Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

22/04/23

POST GRADUATE STUDY

Dr. Derek McInerneyHead of Graduate Studies

LIT

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

FORMAT

• What is it ?• Research or Taught• How do I apply?• Academic Requirements?• Life as Postgrad • Costs and Funding Sources• Going forward

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

LIT & Research

LIT aims to provide an environmentconducive to the pursuit of independent research and study and the support of research programmes to completion. (6.1 PG Regs)

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

What is it?

• Postgrad study leads to a Level 9 or Level 10 award.

• All undergrad degrees are Level 8 or Level 7

• Postgrad study is further study and advancement in a field of study

• Cab be pursued through a taught programme or by research

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Taught Postgrad Route

• Specific time period 12-18 months, full and part time.

• Can be graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master level.

• Usually made of set number of modules with exams and a dissertation (10-12k words).

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Research Postgrad Route

• Tends to be 21 months fulltime • Can be longer for Phd.• Research route leads to MA, MBus,

MSc and PhD (doctorate).• May include some modules to be

taken by student.• Generally done in isolation with

support of a supervisor.

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Research Postgrad

• Student immersed in a specific area of research

• End result is a larger thesis (60-80k for MSc/MA) or (100-120k for PhD).

• Primary research and testing is carried out.

• Research questions (hypothesis) is proved or disp

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Own Research Background

• Marketing Cert MII (1989) LIT• Diploma in Marketing (1992)• BA (Hons) Business (1993)• Grad Dip Enterprise (1994)• MBS (Research) Marketing (1998)• PhD Entrepreneurship (2004)

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Own view of research route

• Personal journey• Very long and isolated• Life happens while you research:

– Changed jobs 4 times– Married– Children + dogs– Moved location twice– Changed house

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Funding Options

• Taught postgrad generally attract fees

• Research postgrads normally have scholarship, grants attached – very competitive

• Normally minimum 2(i) undergrad required

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Application

• Directly to colleges• No CAO system for postgraduate

application• Done on a one by one basis• Student applies for taught or

research course directly to college

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Funding Options

• College sources – LIT Seed Fund• Government sources – IRCSET and

IRCHSS• Self funding – taught

• Individual info session on these in LIT

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Masters Degree by Research (1)

• The Masters degree awards by research will be made on the basis of knowledge, skill and competence gained through a validated supervised programme of education and training that results in the production of a thesis – Level 9.

• The Masters degree is a research award that can be obtained by completing a programme of supervised research and presenting the outcomes of the research in a thesis.

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Characteristics

• Very different to a taught masters programme in content and length

• First research attempt by a student

• Does not suit most students

• Large element of primary research

• More common for business and humanities students to this before PhD

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Doctor of Philosophy

• The Doctor of Philosophy award is made on the basis of knowledge, skill and competence normally gained through a validated supervised Research Degree Programme that results in the production of a thesis.

• The Doctor of Philosophy award is conferred for advanced levels of achievement, in which the Candidate demonstrates outstanding scholarship and ability – Level 10.

• The Candidate must demonstrate that he/she has conducted original, independent research and has a broad knowledge of a particular field of study and a comprehensive knowledge of the specialist area upon which his/her research is focused.

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

PhD Characteristics

• Larger scale of primary research• Challenging existing knowledge• Becoming expert in a focused area• Expected to publish and defend findings

publicly• Research may deal with area not already

focused on• Science researcher may work in area of

supervisor expertise• Business researcher let to own devices in

most cases

Moylish Pk. Limerick Ireland T. +353 61 208208 F. +353 61 208209 E. information@lit.ie

Finally

• Thank you • Good luck with your studies• Enjoy the trek – choose carefully• My own observations• Questions ????• derek.mcinerney@lit.ie• graduatestudies@lit.ie• Graduate Office off street (old Wired FM

space)