Structured PhD

Duration:
4-year (full-time) / 5-year (part-time)
(including 1-year pre-doctoral training year)

Students to be registered in RCSI or UCD and RUMC and meet the academic requirements of the relevant institution.

To ensure a successful application, the following criteria are required to be met:

Doctoral applicants who are highly motivated and have clear understanding of the requirements of an NQF Level 10 programme.
To provide evidence of sufficient financial support and potential research grant funding.
To submit a project proposal that consists of the following:
- A clear indication of research excellence,
- Suitability of proposal for PhD,
- Potential impact of research on applicant, Malaysia and collaboration with Ireland.
To select a pair of supervisors in RCSI or UCD in Dublin and RUMC in Malaysia.
- Principal supervisor should be based in Dublin and possess a PhD (or equivalent) and experience in PhD supervision.
- RUMC supervisor should possess a higher qualification and sufficient research experience.

Students undertake a 1-year pre-doctoral training that enables you to learn some core PhD skills such as research methods, research ethics & integrity and academic writing.

Within the first 6 months of the research period, you are expected to have completed the following and commenced on your research;

Literature Review
Methodological Plan for Thesis
Formal Transfer Report

You will be assessed based on your performance during this period through a formal report and viva.

Upon successful completion of the pre-doctoral training year, you will then be registered for a PhD.

Candidates pay EU fees each year until they submit their thesis and are allowed a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years from initial registration to complete their degree. Students who take more than six years must re-apply for registration

All students submit annual written reports and present their work in an oral presentation and interview. Progress is reviewed by two independent staff members. Students can only progress to PhD after a satisfactory progress assessment at the end of the probationary first year.

All PhD candidates complete a written thesis on their project which is submitted to one external examiner and one internal examiner for examination as per the institution’s academic regulations. Following the recommendation of the examiners, including successful completion of an oral (viva voce) examination at RCSI or UCD with an independent chair present, a PhD may be awarded.

Research Fees 2017 – 2018

NOTE: It is the postgraduate’s responsibility to register each year prior to submission of their thesis. Failure to do so will lead to automatic disqualification from degree programme.

PhD Full-Time (Euro (€)):

RCSI: €6,550
UCD: €6945

PhD Part-Time (Minimum Five-Year Registration) (Euro (€)):

RCSI: €4,370
UCD: €4630

NOTE:

An additional National University of Ireland (NUI) fee of €45 per year applies for years 1 to 3.
Please contact RCSI/UCD Fees Office should you have any queries on the fee payment.
Do take note of the increase in fee by ~5% per annum.

Registration

You are required to possess the following criteria to apply for the Structured PhD programme at RUMC.

An MSc or upper second class (2.1) honours degree (OR equivalent) in a relevant subject.
Supervisors from RUMC and either RCSI or UCD.
Agreed with supervisors on topic for thesis and logistical details for candidature. (Eg: start date, location for initial research training, etc.)

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you are to possess a high standard of written and spoken English.
You are to submit IELTS or equivalent language test scores, for both written and spoken English. (eg: TOEFL, Cambridge.)
An IELTS score of 7.0 is desirable, but scores > 6.5 are also accepted.

Registration for the programme is to be made via RUMC.
Application form (consists of proposal template) to be completed and submitted to RUMC Registrar
Registrar will forward the application to RCSI or UCD upon preliminary review.

APPLICATION FORM/PROPOSAL TEMPLATE