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UCC School of Law hosts Ireland’s most successful graduate research programme in Law. Researchers are provided with an unparalleled experience within a well-established and vibrant community of over 40 graduate researchers, with easy access to experienced supervisors who are internationally recognised experts in their fields and a suite of tailored supports, facilities and activities.

In September 2021, nine of our PhD candidates recorded a special podcast episode showcasing their research. The breadth of scholarship across so many legal areas – from family law to company law, gambling regulation to the environment – is indicative of the high-quality research undertaken in the School.

You can listen to this podcast episode below:

Over €3.25 million in external research funding for PhDs

PhD researchers in the School of Law have secured over €3 million in external research funding over the last 15 years.

Publications in prestigious journals.

Graduate researchers in the School have generated multiple research monographs and appeared in such journals as the Modern Law Review, Public Law, Social and Legal Studies and the International and Comparative Law Quarterly.

Our research graduates are academic staff in 20 law schools in five countries.

Graduates from the research programmes have an exceptional record in quickly transitioning to high-quality employment in academia, research and advocacy, and the legal profession. For instance, over 40 of our graduates are currently employed on the academic staff of over 20 Law Schools in five countries.

Application Process

If you are interested in applying for a postgraduate research degree or a PhD, please

• Contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Prof Femi Amao ( [email protected] ) or your prospective supervisor to discuss a potential research project.
• Fill out the Law School Research Degree Application Form available to download here:  UCC School of Law Research Programme Application Form  You will need to provide details of your proposed project, as well as its methodology and a research plan.
• Apply through  UCC's application system and submit your completed Law School Research Degree Application Form.

For further details and selection criteria, see  Study Research | University College Cork (ucc.ie)  

Scholarships

Many of our graduates are in receipt of prestigious scholarship awards. As well as internal funding opportunities, the School supports graduate researchers in applying to the Irish Research Council (IRC) for fully-funded research scholarships. The IRC normally has a closing date for these applications in November of each year. If you are interested in applying for IRC funding ahead of formally registering as a graduate researcher at UCC, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Prof Femi Amao ( [email protected]  ) to discuss your options. 

Contact Information

• Administrative queries (e.g. queries about the application form, fees etc): [email protected] .
• Academic queries (e.g. about your proposed research idea, potential supervision etc): Director of Graduate Studies, Prof Femi Amao ( [email protected] ) 
• List of potential supervisors: People

School of Law

Scoil an dlí.

Room 1.63, Aras na Laoi, T12 T656

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Masters/PhD in Law

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Register your interest here for more information or to be notified when applications are open.

Brief Description

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is an excellent choice for postgraduate students whose talents and interests lie in subjects such as history; sociology; politics; law; music and languages (English, Irish, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, TESOL). The Faculty offers particular research strengths in the following areas: Criminal Justice; Applied Language Studies; European Studies; Irish German Studies; Peace and Development Studies; International and Commercial Law; International Politics; Social Policy; Gender Studies; Utopian Studies; and Literary or Cultural Studies. Students can choose to do a research degree at Master of Arts/LLM or PhD level in any of these subjects or areas.

• If you enjoyed researching and writing your final year project / graduate thesis or your MA dissertation, then you might enjoy carrying out a more in-depth piece of research at MA (by research) or PhD level.
• FAHSS research students are part of a lively community; every student has his/her own research space with individual PC and desk;
• Funding is available to research students annually to take part in international conferences and carry out fieldwork/archival visits in Ireland and overseas;
• Research degrees develop a wide range of skills which are valued by employers (for example, excellent communication skills (written and oral), and critical/analytical skills);
• Our PhD and MA graduates are employed in a wide range of sectors: education, media and publishing, research and consultancy, civil and public service, business, non-governmental sector, creative arts and media, and politics and local government.

In addition to carrying out research, students enrolled on an MA by Research/PhD take part in generic/transferrable skills training, including, for example, research methodologies and statistics, interview skills and career planning, bibliographical management, academic writing and research networking.

MA by Research:

• A Master’s degree by thesis involves in-depth research on a topic leading to a thesis of 60,000 words over the course of one to two years.

MA by Research/PhD:

• Students may start an MA research thesis, but then apply to transfer to a PhD after their first year if research is expanding; or students may register for a PhD thesis directly.
• This involves in-depth research on a topic and an original contribution to knowledge, leading to a thesis of 100,000 words, examined by a viva voce exam. The PhD thesis generally takes 4 years to complete.
• 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.
• 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 [email protected] for details.

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Graduate and Professional Studies

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Welcome to the School of Law

Established in 1849, the School of Law at University of Galway delivers innovative legal education in a dynamic school dedicated to impactful, high quality legal research. With over 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, over  45 staff,  a range of  undergraduate  and  postgraduate  programmes and exciting  clinical legal education  opportunities the School emphasises student-focused, research-led teaching delivered in a supportive and intellectually challenging environment.‌

It hosts the internationally renowned  Irish Centre for Human Rights  and the  Centre for Disability Law & Policy ; both centres with established reputations as world leaders in their fields. The School is passionate about research that meets the highest standards of scholarship, informs student learning and engages with current societal challenges, impacting public debate and informing government policy. Our new  School of Law Strategic Plan 2022-2026 is now available online for consultation.

