Program Overview

---

PhD in Digital Arts & Humanities

Course Fact File

Code	CKH88
Duration	4 Years
Qualifications	PhD
NFQ Level	Level 10
Closing Date	Applications for PhD courses are accepted throughout the year.
Non-EU Closing Date	Applications for PhD courses are accepted throughout the year.
Credits	75
Start Date	1 January, 1 April, 1 July, and 1 October.

Course Outline

The PhD (Digital Arts and Humanities) (DAH) is a full-time inter-disciplinary thematic structured PhD programme running over 48 months from the date of first registration for the programme. This programme is also available on a part-time basis. Full-time and part-time students will complete the taught modules over the same time-frame.

Students will choose to enter the programme within either the Arts or the Humanities strands. Students registered at UCC are required to complete 75 credits of taught core, training and career development modules over the course of the programme.

Modules

Year 1 (25 credits)

• Core Modules (10 credits)
  • DH6103 Digital Humanities Institute (5 credits)
  • DH6104 Conceptual Introduction to Digital Arts & Humanities (5 credits)
• Generic Training (5 credits)
  • Choose one:
    • PG6010 Contemporary Practices in Publishing and Editing (5 credits)
    • PG7004 Masterclass: Contemporary Theoretical Paradigms in the Humanities (5 credits)
• Strand Specialisation (10 credits)
  • Arts Strand:
    • DH6105 History and Theory of Digital Arts (5 credits)
    • Plus 5 credits from Digital Art Practicum:
      • DH6106 Teaching and Learning in Digital Humanities (5 credits)
      • DH6107 Models, Simulations and Games (5 credits)
      • CS6102 Graphics for Interactive Media (5 credits)
      • CS6103 Audio and Sound Engineering (5 credits)
      • CS6117 Audio Processing (5 credits)
      • CS6104 Digital Video Capture and Packaging (5 credits)
  • Humanities Strand:
    • DH6110 Humanities & New Technologies (5 credits)
    • Plus 5 credits from Digital Humanities Practicum:
      • PG6011 Digital Skills for Research Postgraduates in the Humanities and Social Sciences (5 credits)
      • DH6106 Teaching and Learning in Digital Humanities (5 credits)
      • DH6107 Models, Simulations and Games (5 credits)
      • CS6102 Graphics for Interactive Media (5 credits)
      • CS6103 Audio and Sound Engineering (5 credits)
      • CS6117 Audio Processing (5 credits)
      • CS6104 Digital Video Capture and Packaging (5 credits)

Year 2 (20 credits)

• Core Modules (10 credits)
  • DH7009 Digital Humanities Institute (5 credits)
  • DH7010 Digital Arts & Humanities Research Colloquium (5 credits)
• Generic Training (5 credits)
  • Options include:
    • PG7002 for end-stage PhD Students in Humanities and Social Sciences (5 credits)
    • PG6010 Contemporary Practices in Publishing and Editing (5 credits)
    • PG7004 Masterclass: Contemporary Theoretical Paradigms in the Humanities (5 credits)
• Strand Continuation (10 credits)
  • Continue chosen strand and choose 2 Digital Humanities Practicum modules.

Year 3 (25 credits)

• Core Modules (15 credits)
  • DH7011 Digital Humanities Institute (5 credits)
  • DH7012 Industrial/Research Institute Placement (10 credits)
• Strand Completion (10 credits)
  • DH7014 Research Colloquium (5 credits)
  • Continue chosen strand and choose 1 Digital Humanities Practicum module (5 credits)

Year 4 (5 credits + Thesis)

• DH7013 Digital Humanities Institute (5 credits)
• Thesis Submission (~80,000 words)

Course Practicalities

This is a four-year structured PhD comprising 75 credits of taught core, training and career development modules over the course of the programme and an 80,000 word thesis.

• In Year 1, UCC students will complete 25 credits of coursework, and must have made good progress on developing their thesis topic, and have had their research proposal and preliminary thesis work approved by the DAH board.
• In Year 2, UCC students will complete 20 credits of coursework, and must have made good progress on developing their thesis topic, and have had their research proposal and preliminary thesis work approved by the DAH board.
• In Year 3, UCC students will complete 25 credits of coursework, including a job placement and career development module, and must have made good progress on developing their thesis topic, and have had their research proposal and preliminary thesis work approved by the DAH board.
• In Year 4, UCC students will complete 5 credits of coursework, and finish and submit the 80,000 word thesis.

Apart from the possibility of having co-supervisors (being inter-disciplinary) and the possibility of having doctoral advisors off campus (being an inter-university programme with partner institutions), UCC students undertaking DAH will in all other respects operate under the normal requirements governing the PhD degree at UCC.

Why Choose This Course

Digital Humanities at UCC provides opportunities for students to explore how computer and media technologies can be applied to research and practice in the arts and humanities. Students and scholars working in this domain typically have an interest in how digital technologies can be applied in the exploration and betterment of culture and society.

Skills and Careers Information

Our graduates, developed in a student-led learning environment, are developed to be researchers and critical thinkers with expertise in computing as well as the arts and humanities. They are coders and developers as well as excellent writers, communicators, and critical thinkers.

A qualification in digital humanities provides students with the following skills and attributes:

• An ability to apply critical, theoretical, and technological approaches to cultural materials and societal challenges;
• An understanding of how to use complex cultural data and materials in digital analysis;
• Deep knowledge and appreciation of the role of digital technologies in culture and society;
• Familiarity with a wide range of communicative modes across a range of media;
• Extensive experience with computers and information technology.

Requirements

Potential applicants must first identify and approach possible supervisors and are advised to contact relevant staff within the Department of Digital Humanities whose research might align with the project they are seeking to propose.

To be eligible for consideration for entry to a programme of study and research for the Degree of PhD, a candidate must have obtained a standard of at least Second Class Honours, Grade I, in an approved primary degree, or other such other evidence under the University's policy for Recognition of Prior Learning for Admission to Research Degrees.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How can I pay?

See different options on our How Do I Pay My Fees? page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the yellow fact file boxes at the top of this webpage. The UCC online application portal usually opens around mid October.
2. Gather documents Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:

• Original qualification documents listed on your application, including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
• Any supplementary items requested for your course, if required.

3. Apply online Apply online by clicking the red 'Apply Now' button below. Note most of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.