Planning for Postgraduate Study n n n Introduction

Planning for Postgraduate Study n n n Introduction The Path to Postgraduate Study Research Postgrads at UL Postgraduate Study Overseas Funding for Postgraduate Study Q&A

The Path to Postgraduate Study Dr John Breen Dean, Graduate School

How do I become a postgrad? Is it worth it – time, effort?

Some Statistics n n n 26% of UL graduates of 2004 in further study PGs in Ireland = approx 25% of student population 18. 3% of total UL students are postgrads n n 1200 taught postgrad programmes 808 research postgrads 45% funded Graduated 131 research postgrads 2006 n 44 Masters and 87 Ph. Ds

Why Postgraduate Study? n What are your goals? n n n Career objectives / plans Employment prospects Interest in the academic area / academia Professional requirement Subtle change to a new area Key issues you need to think about… n n n Sufficient motivation Academic ability, suitability and your needs Time and money

Types of Postgraduates n n Taught versus Research programmes Taught Grad Diplomas/Masters degrees n n Dr Siobhán Tiernan will speak about “taught postgrads” Research degrees n n n Entry requirements: usually 1 st & 2 nd Class Hons. degrees Full-time and part-time May include some taught elements (methodology, etc) Generic and transferable skills Research proposal and plan Masters: 1 -3 years; Ph. D: 3 -5 years

Timing and Location n When to study n n n After your first degree … easiest time After a break After working full-time While still working full or part-time Where to study n n In Ireland: Limerick or elsewhere Overseas: planning and timeframe Advantages/disadvantages of moving institution Personal/professional considerations

Evaluate what is on offer n n n Type of course Number of places Selection criteria Closing date Employment record Fees and finance n n n Size of Department Research interests Type of supervision Facilities Inside story Publishing rights

What’s on offer at UL n n 70+ taught PG Programmes Research Masters / Ph. D n n All Colleges Look at College / Department Web sites for research interests Research your options … now! Compare and contrast UL with other institutions

Funding at UL: research p’grads n n n Privately funded Advance Scholars’ Awards University / department scholarships Limited number of EU fee waivers Maintenance … tutorial assistants, demonstratorships …ask HODs/ADs. R n n University demonstratorships € 6, 864 Masters; € 8, 232 Ph. D + fees

External funding n Irish Research Councils n n n Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS), www. irchss. ie (5 in 2007) Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET), www. ircset. ie (2 calls? ) (36 in 2007) Some available to “non-EU” applicants Research Grants (“won” by supervisors) Local Authority Grants n 1 PG programme; fees plus 3 x € 837 per annum … goes directly to student

Other funding possibilities n n n HEA Programme for Research in Third Level Institutes HEA – PTRLI Other agencies: Health Research Board, Marine Institute, etc. See UL website for more details http: //www. graduatestudies. ul. ie

Fourth level Ireland n Moving towards more n Structured Ph. D programmes (4 years) n n n In first 1 to 2 years taught modules, beginning of the project, then 2 years research programme You will hear about “Greps” n n Graduate Research Education Programmes Name used by IRCSET / IRCHSS for “structured Ph. D programmes”

The national policy is to… n n Double the output of people with postgrad qualifications by 2013 A national “upskilling”…

Why more Ph. D graduates? n n n Your country needs you! Number of researchers per 1000 population: Ireland 14 th of 30 OECD countries National targets for the universities n n n SET: 543 (2005) 997 (2013) HSS: 187 (2005) 315 (2013) UL: 67 (2005) 134 (2013) – all Ph. Ds

UL Research institutes

So, example: MSSI n n n 34 Academic Staff, 38 Postdoctoral Fellows, 139 Postgraduate students 211 Researchers n n n Chemistry Materials Science Physics Mechanical Engineering Electronic Engineering Biochemistry

And… n Ph. Ds are the norm for academic positions n n Masters and Ph. Ds are usually required for more senior positions in n n (usually = almost invariably! In fact Post-doc experience plus publications plus research funding Science) Research labs / Labs in industry Many industries are opting to pay for their laboratory staff to register and complete a postgraduate degree Part Time! n Continuous Professional Development CPD in jargon!