Undergraduates

In the School of Law we have a variety of options for undergraduate students that provide paths to traditional professional careers and many other careers too.

At undergraduate level the traditional law degree programme, the Bachelor of Law (BCL) degree offers a rich curriculum of core and optional subjects. All students are encouraged and assisted in acquiring skills in legal analysis, legal research and in written and oral communication.

Interdisciplinary programmes such as the Bachelor of Law and Business degree and the Bachelor of Arts (Law), allow students to combine studying law with commerce, languages, humanities and social science disciplines. 

The School of Law has a strong commitment to collaborative and interdisciplinary research across a wide range of fields - with a particular focus on the domains of human rights, criminal law, and public policy.

We offer a wide range of research degrees , including the LLM by Research and Structured PhD in Law. Researchers at the School of Law can draw on the expertise of our existing research centres: the Irish Centre for Human Rights , Centre for Disability Law and Policy and Centre for Housing Law and Policy , as well as associated institutes within the College of Business, Public Policy and Law: the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Social Change and the Institute for Lifecourse and Society .

Postgraduates

Our graduate profile is diverse and successful and we work hard to ensure that all of our students are educated and trained to a level that prepares them for work and life challenges ahead.  The School of Law staff includes full-time professors and lecturers who are national and international experts on the areas of law they teach. Many of the lecturers have been appointed to public bodies and are advisers to regulatory authorities, NGOs and governments. As a student of the School you will benefit greatly from this collective expertise, all of whom bring with them distinctive Irish, European and International teaching and research profiles.

Most LLM students take one of our one-year taught programmes in areas such as Public Law, Human Rights Law, International and Comparative Disability Law and Policy, and International Criminal Law but the option of a research degree (normally taking two years) is also available, as a structured PhD programme .

Learn More about our courses

Clinical Legal Education

NUI Galway has pioneered the development of clinical legal education in Ireland. Clinical legal education is a term employed to encapsulate a broad range of activities that focus on “learning by doing” and is widely recognised as the most significant innovation in the pedagogy of law teaching in the past century. The School of Law has long recognised the value of clinical legal education and has provided some of its students with opportunities to work in a variety of “real world” settings.

Thirty final year BCL students undertook placements in the last academic year – twice the number as in the previous year – with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, solicitors’ firms and barristers.

As the practice of law becomes increasingly internationalized, the School of Law is committed to providing our students with first-rate opportunities to incorporate an international element into their law studies.  The School has a long-standing commitment to the European Union’s Erasmus Programme.  Every year some forty of our undergraduate students spend a year at one of sixteen partner institutions around Europe.  The School also welcomes a similar number of students from these institutions to Galway.

Outside of the Erasmus Programme, we have a growing number of study abroad links with foreign institutions in Australia, Canada, China and the United States. We expect to increase the number of institutions available to our students in the coming years.

CBPPL Strategic Plan PDF (4.7 MB)

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Professional Doctorate in Law

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The Diploma Centre are delighted to offer a Professional Doctorate in Law with the Northumbria Law School.

The Professional Doctorate in Law is offered in partnership with the Northumbria Law School and is specifically designed for qualified solicitors. It is a part-time programme structured to facilitate those in full-time employment. The programme is designed to provide a structured and supportive learning experience that will enhance a solicitor’s theoretical understanding of their profession and will assist in the development of practice, through critical insight and evaluation, building on academic and research skills acquired via formal subject delivery and the doctoral research subsequently conducted. The research may be doctrinal, perhaps in a practice based area such as criminal justice and evidence, or the law in action in areas such as human rights or data collection and privacy or legal education. Those who complete the Professional Doctorate in Law will have made a significant and original contribution to the creation and interpretation of a body of knowledge and who is at the forefront of practice development. The programme aims to enable candidates to:

To acquire a range of research skills and to be able to apply these to the conceptualisation, design and implementation of a project, adjusting design in the light of unforeseen problems;

To be able to translate ideas into a form understandable by and meaningful to their profession;

To produce a thesis or portfolio of original quality in the professional area;

To disseminate /publish that research and its outcomes to the professional audience.

The taught element of the programme is assessed by the Proposal Assignment and the research element is assessed by submission of the final thesis or portfolio culminating in a viva voce examination with two independent examiners.

During the programme, candidates will develop their research skills and critical abilities as autonomous practitioners in the legal profession. The programme has been designed to provide a means of progression from an established academic knowledge base of a Masters qualification in law and/or an equivalent qualification with professional work experience in legal practice . The programme contains a number of methods by which the candidate may enhance their personal development and career progression. This will also impact on the profession as a whole. These methods include: research appreciation giving an opportunity to develop research as a craft; team working; project management; leadership; ability to use and enable others to use R&D to advance practice; collaborative learning in a multi-professional context.

Application information

Programme Information

Who should attend

The programme is open only to Irish qualified lawyers and is designed for two kinds of candidate- first, those with a professional experience and a Master’s degree within last five years; and second, those with professional experience but without a Master’s degree . All candidates will undergo assessment for advanced standing entry onto the programme that will formally capture their attainment of the required Level 10 of the Irish National Framework of Qualification.  Evidence for this will be provided both by their application and subsequent interview.

