First Doctoral College of any Irish University opens at University of Limerick

University of Limerick opens first Doctoral College of any Irish University in Ireland. Pictured are Prof Ann MacPhail, Associate Vice President Doctoral College, Prof Kerstin Mey, UL President and Prof Norelee Kennedy, Vice President Research. Picture: Arthur Ellis

A new Doctoral College at University of Limerick is the first of any Irish third-level institution in Ireland

The UL Doctoral College will support and develop the structures that enable postgraduate researchers to pursue original research and provide the opportunities for them to develop their skills.

Located within the Office of Vice President of Research, the UL Doctoral College will work with UL’s four faculties to enhance and promote PhD studies and support the postgraduate researchers as they complete their course of study and develop their careers.

The objectives of the UL Doctoral College are to ensure quality education in programmes and training; increase infrastructural efficiencies; accommodate diversity of research and research needs, and facilitate networking opportunities as part of a community of researchers.

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To mark the launch of the UL Doctoral College, a new half-a-million-euro scheme has been opened to support PhD scholars.

The scholarships will provide opportunities for postgraduate researchers to enter the doctoral space which is essential to maintaining an early-career talent pool.

Five four-year Doctoral College PhD Scholarships, to a total value of €500,000 have now been established with each scholarship valued at €25,000 annually. It is intended that a Scholarship will be awarded to each of the four faculties in UL with a fifth being awarded as an interfaculty scholarship. 

Welcoming the new Doctoral College, Professor Norelee Kennedy, UL Vice President Research said, “The mission of UL’s research strategy ‘Wisdom for Action’ is to build a vibrant community where research excellence is valued, supported and central to all facets of the university. We are working to ensure that UL is the place of choice for those wishing to pursue a PhD and this new Doctoral College shows that UL is committed to placing PhD studies and research at the heart of the university.”

Professor Ann MacPhail, Associate Vice President for the Doctoral College said, “The Doctoral College offers an important opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the centrality of doctoral education across the University, as well as heighten the doctoral education experience through supporting a meaningful, relevant and worthwhile doctoral education ecosystem.”

The Doctoral College will be directed in its work by the most important strategic priorities for doctoral education which are funding for doctoral education, research ethics and integrity, quality of supervision and internationalisation.

The Doctoral College will advocate for the development of feasible and relevant doctoral programmes; quality of provision and experience within and across post graduate researchers and supervisors; and the development of regulations and guidelines that will support to produce diverse and excellent original research.

Professor Ann MacPhail added, “The new PhD Scholarships convey a significant investment in, and support for, doctoral education at University of Limerick. We are aware of the national and international advocacy around increasing the level of doctoral stipends to reduce fiscal anxieties experienced by many doctoral candidates and these scholarships will provide some level of security as doctoral candidates continue with their research.”

Applications can now be submitted with details on the Doctoral College website and social media channels.

Criteria for the scholarships include a strong alignment to the UL Research Strategy – Wisdom for Action and to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The closing date for applications is Monday 21 August 2023.

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