UCD now offers a structured PhD Programme. The College of Arts and Celtic Studies requires that all incoming PhD students obtain at least 30 credits in addition to the dissertation before a PhD will be awarded. Students are also required to undergo assessment of their progress in the dissertation, 12-18 months after beginning their studies. Students must submit work to attend a meeting with their Transfer Assessment Panel before being permitted to progress from Stage 1 of the PhD programme to Stage 2. Details of both aspects of the PhD are given below. Please note that PhD applications are now accepted in September, January and May. Credit Requirements: Modules taken in addition to the Dissertation All new PhD students, and all students re-entering the PhD programme during or after September 2013, are required to complete 30 credits (in addition to preparing their theses), usually in years 1-2, before completing their PhD degree. 20 credits may generally be awarded for prior learning (a taught MA or equivalent), subject to the approval of the Graduate School Board of the College of Arts and Celtic Studies. Students who are awarded these credits are therefore subject to a requirement to complete a further 10 credits to fulfil credit requirements. Students who are not graduates of any of the MA Programmes of the UCD School of English, Drama and Film will be required to take the Introduction to Research Methods module (10 credits), currently organised by Dr P.J. Mathews. There are three PhD (Level 5) modules available to PhD students. Details are given below. While students can take these modules over the course of their degree, students can only register for modules in the current academic year. It is not possible to register for modules a year in advance. **ENG50020 English, Drama and Film Tutorial Training, may only be taken by students in the second year or after of their PhD degree, and only if they have been offered teaching by the School. Please note: the School cannot guarantee that teaching will be offered to all PhD students.*** Modules are Pass/Fail. Students may elect to take two of these modules to complete the required 10 credits. The current convenor of these modules is Dr Michelle O Connell. Students must present evidence to doctoral panels of having completed any required modules. Alternatively, students may choose to substitute one or more of the above modules by taking relevant MA seminars from those currently offered by the school. Students however may not register for such modules without (1) the prior approval of their supervisor(s) and (2) the approval of module convenor concerned. If permitted to register for an MA module, PhD students must undertake all aspects of the module, and must complete all assessments. As this element of the Structured PhD is a new development, there may be alterations in policy in the future. As such, the School recommends that students take at least one Level 5 module (MA modules are Level 4), though preferably students should take two modules at Level 5, in anticipation of any new regulation which might dictate that Level 5 modules only may be counted towards a PhD degree.
Registration for modules: Students may register to these modules by contacting Ms Hilary Gow to arrange any necessary meeting or appointment in order to do so. Ms Gow works mornings only (9.30am-12.45pm) and students are strongly advised to arrange a convenient time at which to speak to her. Her contact details are: Email: Hilary.gow@ucd.ie, Tel. (01)7168480. There will be a deadline for all registrations for modules in both semesters in Sept/Oct 2015 (tbc). Late registrations will not be accepted. Students must inform their supervisors about any academic work which they intend to undertake in addition to their dissertations. Once registered, students should contact the Graduate Officer as soon as possible to discuss the particular requirements of their chosen module. Graduate modules are subject to the same regulations as undergraduate modules with regard to assessment, submission and fees associated with a failed attempt. Please note that non-completion of the module will require the student to repeat the module and to pay the associated fees. If a student anticipates difficulty in completing the module then he/she should contact the Graduate Officer immediately, and before the end of the semester.
Level 5 modules currently offered by the School: ENG50020 English, Drama and Film Tutorial Training (5 credits) ***THIS MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN OFFERED TEACHING BY THE SCHOOL OF ENGLISH, DRAMA AND FILM. The School CANNOT guarantee teaching for all students *** Students who select this module WITHOUT having been approved as tutors and offered teaching on the School modules will NOT be given teaching hours and will NOT receive credit for this module. Only students in their second and subsequent years of registration on the PhD Programme are permitted to teach. Please contact the Graduate Officer if you are in doubt as to your eligibility for this module. Available Semester 1 & 2 This module introduces PhD students to academic teaching. PhD students will form part of a team teaching on a core/co-core lecture course. PhD students will teach workshops supporting the main lectures to fixed numbers of undergraduate students. PhD students will be guided in their learning experience (a) through attendance at one or more School-run training days (compulsory) (b) through attending regular meetings with the teaching team of the module to which they are assigned (compulsory) (c) through marking meetings and monitoring of marking, arranged by the team s convenor (compulsory). To complete this module, students will participate in the training session, and the teaching and examination of one complete module. Assessment 1. Tutors registered for this module must attend the training session organised by the Director for Teaching & Learning regardless of whether or not they have attended this session in any previous year. 2. Tutors may choose to base this module on their teaching of either EBL or conventional modules but cannot receive credit for both. 3. Tutors must attend all meetings related to the module on which they are teaching. The module convenor will confirm attendance at meetings by signing an attendance slip for each individual meeting. 4. Tutors should submit one lesson plan to represent their teaching preparation. 5. Tutors must submit a 1,000-1,500 word self-reflective report on their teaching practice and development over the term.