The Taught Element

The candidate will be required to successfully complete the Advanced Research Methods Module 30 (credits) which takes place during the first six months of the programme. This module builds on candidates' previous research skills and knowledge of research techniques to further enhance understanding of methodologies, methods and advanced techniques that are central to developing a coherent and well-argued research proposal.

During the taught element of the programme students will also be required to  develop and submit a  research proposal. The research proposal will constitute not only the module assignment but also bridges from the taught component to the research component of the programme. 

The Research phase

The programme of independent research begins once the proposal assignment has been accepted.  The candidate and their supervisory team meet regularly (a minimum of monthly with the principal supervisor) and record their progress through the e-vision online recordkeeping system.  Each year, the panel re-convenes to assess written evidence of the candidate’s work (for example, a literature review chapter or an analysis of data) and to re-consider the shape of the research project as a whole, so that the candidate remains on track for a timely completion. Recommendations can be made at these progression points for additional training and support for the candidate or changes and additions to the supervisory team.  It is recognised that the doctoral process is a complex and emergent one and the programme aims to provide flexibility and support throughout.

The final artefact of the Professional Doctorate in Law can be either a thesis document, normally of a doctoral format familiar in the social sciences or a portfolio submission.  The assessment criteria are the same for both routes: the candidate must demonstrate critical engagement with the field and show a contribution to knowledge and practice.

Previous thesis topics have included:

Addressing the expert and their evidence: What challenges could be utilised to ensure a rigorous and effective assessment of the admissibility and presentation of expert evidence?

The social construction of cats and dogs as pets and the implications for resolving Pet Custody Disputes in England and Wales

Privacy and Data Protection: factors impacting the enforcement of data protection rights in the UK

Corporate manslaughter: lessons for practitioners, law students and corporations

What was the legal impact in general, and in particular what impact did changes in commercial and regulatory law have, on business, international trade/commerce and economic growth from 1815 to 1939 on Tyneside, the River Tyne and the port of Tyne?

A critical examination of the overriding powers contained in Section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016

An exploration of the issues and challenges faced by the legal profession when complying with anti-money laundering laws and regulations.

To what extent do traditional forums of informal dispute resolution operate within community and religious organisations in Newcastle’s West End in relation to family law disputes and how does this facilitate and/or prohibit access to justice for female users?

Does ‘suspicious recognition’ operate in practice in the way that the guidance assumes it will?

Can we improve patient outcomes in the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health)?

For further information please contact the Programme Coordinator (Ireland), Rory O’Boyle: [email protected] .

If you are interested in applying for a future offering of the course please register for our Interested List .

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Tuesday, 26 January, 2016

The Importance of Planning

Comprehensive planning in the early months of the doctorate sets the stage for successful and timely completion. Decisions made during this time have far-reaching implications. In fact, numerous studies of doctorate completion (and non-completion) have traced the eventual outcomes of research projects to decisions made (or not made) in the first few months! It is worth bearing in mind that, while planning is important, it is difficult to predict the exact direction of a doctorate in the very early stages. Significant changes to your plan may be required as your research progresses.

Agree a general timeline with your supervisor that relates to the length of your doctorate. Set specific milestones against which to measure your progress such as:

• deepen understanding of the ‘problem’ or the issues around the research;
• agree the process of data collection/ research accumulation;
• complete ‘solution’ or framing of the argument, and review recent literature; and,
• written thesis, ready for viva.

Essential researcher-supervisor decisions

This relationship is critical. It is up to you to discover the specifics of what your supervisor expects from you.

Have you agreed the following?

• The frequency and timing of supervision meetings.
• Preferred level of supervision - very hands-on or hands-off.
• Resource needs - what is essential, what is available, what can reasonably be expected.
• Research ethics.
• Intellectual property arrangements.
• Your time commitments.

Use the Research and Professional Development Planning Form (Fillable PDF)    

The RPDP is a core feature of your PhD. It is a structured and supported process undertaken by anindividual research student, to reflect upon their research progress, learning, performance, and/or achievement; and to plan for their personal, educational and career development.

In particular RPDP is a process where a student:

• defines high level objectives and milestones to be achieved through their research project;
• identifies their current skills development needs through a process of self assessment;
• agrees a skills development plan to address their priority requirements;
• reviews their research and skills development progress in a structured manner with their supervisor;
• plans their detailed activities to their next review; and,
• documents their progress, in implementing their research plan and their professional development plan, highlighting issues identified and decisions made.

What is the purpose of RPDP?

• To support the student in managing their research project, monitoring progress and agreeing any changes in the direction of their work.
• To enable students to assess their current skills in the context of their research project and to identify any development needs.
• To document the outcome of any relevant meetings that take place between the student and their supervisor.
• To chart and evidence the academic, discipline and professional skills development of the student.
• To provide a record of skills development activities (e.g. courses attended, presentations given, publications, other).
• To support the assessment of progress of the student.
• To provide a formal document related to the stage 1 transfer process.
• To provide a framework for stage 1 and stage 2 completion/transition.
• To provide a mechanism for progress reporting in consultation between student and supervisor and the Graduate School.
• To reflect dialogue between student and supervisor over academic (subject specific), generic and transferable skills.

