Structured PhD in Public Humanities

The Structured PhD in Public Humanities has been designed to offer a flexible PhD programme for public humanities professionals who wish to deepen their engagement with their work, and to use their current professional practice as the basis for doctoral-level research. 

The Structured PhD in Public Humanities is a four year, structured PhD programme, designed to meet the needs of professionals working in public humanities areas (including, but not limited to, museum, gallery, and library professionals; public engagement specialists; arts managers; festival makers; curators; media professionals; public historians and writers) who wish to engage in academic and practice-based reflection on their own professional practice. The programme involves a combination of taught modules and independent research.

Taught modules take place across the first four semesters of registration. Throughout this period, students will also work with their supervisory team on their individual project. The programme and include an introduction to methods utilised in researching through reflecting and engaging on public humanities practices, as well as theoretical modules on public humanities.

The final submission can take the form of:

Candidates can submit:

•     Two examples of professional public humanities practice as core aspects of their submission, as well as a 50,000 written thesis which critically engages with the professional outputs (50,000 as the max. with 2 practice-based submissions);

or

•     One example of professional public humanities practice as core aspects of their submission, as well as a 70,000 written thesis which critically engages with the professional outputs (70,000 as the max. with 1 practice-based submission)

or

•      One 100,000 word submission with no practice-based submissions.

Programme content:

The STRUCTURED PhD in PUBLIC HUMANITIES programme combines the individual PhD research project with 30 ECTS of taught modules. 

Therefore, the learning environment combines that of the traditional PhD researcher with a structured component that supports their professional development as researchers. 

The 30 ECTS of taught modules are comprised of core modules, which must be undertaken and completed during the first four semesters of registration. These modules are:

Semester 1: 9 ECTS: Public Humanities 

Semester 2: 9 ECTS: Professional Development for AHSS PhD Students 

Semester 3: 9 ECTS: Critical Approaches to Display and Participation 

Semester 4: 3 ECTS: Critical Contexts for Arts Management and Cultural Policy 

1. Applicants will normally be expected to hold an Honours degree (minimum 2.1) or equivalent in a discipline appropriate to their area of proposed research.

    

2. Entry points may differ for applicants with postgraduate qualifications. Please contact the Course Director for further information.

Fees for all postgraduate programmes are revised on an annual basis.  Detailed information on fee schedules and fee regulations is available on the Fees Office website. 

Payment by instalment is facilitated by the Fees Office. 

Please contact the Fees Office directly at student.fees.office@ul.ie for details.

Please click here for information on funding and scholarships.