PLEASE NOTE: Tutors should not identify any undergraduate student by name in any report submitted for assessment, as tutors are bound to respect student confidentiality. Only UCD PhD Students currently registered at UCD can take this module for credit. Failure to submit any of the work for this module by the deadline will result in a Fail grade. Graduate modules are subject to the same regulations as undergraduate modules with regard to assessment, submission and fees associated with a failed attempt. Please note that non-completion of the module will require the student to repeat the module and to pay the associated fees. Learning Outcomes This module will aid students in understanding the different facets of university teaching through participation in training sessions(s) organized by the School; observing undergraduate lectures and teaching supporting workshops; engaging with colleagues and receiving feedback and guidance through attending teaching team meetings; honing assessment skills through moderated grading; classroom-based teaching skills through preparation and execution of classes as outlined by the course convenor. Assessment (Pass/Fail) Assignment: (1) Detailed self-reflective report (2) Report form signed by module convenor and head of Teaching and Learning confirming attendance at training day and all module meetings including marking meetings ENG50030 English, Drama and Film Graduate Research Culture (5 credits) Semester 2 only This module introduces PhD students to academic research in English and/or Drama and/or Film through their participation in one of the School s regular research seminars. Attendance at one of the School s seminar series is required. In addition, students must show evidence of having contributed a conference paper or research seminar either at a recognised national or international conference or symposium, postgraduate, early-career or professional, or in a recognized Higher Education Institution. Evidence consists of conference programme, paper delivered and any associated supporting material.
***Submissions are subject to University Regulations. Failure to submit will result in a fail grade, and students must pay the requisite fee for repeats. Late submissions are subject to usual regulations, and students must seek permission for extensions, supported by relevant documentation. Submissions will not be accepted more than two weeks after the deadline. Any later, and requests for extenuating circumstances must be referred to the Graduate School of Arts and Celtic Studies for review and for a decision.*** You will be required to: 1. Attend at least three research seminars at least one of these from the School s seminar series. You may, of course, attend any additional seminars that you please. 2. Write a short, self-reflective report in response to a seminar series/conference which the student attended this semester (max 1,500 words) with regard to the following: Its impact on your intended research area Its impact on how it intersects with your own research objectives Its impact on how you might deliver a paper on your own research project 3. Deliver a conference paper at a recognised national or international conference or symposium, or deliver a paper in a recognised Higher Education Institution. 4. Submit supporting material for the conference paper including: a copy of the paper delivered; copies of any visual or other aids used when delivering the paper; a copy of the conference programme. Assessment (Pass/Fail) (a) A conference/seminar programme/listing with the student s name and paper advertised as part of that conference/seminar (b) The conference paper delivered (max 3,000 words) with copies of any visual or other aids used when delivering the paper (c) A short, self-reflective report as outlined above (max 1,500 words)
ENG50010 English, Drama and Film Career Development (5 credits) Semester 2 only This module will aid students in developing professional skills. Students must attend workshops on professional and career development as offered by the School or University; Such workshops may include issues such as CV writing, grant applications, interview techniques, research collaboration, conference organisation, book and journal publication, teacher training, and skills awareness. To complete this module, students will submit the following material: a list of all workshops attended (minimum 3), and three self-reflective reports (1,000 words each) in response to three of the workshops attended. Students must in addition produce any one of the following: seed funding grant application, evidence of conference organisation, book proposal, peer-reviewed journal reports, or draft academic CV. ***Submissions are subject to University Regulations. Failure to submit will result in a fail grade, and students must pay the requisite fee for repeats. Late submissions are subject to usual regulations, and students must seek permission for extensions, supported by relevant documentation. Submissions will not be accepted more than two weeks after the deadline. Any later, and requests for extenuating circumstances must be referred to the Graduate School of Arts and Celtic Studies for review and for a decision.*** Summary of assignments required: 1. List of workshops attended (incl. date and time, and name of workshop leader) 2. Three self-reflective reports (1,000 words each) one each on three of the workshops attended 3. ONE of the following: Draft Academic CV Book Proposal Seed funding or other grant application Conference proposal (in capacity of organiser)
Progress in the Dissertation: Transferring from Stage 1 to Stage 2 The Doctoral Panel and the Transfer Assessment Panel (TAP) What does Stage 1 mean? Stage one of the PhD programme is a probationary period. Students are required at the end of 12-18 months to demonstrate that they have made sufficient progress in this initial phase to complete their research at the required standard, usually within four years of commencing their studies at UCD. What happens at the end of Stage 1? The student s supervisor will organise a Transfer Assessment Panel, comprising the members of the student s doctoral panel, and one other member of staff. The student will submit a 10,000 word research piece (usually a chapter) to the panel, for examination. The supervisor will submit a report on the student s progress. The panel will then convene to interview the student, discussing both the research piece and the student s progress, and his/her plans for completion of the project. The panel will then make a recommendation to the Graduate School of Arts and Celtic Studies as to whether: (a) the student s progress is satisfactory, and the student should be allowed to progress to stage two (b) the student s progress is not yet sufficient to progress to stage two, and the student should be given the chance to submit his/her work for further assessment after another 5-6 months (c) the student should be required to exit the programme. Please note: this is a university assessment; progress is not automatic or guaranteed. Please note: Students are subject to further assessment at stage two, if insufficient progress is made. The potential outcomes are as listed above. What is the difference between a Doctoral Panel and a Transfer Assessment Panel? The Doctoral Panel comprises the student s supervisor(s) and two other members of staff. This panel will meet with the student at least once per year to discuss the student s progress, and any other issues the student may wish to consider. The Transfer Assessment Panel convenes only once, to assess the student s progress as outlined above. The supervisor does not sit on this panel, though the student s doctoral panel advisors do.