Research and Academic Skills

Training in research skills and techniques is the key element in the development of a research student, and that PhD students are expected to make a substantial, original contribution to knowledge in their area, normally leading to published work. The development of wider employment-related skills should not detract from that core objective.

Research and academic skills include:

• original, independent thinking;
• developing concepts and ideas;
• research methodologies and techniques;
• critical analysis and evaluation of research;
• principles and processes of research.

Key Transferable Skills

Transferable skills are non-job specific skills which can be used in different occupations. They may be developed through previous degree programmes, work, volunteering, or by life experience. By communicating transferable skills effectively, students can enhance marketability and become open to a larger sector of the job market.

Transferable skills include:

• team working
• communications skills
• project management
• personal effectiveness 
• career management

Click  here  for further information.

Research Objectives

Towards the end of this stage you should be much clearer on your research proposal. Consider how far you have got with the following: 

• surveying the literature to give you a professional grasp of the background theory to your subject;
• developing a deeper understanding of the problem or the issues around the research;
• beginning to spell out precisely what you are researching and why (if this was not already clear at the outset).

Stage Transfer Assessment 

Under the UCD General Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, students registered to a structured PhD programme are to be assessed formally at the end of their Stage 1 doctoral studies. This assessment process will determine whether the student should progress to Stage 2 of their doctoral studies.

The Stage 1 Transfer for an individual PhD candidate will require an Assessment Panel that will assess the progress of the student at the end of Stage 1 and will make a recommendation regarding the student’s progression.

The STA should take place 12 months from the date of registration for full time registered students and no later than 18 months after registration.

Here  is the policy document for the Stage Transfer Assessment.

The Graduate School and You

In UCD, the Graduate School is an element of the structure of each College. The five Graduate Schools and their Boards work with the constituent Schools of each College and with the Research Institutes to coordinate institutional provision and practices, ensure alignment and compliance with external requirements, identify and share good practice, facilitate and support graduate programme design and implementation. They also provide governance and oversight of graduate activity including the enhancement of research student experience.

Please contact us directly should you have any queries.

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PhD Disability Law and Policy

Galway , Ireland

THE world university rank:  301

Course qualification

Entry score

Total course fee

AUD 95,851 ? EUR  57,560 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Dublin , Ireland

THE world university rank:  401

AUD 99,914 ? EUR  60,000 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Doctor of Philosophy in European Law and Governance

Belfield , Ireland

THE world university rank:  201

AUD 65,344 ? EUR  39,240 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Doctor in Philosophy - Law

THE world university rank:  134

AUD 79,198 ? EUR  47,560 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Masters/PhD in Law

Limerick , Ireland

AUD 83,275 ? EUR  50,008 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

Doctor of Philosophy in Law

AUD 87,125 ? EUR  52,320 Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.

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29 law-phd positions in Ireland

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PhD Studentship in EU Migration Law

The School of Law and Government at Dublin City University invites applications for its four-year fully funded PhD programme, starting in September 2024. Outstanding PhD candidates will be offered

PhD Studentship: Strengthening governance and policy for climate, biodiversity and water on the island of Ireland

Dublin City University (www.dcu.ie) is a research-intensive, globally-engaged institution. DCU ranks in the top 100 universities under 50 years old (QS ranking). DCU’s School of Law and Government

PhD Studentship on Islamist Movements in Exile

Fully funded phd scholarship in sustainability innovation frameworks (advanced manufacturing).

Framework Programme? H2020 Reference Number PHD GSO 016-24 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description Applications are invited from suitably qualified

11 PhD positions under the MSCA EU-GLOCTER Doctoral Network (EU Glocal Counter-Terrorism)

recruiting institutions with an excellent research track-record in counter-terrorism research together with Associated Partners from across the world in order to deliver a world-class PhD programme. The

Post-Doctoral Researcher School of English and Digital Humanities, College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

and postgraduate mentoring/supervision). To interact closely with postgraduate research students who are studying for a Masters or a PhD and possibly have an agreed role in supporting these students in

Lecturer in General Nursing (x2), School of Nursing & Midwifery

eligible to register) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board Ireland. Applicants will be expected to have an academic qualification to PhD / Doctorate level or be undertaking a PhD /doctorate, experience in

Synnott Family Chair in EU Law , School of Law , College of Business and Law

research grants and attract excellent PhD students. The Chair will be required to provide research leadership in the area of EU Law including securing ERC funding, engage as appropriate with the UCC Futures

Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher School of Engineering & Architecture/MAREI Centre/Environmental Research Institute

appointments, in an area of relevance to DSIS. The successful applicant will have a PhD , a track record of high-quality peer reviewed publications, and strong leadership potential, including as thought leader

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• Law Postgraduate Diploma (TU319) Full Time

Course Title: Postgraduate Diploma in Law

Admission to the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law requires at least a second class honours level 8 primary degree (2.2 or higher).

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 7.5 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.

Due to competition for places, satisfying the minimum entry requirements is not a guarantee of a place.

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Law offers an excellent grounding in law for those looking to prepare for the Law Society’s FE-1 entrance examinations to qualify as a solicitor, or to pursue other careers in the public service, regulation, other professional services and sectors requiring comprehensive legal knowledge and analytic skills. 

