Course Details
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Brief Description
For applications please contact apprenticeships@ul.ie
Lero has partnered with the University of Limerick (UL) to deliver Ireland’s first qualification at level 10, funded through the national apprenticeships programme: The Professional Doctorate in Engineering (PDEng).
Professional doctorates recognise the existence of research activities which can be described as professional practice. The context for this DEng programme is the practitioner workplace and the focus is on solving real‐world problems faced in the daily work‐place. The scope of these problems can be sufficiently large to be addressed in a significant piece of research planned and conducted over a period of time and which can ultimately result in a DEng award.
The PDEng acknowledges that significant research takes place within the practitioner’s workplace, therefore, the context for this PDEng programme is the practitioner workplace and the focus is on solving real-world problems faced in the daily work-place.
The PDEng Apprenticeship will equip apprentices with a diverse knowledge of technology principals, disruptive inventions and new designs, processes and techniques, as well as substantial knowledge at the cutting edge of industry and the forefront of academic research. Through problem-solving, heuristics, theory of inventive problem solving, technical analysis and critical evaluation, apprentices will gain the ability to significantly contribute to the creative process.
The aim of a Professional Doctorate programme is to produce a qualification which, whilst being equivalent in status and challenge to a PDEng, is more appropriate for those pursuing professional rather than academic careers. The PDEng acknowledges that significant research takes place within the practitioner’s workplace. Candidates are required to make a contribution to both theory and practice in their field, and to develop professional practice by making a contribution to (professional) knowledge.
How it Works
This four year programme is structured for blended delivery of online learning and face to face sessions which minimizes time ‘off the job’. You must successfully completed the qualifier module (PP8001) to be offered a place on the PDEng. The programme includes:
- The PP8001 is the Professional Portfolio qualifier. This will give you an understanding of the structure of the Professional Doctorate; how to develop a professional portfolio and how to deliver a unique contribution to professional knowledge. You will be required to identify a problem that is significant to your industry or profession and to propose an appropriate approach to solving this problem.
- 270 credits of work. The bulk of the credits, 180 are allocated to the output of your in-company research. This is delivered as a dissertation as is the culmination of your work.
- 12 modules delivered over four years combining traditional distance education with online learning and approximately 4 day face-to-face per semester.
- A dedicated supervisor to support participants.
- Participation in a Community of Practice. This will allow participants to interact and engage in peer-to-peer learning activities.
- Support from an industry mentor within the company throughout the apprenticeship.
For professionals who wish to:
- Evaluate the relevance of current and emerging theories and practices within your area.
- Formulate effective solutions to complex, real-world problems common to your field.
- Apply current research to practical problems in the workplace.
- Design rigorous research that expands the professional body of knowledge in your field.
The first six modules are delivered at the start of the programme as part of the Professional and Transferrable Skills Summer School. The students attend either a residential week in UL or an online Summer School. The remaining 6 modules are delivered during the course of the programme.
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Year 1 |
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The first 6 modules below are delivered during your first Summer semester, commencing at the end of May as part of the Generic and Transferable Skills Summer School. You will be required to be on campus for a residential week at the end of May for a week of face-to-face classes. You will complete the modules over the summer using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), BrightSpace. |
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Summer Semester |
Research Networking: Developing an Academic Profile This module introduces students to the theory and practice of networking, and it provides students with an understanding of the formal and informal channels that can be used to communicate research outputs and relevance |
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Digital/Data Research Management This module covers a range of Digital based systems covering data management, digital ethics, conferences, seminars and presentations, sourcing & Managing of research material, developing a digitised academic profile career path strategies using social networking, digital data management & collaborating in digitised research environments. |
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Research Integrity The purpose of this module is to allow students to appreciate the requirement for research integrity, the scope of research integrity, the principles of good research, and the many forms of research misconduct. |
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Research Ethics The aim of the module is to present researchers with an opportunity to examine the ethical complexities which arise in the process of conducting research involving human participants. Participants will learn to identify and analyse ethical issues relating to study design and rationale, consent processes and protection of personal information in the fields of education research, health sciences research and psychology. |
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Planning Research And Publication The purpose of the module is to help early researchers successfully plan and manage their research process in order to lead to excellent scholarship in their research endeavours. Researchers will develop the cognitive, metacognitive, affective and social skills required to negotiate the early stages of the research and writing process effectively. |
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Developing Ideas And Arguments: Writing Into Academic Communities The purpose of this module is to encourage writers to examine how they use writing to identify and develop their ideas in the process of responding to the ideas of others as they identify and organise their argument to aid in writing and presenting research. |
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Year 2 |
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Autumn Semester |
