Research Programmes Application Procedure
All research applications (EU or Non-EU) must be made online through the Postgraduate Applications Centre website at www.pac.ie see steps 1 to 5 below. Applicants for Research Degrees in the Faculty of Law must also supply a detailed research proposal for further details see steps 4 & 5 below.
1. EU or NON-EU?
For admission purpose all applicants are categorised into two categories: EU and Non-EU.
It is important that you establish your status before you make an application to UCC as you will retain your status (EU/Non-EU) during your study and you will be unable to change from one category to the other in the middle of a course. Also there are different application procedures for each category.
Please view the following document to determine whether you are an EU applicant or a Non-EU applicant: CriteriaForDeterminingFeeStatus (35kB)
2. How to Make an Application on PAC
For full details on the application procedure and documentation required, please click on the following links:
EU Applicants: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/how/apply-research/
Non-EU Applicants: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/international/noneu-pg/research/
If you are experiencing difficulty with this, please contact the Postgraduate Applications Centre at 091 509825.
3. Fees
EU Fees: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/postgrad/cost/
Non-EU Fees: http://www.ucc.ie/en/study/international/noneu-pg/cost/
4. Research Programmes Applications
Prospective applicants for a Research degree should prepare a proposal describing their proposed research topic and including a brief literature survey in the area (full details provided below). This proposal should then be sent to the proposed supervisor (selected from the Law Faculty academic staff) and/or the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr Fiona Donson (f.donson@ucc.ie). Once the proposal has been provisionally approved by a potential supervisor, a formal application should be made. Applications are assessed by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Law Faculty, which makes a recommendation to a meeting of the Law Faculty, where the decision regarding the application is made.
5. Criteria for Selection and Application Process
To be eligible for a research degree in law, “a candidate must have obtained a standard of at least Second Class Honours, Grade 1, in an approved primary degree, or presented such other evidence as will satisfy the Faculty of his/her fitness.”
The following criteria must be satisfied:
- Possession of a good upper second class or first class (or equivalent) degree in law (or a related discipline);
- Availability of suitable supervisor
- Demonstration of aptitude for original research through the submission of a Research Proposal, which should contain the following elements:
- Description of project, including aim and central research questions (1000 words)
- Methodology, including theoretical framework and investigative and analytical methods (500 words)
- Relationship to existing literature and proposed contribution to knowledge in the field of study (500 words)
- Research plan, including organisation and scheduling of work (500 words)
- Sample Bibliography
Applications for Masters by Research and PhD are accepted throughout the academic year. Research degrees may be commenced in October, January, April or July.
All applicants for PhD or LLM by Research full-time or part-time for a September 2012 start must apply by the closing date of 29th June 2012.
Any administrative queries about the application process should be directed to Veronica Calnan, Postgraduate Administrator (v.calnan@ucc.ie). Any academic queries should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr Fiona Donson (f.donson@ucc.ie).
For further information please contact:
Veronica Calnan
Postgraduate Administrator
Faculty of Law
University College Cork
Tel: 353 (0)21 4903995
Email: lawpostgrad@ucc.ie