The programme provides students with a deep understanding of the principles and institutional framework of Irish Law. It equips students with high-level reasoning and analytical skills enabling them to solve legal problems in a range of social, commercial and regulatory contexts, and to critically evaluate legal rules and processes. 

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Law offers small-class sizes to facilitate interactive learning and provides students with access to a team of expert law lecturers, many of whom have extensive experience of legal practice. 

The programme is designed to afford students maximum flexibility in tailoring a law degree to meet their own educational and professional needs. Students take Legal Skills and five additional modules chosen from covering both FE1 subjects and topics at the cutting edge of law and legal systems. 

Classes are held, in the main, between 9am and 6pm Monday-Friday with some modules offered in the evening. Timetables allow students to attend classes covering all 8 FE1 subjects from Monday-Wednesday. A sample timetable is available from [email protected].

Examinations are held once a year in May. Coursework is set throughout the academic year.

Upon successful completion of the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, students have the option to move on to complete a further six modules to obtain a Master of Arts in Law (Professional) degree (either through the full-time programme or the part-time programme ) or complete a dissertation part-time over one academic year to earn an MA in Law . 

This Post-Graduate Diploma in Law is also available on a part-time basis over two academic years. Information about the part-time programme can be found here .

Graduates of the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law are highly sought after by the “Big Six” law firms as well as other law firms throughout Ireland. Graduates have also gone on to pursue successful careers at the Bar, the Courts Service and other state and semi-state agencies.

The programme also has a consistent track record of producing graduates who succeed in competitions for public service employment and obtain positions in highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Insurance and Energy. The programme is also suitable for those at work looking to upskill in law.

All students attend a Legal Skills module in their first year of registration. This module emphasises practical skills such as legal research and writing. Students also participate in moot courts, prepare and deliver presentations and work together in completing group projects.

Students take 5 additional modules to complete the programme. There are no required modules beyond Legal Skills. For 2024/25 the modules offered are:

• Company Law
• Constitutional Law
• Contract Law
• Criminal Law
• European Union Law
• Property Law
• Law of Torts
• Refugee and Asylum Law
• Jurisprudence
• Administrative Law
• European Human Rights Law
• Criminology
• Media and Intellectual Property Law

Instruction is provided through a combination of lectures and coursework. Students are expected to complement timetabled hours with private study and self-learning. There are approximately 13 timetabled hours per week, depending on the modules selected by the student. A commitment of approximately 40 hours per week is normally required of students on the course.

Classes run between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 6-9pm Monday to Thursday where evening options are selected.

When taken part-time, students will have class contact time of approximately 6.5 hours per week with a total time commitment of 20 hours per week. Whilst some modules are offered in the evening, part-time student’s take the bulk of their classes with full-time students. Therefore although a part-time option is available, this is not an evening course and attendance during the day should be expected. A sample timetable is available from the law office: [email protected].  

Apply Online – FULL TIME EU SEPTEMBER START

Apply Online – FULL TIME NON-EU SEPTEMBER START

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Law has been incredibly helpful in preparing me for a career in law. The programme, which can build towards completing the Master of Arts in Law (Professional) programme, offers a range of engaging and in-depth modules, taught by excellent lecturers who are experts in their fields. It provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to go on and sit the FE1 and King’s Inns exams.  The small class sizes, as well as the individualised support offered to each student, help to foster an excellent sense of community among students and staff alike, and I never felt nervous to ask for clarification or assistance. I cannot recommend this programme enough for anyone who is considering pursuing a legal career, or who wishes to develop a comprehensive knowledge of a fascinating, important subject.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Law and Master of Arts in Law (Professional) at TU Dublin are fantastic, immersive courses. Prior knowledge of Irish law isn’t a necessity and they provide students with the resources to develop their career within law.  The small classes are ideal and lecturers and the careers department provide individualised supported throughout. The condensed timetable is ideal to balance studies with other commitments and the campus at Grangegorman is modern and accessible.  Each module you decide to take is taught from the ground level up. For those looking to pursue a legal career, these programmes will equip you with the necessary tools and skills and I highly recommend it.

At what level is this programme offered?

This programme is offered at level 9 on the QQI National Framework of Qualifications. It attracts 60 ECTS credits.

Where do I find information on becoming a lawyer?

For information on how to become a solicitor see www.lawsociety.ie. For information on how to become a barrister, see www.kingsinns.ie .

Will this course prepare me for the FE-1 Law Society entrance examinations?

The Post Graduate Diploma in Law includes tuition in all eight of the law examinations required for entry to the Law Society of Ireland, only five can be taken for credit over the course of the programme.

Will this course help me to become a barrister?

Although the tuition offered may be of some assistance to those seeking to become a barrister, completion of the Postgraduate Diploma in Law will not act as a substitute for completion of the King`s Inns` Diploma in Legal Studies programme. However students entering the PGDIP in 2017 and subsequent years have the option of applying (within 5 years of graduation) into year two of the Master of Arts in Law (Professional) at TU Dublin which is an accredited law degree for the purposes of admission to King’s Inns.

How much will the books required for this course cost?

Law texts are expensive and students aiming to complete the FE-1 examinations should budget approximately 700 Euro for law texts.

