Masters by Research
Candidates undertaking a Masters degree by research are required to complete a thesis in a relevant research area; minimum duration of research is one year. An academic staff member with research interests relevant to the candidates thesis provides supervision.
Prior to application it is advisable to make informal contact with a potential supervisor with research interests most relevant to your research area of interest. Please visit the Academic Staff pages for staff profiles which details of their research interests.
For more information on the main areas of research within the School please visit the Research pages of our website. You will also find details on funded research projects currently recruiting Graduate Students in the Research Opportunities section of the site. The projects listed are funded projects that include a Scholarship to cover academic fees. If you wish to apply for a position please contact the supervisor listed on the project details.
If you are self funded please see the Academic Staff pages for contact details of research staff with research interests relevant to your area of expertise. You may contact staff directly to express your interest in pursuing research study.
The following degree programmes are available:
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Master of Science (Agriculture) M.Sc. (Agr) or Master of Agricultural Science (M.Agr.Sc.)
Master of Animal Science (M.An.Sc.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
As part of the UCD structured PhD degree, graduate students in the School receive a broad training in their chosen research field, including generic research skills and advanced technologies in addition to oral and written communications, project management and entrepreneurship skills, which will improve students personal knowledge, facilitate more successful research and enhance the skills needed for life long career development.
In addition to their primary supervisor, our PhD students have the support of a Doctoral Studies Panel made up of the Supervisor, a mentor and an advisor. The Doctoral Studies Panel meets with the graduate student at least twice a year to provide expert guidance and mentoring and to provide input for completion of the students Research Professional Development Plan (RPDP).
Graduate students undertaking as PhD degree must complete a comprehensive original research project. The minimum duration of the research is three years; applicants must have obtained a high honours standard in a relevant primary degree or have an appropriate Masters degree (or equivalent) from a recognised higher education institution.
In addition to the standard structured PhD the School offers a number of Thematic PhDs. The Thematic PhD is a structured doctoral programme which is run in a cross-school or inter-disciplinary fashion and students benefit from the broader range of expertise provided by the different disciplines involved in the delivery of the PhD programme. The School offers the following Thematic PhD Programmes
Reproductive Biology
Drug Delivery
Infection Biology