Structured PhD (Law)

Course details

The Structured PhD is a programme (360 ECTS). Each student must obtain a minimum of 30 ECTS through structured modules having a taught or skills component, and a maximum of 45 ECTS, over the course of the PhD. The thesis remains central to the award of the PhD. The remaining ECTS are derived from the research component.

The School of Law and its specialised research centres, notably, the Irish Centre for Human Rights and the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, offers a number of in-house modules specifically tailored to PhD students as part of the Structured PhD Programme. In addition, the full suite of modules from our various Master’s programmes is available to PhD students as part of the Structured PhD programme. If you are interested in taking one of these modules, you should discuss the relevance of the module to your research with your supervisor and also check with the module owner to ensure that the module is being run in the particular year and that there is space for you. You must register for any modules you take as part of the Structured Programme. Modules are assessed in the usual way for the assessment of that course (usually by essay) and the results are presented at your annual Graduate Research Committee meeting.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for admission to the PhD programme, a candidate must normally have obtained an LL.M or other Master’s degree to honours standard (or equivalent international qualification). However, at a minimum, the candidate must have reached a high honours standard at the examination for the primary degree or presented such other evidence as will satisfy the Head of School and the College of his/her fitness.