Is there financial assistance for students on this course?

Applicants should consider applying to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) for advice on financial support for completion of this course. Fees paid may be deductible from taxable income ( revenue.ie ).

What are the criteria for admitting students?

Admission to this course is based solely on merit. The Programme Committee will consider first, the academic profile of the student; second, his or her motivation for studying law; third, whether he or she has any prior experience of law. We discourage canvassing by or on behalf of students

When will I found out if my application is successful?

Offers will be made on a rolling basis until places are full or until 1st July 2024, whichever is the later. Any places remaining after 1st July 2024 will be allocated in mid-August 2024. It may be necessary to close applications before 1st July if applications exceed available places. If final year undergraduate results are pending at time of application, a conditional offer will be made. This offer cannot be formally accepted until your results are submitted via the online application system. To secure a place, results should be forwarded as promptly as possible.

What happens if I apply late?

Late applications will be considered if space remains after all timely applications have been dealt with.

Postgraduate Diploma

Course Type

Mode of study, method of delivery, commencement date.

September 2024

City Centre: Grangegorman

Virtual Tour

Grangegorman

€5,600 Total Fee

Fees (Non-EU)

€11,000

Ms Eavan Murphy

• Eavan.murphy@tudublin.ie
• 01-220 5471

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Search

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Postgraduate research scholarship opportunities, trinity postgraduate research award.

• Frances E. Moran Studentship
• John A. Boland Studentship
• Government of Ireland Scholarships

Applicants to the PhD programme at the School of Law to commence in September 2024 are eligible to be in consideration for a Trinity Research Doctorate Award (TRDA). This award comes with a stipend of €25,000 per year and fees write-down for the four years (full-time) of a Structured PhD programme as offered by the School of Law.

• Open only to new entrants to the full-time research doctorate register (EU and non-EU).
• The holders must engage in full-time research and must register for a research doctorate degree at Trinity College, the University of Dublin.
• Continuation on the research register is dependent on evidence of satisfactory annual progress and successful completion of the confirmation process at 18 months after first registration.
• Both the doctorate researcher and supervisor will agree to participate in the pilot Trinity’s Supervisor: Research Student Agreement.
• TRDAs cannot continue beyond a fourth year on the full-time research doctorate register and cannot be split across doctorate researchers.

Award Criteria & Timeline

• formal academic results to date
• PhD research proposal's cogency and promise
• academic and intellectual achievement outside of formal results
• academic and intellectual achievement relativised to candidate's circumstances

Applications

• TCD Application number
• Supervisor name
• PhD Research title
• Personal statement (max 400 words)

Candidates are informed of the outcome of their application from June onwards. Further information is available at Graduate Studies website.

Scholarships of Limited Application

Frances e. moran research studentship.

This studentship is offered by the Trinity Trust for research in any area of Irish, European or international law . The grant will normally be of one year’s duration. The successful candidate will be required to register for the degree of Ph.D. or M.Litt. The successful candidate may be required to assist with tutorial work in the Law School for four hours per week. Applications should be addressed to the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate). Value: Ph.D. or M.Litt. fees for the year will be paid, together with a tax-free stipend of €1,841 – €2,222.

John A. Boland Memorial Scholarship (Law):

The John Boland memorial prize was founded in 2007 by subscription in memory of John Boland (LL.B., M.A., Barrister-at-Law, 1954), former U.K. Public Trustee, who founded the UK Trust for TCD (then called 'The London Trust for TCD'), and who was a very loyal graduate serving Trinity in many capacities. The Prize is awarded annually by the U.K. Trust for Trinity College Dublin for a new incoming research postgraduate student in Law. Award to be decided on the basis of merit in application and all new successful applications will automatically be considered in our application review for this scholarship. Value: €1,000 p.a.

Government of Ireland Scholarships 2024/25

The programme is open to applicants studying in any field. The offer is open to students from non-EU/EEA countries and is applicable to all fields of study.

Students who are successful will receive:

• A €10,000 stipend for one year’s study
• A full fee waiver of all tuition and other registration costs at the higher education institution

The deadline for the submission of applications is 5pm (Irish Time) 13 March 2024.

Applicants are required to be in possession of a conditional or final offer for admission to Trinity at the time of application for the scholarship and will be required to submit a copy of offer letter when applying for Government of Ireland Scholarship. We suggest you apply to Trinity College Dublin by 15th February 2024 if you are considering applying for the Government of Ireland Scholarship. This will allow us time to review your application. We cannot guarantee applications submitted after this date will be reviewed in time.

Applications should be submitted by the individual student applicants and not by host Institutions.

The postgraduate course application should be submitted via this portal .

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm Irish time on 13 March 2024 .

Late applications will not be accepted.

This is an external scholarship, the School of Law cannot advise on application processes and outcomes.

Further information on the evaluation criteria and assessment process can be

found here .

Student Testimonial: Victoria O'Gorman

Having experienced the difficulties that developing countries face to address their infrastructure gap and how their volatile political and macroeconomic conditions hinder economic growth, Victoria is now seeking an “MSc in Law and Finance” aiming to put these two fields at the service of projects towards sustainable development and social inclusion.

