FAQ | UCD Smurfit School

How and when do I apply?

If you would like to apply, please complete an application pack consisting of:

On-line Application Form
Research Proposal
Transcripts
Two References
Sample of Scholarly Work
Satisfactory English Language Test Score where applicable

Candidates are strongly encouraged to have secured funding for the duration of their studies (4 years minimum) prior to commencement. A guide to estimated costs is available

Next Intake : September 2026. Closing Date for Applications 30 June 2026.

Are their minimum and maximum periods for registration?

Yes. The minimum and maximum registration periods are as follows.

Programme	Minimum Registration		Maximum Registration
	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Research Masters	3 Trimesters	6 Trimesters	6 Trimesters	12 Trimesters
PhD Degree	9 Trimesters	15 Trimesters	12 Trimesters	18 Trimesters

What are the costs of PhD/MPhil Studies?

Undertaking a PhD/MPhil at Smurfit School is a long and expensive commitment. Candidates are strongly encouraged to have secured funding for the duration of their studies (4/2 years minimum resp) prior to commencement.

The following figures and information on the UCD GLOBAL website serve to provide a rough guide to the cost of pursuing a PhD/MPhil at Smurfit School and may be subject to change

Estimated Costs 2025/26*

EU Full-time PhD/MPhil

€7,130 per annum - EU Tuition Fees

€20,000 per annum (approx) - Maintenance

Total per annum - €27,130

No of Years - 4/2 minimum resp

Total 4 years - €108,520

Total 2 years - €54,260

Non-EU Full-time PhD/MPhil

€13,730 per annum - Non EU Tuition Fees
€20,000 per annum (approx) - Maintenance

Total per annum - €33,730 per annum

No of Years - 4/2 minimum resp

Total 4 years - €134,920

Total 2 years - €67,460

* Dublin, similar to other capital cities is an expensive place to live - please visit the UCD Global Accommodation website for comprehensive information and guides to accommodation on and off campus.

Further useful information is available at https://www.ucd.ie/global/offerholders/graduateofferholders/

How will I fund my studies?

A range of options are available, as outlined on our fees and funding page. In addition, please visit the UCD Graduate Studies Funding website.

How can I find a supervisor?

Before submitting an application, potential candidates are encouraged to consult the subject areas for the Business School or those of the other UCD Colleges to identify a suitable supervisor(s). Potential candidates should contact them directly by email (attaching research proposal, CV, etc) to request if they would be interested in supervising them.

After securing funding and supervision support, potential candidates can then submit an application and other materials using the online system.

How will I be supported?

There is a wide range of support available to you.

Your first point of contact will most likely be your Supervisor. In addition, each student has a Doctoral Studies Panel, consisting of two to four doctoral studies advisers, that supports and advises the student and the supervisor(s) throughout the doctoral programme.

The Smurfit School's Centre for Doctoral Research organises areas such as PhD admissions, student support and progression. The manager of the centre is Jane O'Mara. The School's Director of PhD Programmes is Professor Ronan Powell.

At University level, the Graduate Studies office coordinates a range of support services for the university's graduate student population of 7,500.

What research and learning facilities are available?

At our Blackrock campus, close to the centre of Dublin city, we have superb facilities for postgraduate education and research.

All our students have full access to the five UCD libraries, including the library on the Blackrock campus. The library contains about a million print volumes, with substantial collections of around a million non-print formats including 650,000 e-books. About 32,000 current journal titles are available, the vast majority of which are e-journals. The library is a European Documentation Centre, a national depository for United States government publications, and a legal depository for Irish publications.

In addition to the library databases, all of our PhD students have access to the following financial databases:

CRSP
Compustat
Bankscope
Optionmetrics
NYSE TAQ
Barclayhedge
TASS
HFR
NYSE Short Interest
NASDAQ Short Interest
LSE
Datastream
Bloomberg
GFI Group

Where can I find further information?

We are happy to discuss any aspect of the PhD programme in more detail.

If you have any questions, please contact

Jane O’Mara
Programme Manager
Telephone: +353 1 716 8064
Email: jane.omara@ucd.ie

Professor Valerio Poti
Director of Doctoral Studies
Telephone: +353 1 716 8064
Email: valerio.poti@ucd.ie

What accommodation is available for postgraduates?

UCD has campus accommodation for over 2,500 students in halls of residence and self-catering apartments. The UCD Residences Off-Campus Office will provide advice on off-campus options. For more information, visit the International Education Office's accommodation website.

Teaching & Research Roles

UCD students are invaluable contributors to education at the University, supporting learning in both graduate and undergraduate programmes. Training in teaching support provides students with an opportunity to enhance their professional development and Teaching and Learning (T&L) experience.

The availability of teaching and teaching-related activities will be driven by the academic needs of the graduate and undergraduate community and will be determined by individual Subject Areas/Schools. Therefore, the amount of teaching support activities such as tutoring and demonstration will vary from year to year and there is no guarantee of teaching and teaching-related opportunities being available to all students every year.

View the Policy for Recruitment, Support & Development of Students Supporting Teaching & Learning

Doctoral Studies (PhD)