What is a research Masters? n n In UL, titles like MSc, MTech, MEng, MA, MEd etc. Full time: minimum of one academic year n n In practice… usually 2 academic years but (should be) easily completed in that time You are expected to complete a substantial volume of research and present it as a thesis Good option if you want an additional expertise Or slight change in direction from your undergraduate course

Ph. D: Four years, not for years! n Full time: a minimum of 3 academic years n n You are expected to undertake a substantial amount of independent research n n n To be fair, most take ~ 4 years It must be publishable in peer reviewed journals … original You present it as a thesis… perhaps with published papers You must demonstrate that you are capable of independent research and be able to design and carry out a research project

Applications n Applications (UL) n n n Deadlines: research (applications considered monthly) versus taught (early June) Information: College / Department booklets / websites Talk to potential supervisors / ADs. R If thinking about postgrad you may want to “choose” your final year project supervisor! Admission forms (see web site) n n http: //www. ul. ie/graduatestudies/ Usually register for MSc and transfer to Ph. D – seminar and a Transfer Document

Research Postgrads… at UL n n n Discuss possible project and get “advice” from your supervisor on the Project Description “advice” = AGREE! Fill out the Postgraduate Form (research version)… all the forms are on the Graduate Studies website. Submit form by 15 th of any month Applications are considered on the first Tuesday of each month (except August) Offers of places the following week

No project, No supervisor? n n Discuss possibilities with your FYP supervisor Consult the ADR in your college … I usually suggest writing out a SHORT cv: one page MAXIMUM, with qualifications to date, FYP title and supervisor, special methods used etc. Give this to Head of Dept saying you are interested in “doing postgrad”!

So you’ve submitted your thesis… n n n Chair, External and Internal Examiner Viva voce examination You graduate… n n Dr! In Germany they retain all their titles: n Herr Professor Dr Dr! Photographer in action at a College of Science graduation!

What now … Sem 1, year 4 ? n n Start expressing interest You will achieve a 1 st or 2: 1 degree (hopefully) n n n Not all lost with a 2: 2, but funding not as easy! Discuss with potential supervisors Get working on funding applications

Please note … some facts of life n n Applications e. g. to Irish Research Councils for Humanities and Social Sciences / Science and Technology (IRCHSS, IRCSET) are submitted by and for the candidate (you!) n In theory! However: you must involve your potential supervisor in the application n n Reference “Help” with the project description

IRCHSS seminar n MBA Room, 11 -12, Monday 19 th November Be there! n IRCSET seminar to follow n

ADs. R, in each College n Business, Dr Siobhan Tiernan Education, Dr Roland Tormey Humanities, Prof. Tom Lodge Informatics, Dr Seán Mc. Grath Engineering, Dr Patrick Frawley Science, Dr Ciarán Mac. Donncha n Note the name and enquire in your College n n n

Taught Postgraduate Studies at the University of Limerick Dr. Siobhan Tiernan ADR Kemmy Business School

Taught Versus Research Postgraduate Studies n Taught Grad Diplomas/Masters degrees n n n n Full-time/part-time/bloc release Conversion courses Development of an academic specialism Entry requirements vary (2. 2 Hons. plus) Duration – 12 -16 months Which route suits you is a fundamental decision Depends on career options and personal preferences

Example of a Taught Masters Structure & Content - HRM n n n Autumn Semester HRM in Transition Issues in International Political Economy Comparative IR Psychology of Strategic Decision Making & Change Masters Thesis A n n n Spring Semester n Irish & EU Labour Law Theory & Practice of Negotiations HRD International Innovations in HRM Summer Masters Thesis

Advantages of Taught Programmes n n Degree of continuity from undergraduate programme Mixture of taught modules and a research dissertation Many of the programmes are recognised by professional bodies Could provide the basis for subsequent Ph. D