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Maynooth university school of law and criminology.

• Department Home /
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• Doctoral Scholarship – Law

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN - DEADLINE 5PM ON THE 4TH JUNE 2024

Students undertaking or wishing to undertake a PhD or PhD-track programme in the School of Law and Criminology are eligible to apply for scholarship support in the School of Law and Criminology. This scholarship commences no earlier than October 2024 and lasts for up to 4 years (shorter than 4 years if the student has already commenced PhD Studies.)   One new Scholarship will be available this calendar year (starting October 2024).   This Scholarship application is open to both new entrants to and existing students already registered to and in good standing on the MU Law and Criminology PhD programme.    Candidates should ordinarily hold a master’s degree in Law or Criminology, or a cognate discipline, with a 2.1 honours or higher. In exceptional cases, candidates with a 1st class undergraduate degree in Law or Criminology, or a cognate discipline, will be considered. Students who will in 2024-5 have fees paid from external sources (including other scholarships) are generally not eligible to apply.   Before applying, students must have secured a supervisor in the  School of Law and Criminology  who (a) formally supports the application and (b) states that, in their considered view, and with regard to the quality of the research proposal, the candidate has a realistic prospect of success in attaining a PhD. It is the applicant’s responsibility to secure a supervisor, bearing in mind that staff members are free to decline  to act as such. The agreement to supervise should be notified by the prospective supervisor to the School’s PhD Coordinator (Prof. Delia Ferri). A formal offer on the PAC system is not necessary to apply for the scholarship.   Value of the Scholarship The scholarships will entail:

• A fixed maintenance award of €18,500 per annum (the amount is determined by the University rather than the School);
• Annual tuition fees support.

  Duration This full-time scholarship will be awarded for up to four years of study, subject to satisfactory annual review of progress in research. If a student has already commenced PhD studies, the Scholarship applies only until the student completes the fourth year since first registration on a PhD programme, subject to satisfactory annual review of progress in research.   Terms and Conditions The Scholarship will require participation in School activities as a full-time doctoral scholar. Scholars will generally be expected to attend the university during term-time.   Scholars who wish to develop their teaching skills, contribute to pedagogical developments in their discipline and develop other skills to enhance their employability outside of the University may also be considered for activities such as tutorials, marking, and/or similar related work for which they will receive additional payment subject to University guidelines, policies and procedures.   There is, however, no obligation on the University to offer the scholar any paid work, and there is no obligation on the scholar to accept any such offers of paid work.   Moreover, any such work, where offered, is for the exclusive purpose of advancing the scholar’s training and development in their capacity as a Doctoral Scholar. These activities will be carried out under the direction of the Head of School, or a member of staff nominated by the Head.   Reimbursement of expenses for travel and participation in conferences, events or for the purchase of books will be available in accordance with School policies (funding is usually limited to €500 per annum).    Application and Selection Procedure

Appointments will be made by the Head of School on the advice of a representative selection committee and based on a transparent recruitment process that meets the needs of the School. The Scholarship will be awarded by the School on the basis of:  

• The quality of the applicant’s academic skills and experience . This criterion includes excellence in academic and research achievements as well as applicants’ non-academic accomplishments, in line with the University’s mission and Strategic Plan. In the case of existing Maynooth PhD students, regard will be had to annual progress reports, where relevant.
• The quality of the project proposal . This criterion includes the quality of the aims and objectives of the proposed research, the proposed methodology, the feasibility of the proposal, and plans for dissemination.
• The project’s potential alignment with the School’s research priorities and with the University’s Strategic Plan 2023-2028. 

  Applicants for the scholarship, who already have secured a supervisor in the School of Law and Criminology, are asked to submit the following documents to [email protected] by no later than 5 p.m. Irish time on Tuesday 4th of June 2024:  

• A CV detailing academic experience, and any prior teaching experience;
• A cover letter of up to two pages outlining their motivation and suitability for the role; if you are an existing MU PhD student, your cover letter should include an indication as to whether you consent to the selection committee having access to your annual PhD progress reports, where relevant.
• A short letter from a permanent, whole-time academic member of the Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology confirming they have agreed to supervise the candidate, that they endorse the application for a doctoral scholarship, and that, in their considered view, and with regard to the quality of the research proposal, the candidate has a realistic prospect of success in attaining a PhD;
• A  copy of a PhD research proposal of maximum 6 pages pages (not including references) and should ideally include  the following elements: Project Title; Abstract; Description of the project to include, for example, aims and central research questions; Methodology; Indication of the Novelty and Significance of the Research and Research Plans. The suggested structure is merely indicative, and students are welcome to include additional elements or highlight certain specific aspect of their research. A list of references can be included at the end.
• Relevant academic transcripts (evidence of completion of degree and degree award mark).

  Applicants may be shortlisted for interview and, if so, will be contacted directly by the School.    Closing date for applications: 5 p.m. on 4th of June 2024.   Equality and Diversity Maynooth University values the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seeks to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual. To learn more about our commitment to Equality and Diversity, please read the Maynooth University  Equality and Diversity Policy . Additionally, both Maynooth University and the School of Law and Criminology hold an  Athena SWAN Bronze Award , which recognises work undertaken to advance gender equality for staff and students in Higher Education.

