Education - Structured

This four-year, full-time Structured doctoral programme facilitates engagement in educational research linked to the School of Education’s research priorities. The School’s research clusters (1. Diversity and Inclusion in Education, and 2. Technology-enhanced Learning) comprise the following core themes: widening participation in higher education, diversity in initial teacher education, special educational needs, gender and education, school leadership, mobile technologies in education, science education, and mathematics education. Applications are encouraged from suitably qualified candidates whose proposals align with the School’s current research projects linked to these themes.



In the Structured PhD, the student combines a focused doctoral project, aimed at making an original and publishable contribution to knowledge, with a number of taught modules which support various aspects of the student’s research training and professional development. PhD students in the School of Education also benefit from additional seminars and workshops designed for doctoral students in Education. All PhD students work with a supervisor and have the support of a Graduate Research Committee (GRC).

Applicants will normally have a qualification at Master’s level (level 9, or equivalent international qualification) in education or a cognate area or, at minimum, a 2.1 in a primary honours degree (or equivalent international qualification). Admission to the Structured PhD is at the discretion of the School of Education Research Committee and the potential supervisor.



Completed applications are reviewed by the School of Education Research Committee.



We welcome applications from individuals whose proposals are directly aligned with our research priorities. The School of Education’s two core Research Clusters are: 1) Diversity and Inclusion in Education and, 2) Technology-Enhanced Learning. Further information on the clusters is available here. Please consult these pages, and individual academic staff research profiles, in preparation for making an application to ascertain if your research topic is aligned with research expertise and priorities in the School.

Apply Mid July for entry in September

For the Structured PhD in Education, applications are accepted at any stage in the academic year, but normally no later than early July for commencement in autumn of that year.



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

4 years full time

6 years part time

Research Areas


Academic staff in the School of Education are currently engaged in a wide range of educational research based within two clusters


1.Diversity and Inclusion in Education, and

2.Technology-enhanced Learning


Core themes within these clusters include: widening participation in higher education, diversity in initial teacher education, special educational needs, gender and education, school leadership, mobile technologies in education, science education, and mathematics education.