Closing Date for Applications: While there is no deadline for applications, please note that any new student wishing to apply for School or College research funding must submit their application by the 1st May 2018 for the 2018/2019 academic year (September 2018 and March 2019 intake).

Please note that funding is currently contingent on registration as a full-time Ph.D. student. Students must make their application for Postgraduate studentship awards in conjunction with their Ph.D. application. This process is done online via www.tcd.ie/courses/postgraduate/.

Research areas

Research Programmes

M.Sc. Research
The minimum registration period for the M.Sc. (full-time) is one year, and the thesis of not more than 60,000 words must normally be submitted within two years.*

Ph.D. Research
The minimum registration period for a Ph.D. (full-time) is two years and the thesis of not more than 100,000 words must normally be submitted within four years.*

*Depending on the subject nature of the thesis, word count guidelines as laid out above may not apply. Your supervisor will advise on an acceptable length for the thesis.

Enrolment and start dates

March 2018 Entry
• Doctor in Philosophy, Psychology (Part-Time)
• Doctor in Philosophy, Psychology (Full-Time)
• Master in Science in School of Psychology (Part-Time)
• Master in Science in School of Psychology (Full-Time)

September 2018 Entry
• Doctor in Philosophy, Psychology (Part-Time)
• Doctor in Philosophy, Psychology (Full-Time)
• Master in Science in School of Psychology (Part-Time)
• Master in Science in School of Psychology (Full-Time)