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PhD Scholarship Opportunity in the School of Law and Government

SFI Co-Centre for Climate+ Biodiversity + Water PhD Scholarship 

Project title: Strengthening governance and policy for climate, biodiversity and water on the island of Ireland

DCU School of Law and Government and the Centre for Climate and Society are pleased to share this full time PhD position within the newly established Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water , funded by Science Foundation Ireland . The Co-Centre brings together 14 higher education and research institutions across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain, with the vision to be a home of research, innovation, and policy development across the interlinked challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and water.

The scholarship will provide a stipend of EUR 22,000 per annum and will cover EU fees, both for four years. Some funding for research equipment, materials, fieldwork, and conference travel will also be provided.

The PhD project 

Land-use policy and governance play a key role in achieving a Paris-aligned, biodiversity-rich, and prosperous society. Brexit will likely reduce the alignment of land use policy and governance in Ireland and Northern Ireland, posing risks for environmental outcomes across a range of domains including climate, biodiversity and water quality, creating a complex regulatory context for businesses and undermining investor confidence. Against this backdrop the central aim of this PhD project is to analyze trends in land-use regulatory and governance arrangements on the island of Ireland, develop scenario-based analysis of risks associated with policy and governance divergence, and identify potential approaches to mitigate such risks. The project will also focus on the theme of just transitions, and how these can be enabled through strengthened policy and governance frameworks across the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland.

Closing date: 14 June 2024 

More information on the scholarship and instructions on how to apply are available on the jobs.ac.uk website and on this PDF . 

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Zara Aleena’s family ‘tortured with thought her death was preventable’ – inquest

Zara Aleena’s family is “tortured” with the thought that her “death was preventable”, an inquest has heard.

Jordan McSweeney killed the 35-year-old law graduate as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, early on June 26 2022.

McSweeney was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 38 years at the Old Bailey in December 2022 after admitting Ms Aleena’s murder and sexual assault.

In November 2023, he won a Court of Appeal bid to reduce the minimum term of his life sentence.

Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, told the jury at East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow on Monday that the family is “tortured by thoughts that her death was preventable and that our state system that we entrusted failed our Zara, failed us”.

She added that her niece’s murder highlighted “the crumbling justice system that is meant to protect all of us, especially women and girls”.

Ms Naz said: “Since her death we have been campaigning so that our daughters, sisters, friends can be safe and protected as Zara never was. This is Zara’s legacy.”

In a pen portrait, Ms Naz became emotional as she told the jury of her niece’s “sparkling eyes and curly jet black hair” and “glorious laughter”.

Ms Naz said Ms Aleena was a carer for her mother and grandmother, “the rock of our family” and it was the “proudest moment for all of us” when she was offered a job as a legal assistant at the Royal Courts of Justice.

She described her niece as “a carefree spirit with the most caring heart” and said she had worked to help resettle refugees in the UK.

Ms Naz said: “2022 was to be her year to live her wildest dreams. She wanted to buy her own home, find Mr Right and to have children. The future looked bright.”

She added: “One of the things she used to confidently say is ‘I know I’m a good person’.

“If she were able to speak here today she would say ‘I didn’t do anything wrong’.”

Ms Naz said Ms Aleena “wasn’t just surviving, she was thriving”, adding: “Zara walked everywhere and one night she walked home from an evening out with a friend, she was sexually assaulted and murdered. She was 35 years old.

“She believed that a woman should be allowed to walk home, and her dreams, her future was brutally taken.”

McSweeney had been released from prison on licence on June 17 2022 and, after breaching the conditions of his licence, a decision was made to recall him to prison on June 24 2022.

On Monday, area coroner Nadia Persaud said the purpose of the inquest is to “consider the circumstance by which Zara came by her death, which will include whether any actions or omissions of state bodies contributed to her death”.

The jury was told that McSweeney was 29 at the time of the attack and had received his first custodial sentence at the age of 13, with much of his adult years spent in prison or in the community under licence.

Kim Thornden-Edwards, chief probation officer for England and Wales, said during her evidence the Probation Service accepts that McSweeney should have been considered as high risk from 2021.

Put to her by the coroner that it was considered McSweeney’s risk should have been high from 2021, Ms Thornden-Edwards said: “I don’t have an issue with HMIP’s assessment that at the time Jordan McSweeney was high risk.

“What I would say is that the assessment of Jordan McSweeney has some complexities and nuances to it.”

She added: “The majority of his offending history is acquisitive, burglaries and thefts.”

She said the threshold between medium and high risk is “one of the most challenging”.

Asked if he could have been placed in approved premises if he was considered as high risk, Ms Thornden-Edwards said: “They take the most serious offenders that you have and their bed spaces are very much in demand, they will house our critical public protection cases, they will also house terrorist offenders, even if Jordan McSweeney had been assessed as high risk, I do not think he would’ve hit the bar comparatively in terms of the people we do house in approved premises.”

She added that people cannot be given an electronic monitoring tag without an address, but said had McSweeney had accommodation it “should’ve been a consideration”.

Ms Persaud, reading a statement from a consultant forensic pathologist, said the cause of Ms Aleena’s death was blunt force head injury and neck compression.

The inquest continues.