Program Overview

Overview of the Masters/PhD in History Program

The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Limerick offers a research-based Masters/PhD program in History. This program is designed for students who wish to pursue in-depth research in history, with the option to complete a Master's degree by thesis or a PhD.

Program Content

The program involves carrying out original research on a topic leading to a thesis. In addition to research, students participate in generic and transferable skills training, including:

• Research methodologies and statistics
• Interview skills and career planning
• Bibliographical management
• Academic writing
• 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.

PhD

The PhD program 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.

Entry Requirements

Applicants are normally 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.

Fees

Fees for all postgraduate programs are revised on an annual basis. Detailed information on fee schedules and fee regulations is available. Payment by installment is facilitated.

Research Areas

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
• Literary or Cultural Studies

Graduate Profile

PhD and MA graduates are employed in a wide range of sectors, including:

• Education
• Media and publishing
• Research and consultancy
• Civil and public service
• Business
• Non-governmental sector
• Creative arts and media
• Politics and local government

Benefits of the Program

• Students are part of a lively research community.
• Every student has their own research space with an 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 valued by employers, such as excellent communication skills (written and oral) and critical/analytical skills.