Research Methods For Professional Practice 1 Delivered in person (remote access available for international students) usually mid-October, support material available on Brightspace. On successful completion of this module students will be able to, describe the context in which research takes place and understand the types of research associated with a professional doctorate such as the PDEng and be able to display a commitment to the research approach that is best suited to the organisational problem being addressed in their research. |
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Research Dissertation 1 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Spring Semester |
Data Strategies And Analysis Techniques For Research 1 Delivered via MS Teams over 1.5 days (full day Friday, 1/2 day Saturday) at end of February. Students will get an introduction to the fundamentals of data collection and analysis strategies to support their research methodologies. On completion, students will be able to develop appropriate design experiments for prototype assessment and demonstrate and understanding of the importance of collaboration with all stakeholders of research project. |
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Data Strategies And Analysis Techniques For Research 2 Delivered via MS Teams over 1.5 days (full day Friday, 1/2 day Saturday) at end of March. Upon completion of this module students will be able to demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the role of scientific method in research activities and the use of different analysis tools in a given research context. |
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Research Methods For Professional Practice 2 Delivered in person (remote access available for international students), usually mid-February, support material available on Brightspace. On successful completion of this module students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the context in which their research takes place, explain the broad range of research approaches that are available and demonstrate how best to choose and refine their research approach to suit the organisation context. |
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Summer Semester |
Research Dissertation 2 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Summer Report 1 Summer Report 1 Focuses on the Literature Review Chapter of the Thesis. Students are required to be on campus at the end of May each year to present their research updates. |
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Year 3 |
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Autumn Semester |
Research Dissertation 3 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Spring Semester |
Research Impact & Dissemination Delivered online in mid-February with a follow up one day class on campus (with remote access for international students) in mid-March. These classes will be followed by a one-to-one online session with your tutor. Upon completion of this module students will be able to Identify, in consultation with her/his supervisor, aspect(s) of her/his work that has a potential contribution to make to their area of research, explain the implications of the research, select and employ analysis techniques and develop a draft presentation of worthwhile findings from her/his research for publication in an appropriate forum. |
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Research Dissertation 4 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Summer Semester |
Research Dissertation 5 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Summer Report 2 Summer Report 2 focuses on the Methodology chapter and an update of the Literature Review chapter. Students are required to be on campus at the end of May each year to present their research updates. |
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Year 4 |
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Autumn Semester |
Research Dissertation 6 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Spring Semester |
Research Conference/Workshop Students need to work with their supervisor to submit a research paper to a conference or journal. Please note, the paper does not have to be published or accepted. To pass the module, it needs to be submitted or there needs to be a plan to submit. Confirmation of this will be required from your supervisor at the end of the semester. |
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Research Dissertation 7 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Summer Semester |
Research Dissertation 8 Research Dissertation modules 1 to 8: Independent but supervised research whereby students are expected to meet with their supervisor on at least 2 occasions, progress their research, and work towards the respective summer report. |
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Summer Report 3 Summer Report 3 will focus on showing that the student is following a suitable trajectory to complete their research. Students are required to be on campus at the end of May each year to present their research updates. |
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Year 5 |
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Autumn Semester |
Research Dissertation 9 During dissertation 9 & 10, students will be working towards their final Thesis Submission and Viva Voce. |
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Spring Semester |
Research Dissertation 10 During dissertation 9 & 10, students will be working towards their final Thesis Submission and Viva Voce. |
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Summer Semester |
Exam Board |
- Employers must be approved by SOLAS and commit to support the apprentice throughout the programme
- Candidates would typically hold a 2.1 honours degree in a relevant area and five years’ experience.
- The successful completion of the qualifier module (Professional Portfolio PP8001) prior to being offered a place on the programme
What to Include with your Application
Delays in receiving these documents will affect the progress of your application.
- Photo or Scanned original copy of your transcripts for all years of study. (Graduates of UL need only provide us with their Student ID number.)
- A copy of your birth cert or passport
- A copy of your most recent CV
- Applicants who do not have English as their first language may satisfy English Language requirements:
- If your qualifications have been obtained in a country where English is an official language this will suffice
- If this is not available, the following additional documents must be provided:
- English translation of your qualification(s)/transcripts AND
- English language competency certificate
- Please click here for Further Information on English Language Requirements
Fees are as follows:
Qualifier Module €250
For successful Qualifier Module candidates who are eligible for the programme:
Student application fee €50
Annual fee* €900