Child & Youth Research - Structured

Course Overview



This interdisciplinary programme responds to an identified need for researchers with the requisite, high-level and wide-ranging experience and skills to undertake the kind of work that is needed in an evidence-informed policy environment.



The programme combines thesis and taught modules. All students must complete a major dissertation (c.80,000 words). The taught modules which are delivered in years one and two provide course participants with the opportunity to widen their knowledge and skill base as well as feeding into the development of their thesis work.



A wide range of topics are covered including:



Children’s rights

Child protection

Working with Commissioners

Randomised controlled trials in applied social settings

Social context of child development (role of family, peers, culture)

Pro-social behaviour and risk-taking in young people

Masculinity and emerging adulthood

Theories of child development

Early years provision

Spaces and places of childhood

Political Theory, Children, and Young People

Participatory Research Methods with young people

Sociological perspectives on childhood



Programme aims

-To prepare programme participants to conduct high quality policy and practice-relevant research and programme evaluation with children and young people

-To develop programme participants’ knowledge and skills in key theoretical, methodological, policy and practice areas relating to children

-To provide graduates with the set of generic work-skills to facilitate their successful entry into the full range of employment settings

Entrants will be expected to have an upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in a social science. If applicants do not have a degree of that kind, they must have demonstrated high ability by some other means (e.g., through publications or achievement in a higher degree). Garda vetting is required for students participating in this programme.

Structured PhD (Child and Youth Research), full-time

Structured PhD (Child and Youth Research), part-time



Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.

4 years full-time

6 years part-time

Research Areas


The Social World of the Child

Research Ethics and Pragmatics

Qualitative Research Methods

Quantitative Research Methods

Global Policy and Research

Youth and Society