Program Overview

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Course Fact File

• Code: PHDPHS (Thematic - SPHeRE PhD Programme)
• Duration: 4 Years
• Qualifications: PhD
• NFQ Level: Level 10
• Closing Date: 15th August 2025
• Non-EU Closing Date: 15th August 2025
• Credits: 360
• Start Date: 24th September 2025

Course Outline

The PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) is a cross-institutional Health Services Research Graduate Programme, which aims to improve health through quality healthcare management and delivery in the Irish system. This is to be achieved through development of a critical mass of PhD scholars who will excel in research, policy evaluation and translation of evidence into practice. The programme is multidisciplinary and collaborative, grounded in methodological rigor and diversity.

UCC regulations governing the PhD degree will apply to all UCC students on this programme. In addition, the following regulations apply specifically to students of the PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) programme and apply to UCC registered students only.

The programme is funded by the Health Research Board (HRB), and is offered collaboratively by UCC, TCD and the RCSI. The programme contains a number of components which support the student's PhD research and submission of a thesis. The design of the programme ensures exposure of the participants to the best HSR researchers in Ireland and offers them the opportunity to work in a HSR setting in Ireland and at an International location. A Steering Group and Advisory Committee, comprising academics and practitioners, guide the development of the programme to ensure its appropriateness and relevance.

The PhD (Structured Population and Health Services Research Education) is offered on a full-time basis over four years or on a part-time basis over six years.

Academic Programme Catalogue

See the Academic Programme Catalogue where you can search for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year to year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.

Course Practicalities

Full-Time Programme (4 Years)

The total workload in each year is equivalent to 90 credits to yield a PhD (with equivalent student workload of 360 credits) in 4 years. 70 credits are for compulsory modules. Additional elective modules with a credit value of up to a maximum of 20 may also be taken at any time during the Programme with the agreement of the student's supervisory team. Students registered on this programme in UCC will be governed by UCC regulations in terms of monitoring and progression. This process may involve the inter-institutional programme team. In addition they will adhere to the specific programme requirements.

Modules

• Year 1 (60 credits)
  • EH7003 Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Trials (5 credits)
  • EH7005 Introduction to Health Economics (10 credits)
  • EH7009 Population and Individual Health (10 credits)
  • EH7010 Health Systems, Policy and Informatics (10 credits)
  • EH7011 Scientific Data Interpretation (10 credits)
  • EH7014 National Work Placement (5 credits)
  • EH7015 Quantitative & Qualitative Methods (10 credits)
  • Research: Thesis proposal development
• Year 2 (10 credits)
  • EH7012 Academic Writing (5 credits)
  • EH7013 International Work Placement (5 credits)
  • Research: Continued thesis work + formal presentation
• Years 3-4
  • Research: Data collection, analysis, and thesis completion with workshop participation

Part-Time Programme (6 Years)

In some circumstances, arrangements may be made to take the programme part-time, over 6 years. In the case of part-time study, fees will be calculated on a pro rata basis. The total workload in each year is equivalent to 60 credits to yield a PhD (with equivalent student workload of 360 credits) in 6 years. 70 credits are for compulsory modules. Additional elective modules with a credit value of up to a maximum of 20 may also be taken at any time during the Programme with the agreement of the students supervisory team. Students registered on this programme in UCC will be governed by UCC regulations in terms of monitoring and progression. This process may involve the inter-institutional programme team. In addition they will adhere to the specific programme requirements.

Modules

• Years 1-2 (55 credits total)
  • Core Modules (select 25 in Y1, 30 in Y2):
    • EH7003 Evidence Synthesis and Clinical Trials (5 credits)
    • EH7005 Introduction to Health Economics (10 credits)
    • EH7009 Population and Individual Health (10 credits)
    • EH7010 Health Systems, Policy and Informatics (10 credits)
    • EH7014 National Work Placement (5 credits)
    • EH7015 Quantitative & Qualitative Methods (10 credits)
    • Research: Thesis question development
• Year 3 (5-10 credits)
  • Required:
    • EH7012 Academic Writing (5 credits)
  • Optional:
    • EH7013 International Work Placement (5 credits)
• Years 4-6
  • Research: Progressive thesis development with workshops and presentations

Why Choose This Course

SPHeRE is Ireland’s national research training programme for population health, policy and health services research (PHPHSR) and is funded by the Health Research Board in Ireland. SPHeRE means ‘Structured Population health, Policy and Health-services Research Education’.

The SPHeRE concept captures our approach to the inter-relationship of research, translation and practice.

Our aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of groups or populations through high-quality research, and stakeholder engagement, addressing current and emerging issues in population health, health policy and health systems.

Our vision is to embed a culture of research in population health, health policy and health systems, grounded in principles of scientific inquiry and inclusion.

The programme is ‘structured’ because we want all our scholars to receive the same training, regardless of their previous experience. This is because improvements in population health and health service delivery can’t be achieved without co-operation across disciplines. SPHeRE connects scholars from diverse backgrounds and gives them a common language to work together.

We aim to develop the research leaders of tomorrow: a cadre of networked academics with a common training but diverse skills. We match excellent scholars with the best supervisors to carry out research of strategic importance to the Irish population. To do this we have developed a wide network of academics from disciplines such as biostatistics, economics, nursing, psychology, medicine, occupational therapy, sociology, speech and language therapy, management, geography and physiotherapy.

SPHeRE Scholars bring a diverse range of life experiences to each class and many have worked as clinicians, managers or policymakers in the Irish health system. Their research is conducted to the highest standards and has been widely published in prestigious international journals.

Skills and Careers Information

After completion of the programme SPHeRE Programme Alumni work in a variety of fields including academia, industry, evidence production, government and as clinicians.

Requirements

Applicants will have a minimum of a bachelor degree and will usually have a masters degree. Applications must be made, in the first instance, through the SPHeRE website.

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.

Any questions? See the 'Contact Us' section on the Fees Office page.

How To Apply

1. Check dates
2. Gather documents
3. Apply online

Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.

The closing date for non-EU applications is 15th August 2025.