When to study After your first degree … easiest time n After a break n After working full-time n While still working full or part-time n Many of the taught programmes offer part time variants n

Where to study In Ireland: Limerick or elsewhere n Overseas: planning and timeframe n Advantages/disadvantages of moving institution n Personal/professional considerations n

What’s on offer at UL n n n 70+ taught PG Programmes n Graduate Diplomas / Masters n Look at College / Department Web sites Research your options … now! Compare and contrast UL with other institutions

Evaluate what is on offer in UL n n n Type of course Number of places Selection criteria Closing date Employment record Fees and finance n n n Size of Department Research interests Type of supervision Facilities Inside story Publishing rights

Applications Deadlines: (early June) although may close off before that date n Information: College / Department booklets / websites n Talk to current or past students of the course n Talk to potential supervisors / ADs. R n Admission forms (see web site) n http: //www. ul. ie/graduatestudies/ n

Funding for Postgraduate Study …etc Mary Sweeney Head of Careers Cooperative Education & Careers Division

Where do UL graduates study? n Survey of 2006 graduates n 22% in further study n n 90% in Ireland 10% overseas n n 29 UK 4 USA 3 EU 1 other

Postgraduate Study USA (cont. ) Application Procedure n Research Universities n Consult UL faculty member and Careers Service n n n n Check directories and websites Check Fulbright website Select realistic choice: 3 -7 Request Application Material ($30 - $100 fee) Register for Tests GRE, GMAT Compile application material n Statement of Purpose (Fulbright guidelines) n Transcripts n References: 2/3 n Complete application and apply for financial aid Check visa requirements (US Embassy website)

Funding for Postgraduate Study Overseas n UK British Council, Research Councils e. g. Economic & Social Research Council n Scholarships for Irish graduates n www. findaphd. com n www. hotcourses. com/pg Europe n Government-funded International Scholarships n n n n n The Finnish Government Scholarship Pool National Scholarship program of the Slovak Republic The Norwegian Government Scholarship Pool Austrian Scholarship Marie Curie Foundation/Framework 7 German Academic Exchange Scholarships College of Europe, European University Institute

Funding for Postgraduate Study Overseas n USA n n Other n n n Fulbright Awards O’Reilly Foundation; John F Kennedy Fund University Scholarships and Assistantships n E. g. Conlisk MBA Scholarship Japan Foundation Program 2008/2009 Mexican Scholarships 2008/2009 Further Information n www. education. ie

Fulbright Student Awards n n n For postgrad study or research in the USA Value: Up to € 20, 000 for full academic year Disciplines n n n n Visual and performing arts CRH award for Business Studies Enterprise Irl for Science, Tech & Innovation EPA for Environmental Science/Policy Glen Dimplex for Science, Tech, Renewables Teagasc for Agriculture & Food Science Closing date: 14 th December 2007 Details: www. fulbright. ie

Conlisk Scholarship - USA n n n n Fairfield University, USA Scholarship for MBA or MSc Finance Sponsored by Irish American community Awarded to 10 UL graduates to date Very positive feedback from graduates Value =$45, 000 GMAT required Check www. ul. ie/careers News section

Irish Research Councils - Ireland n n Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (IRCSET) Maintenance Awards IRCHSS - € 12, 900 IRCSET - € 16, 000

Sources of Information n n n www. ul. ie/careers (Postgraduate Study section) www. graduatestudies. ul. ie www. postgradireland. com www. findaphd. com www. education. ie www. prospects. ac. uk www. britishcouncil. org/education/funding/ www. fulbright. ie www. eurograduate. com www. ets. org/gre - information on GRE & GMATtests www. petersons. com – Guide to studying in the US www. idp. com – Online applications to Australian Universities www. irchss. ie www. icrset. ie www. npc. org. uk

Other Resources n Postgraduate Study Fair n n n 13 th February, 2007 All UL Faculties Other Irish Universities & Institutions Some UK Universities Opportunity to review options Postgraduate Courses in Education n Wednesday, 14 th Nov @ 6. 30 in D 1050