The Research Option

Postgraduate students can be divided into two groups – those who take taught courses and those who gain their qualification by research. Roughly 40% of postgraduate students at Irish higher-level institutions are undertaking research degrees. But what does being a postgraduate researcher involve?

Research involves the in-depth study of a specific subject, topic or area. Students don’t attend classes – they spend their time independently researching their topic, overseen by a supervisor who is an expert in the particular field. This can mean long hours in the library or laboratory. There are usually no exams or term papers; instead, assessment is by a final thesis or dissertation submitted at the very end of the course.

The most well-known research qualification is the Ph.D, or Doctor of Philosophy. Traditionally, it means that the candidate has reached a sufficient standard to be accepted into academia. A Ph.D usually takes between three and five years to complete. The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is a shorter research course, which is often taken as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. Also possible are shorter Masters courses such as research-based Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Arts (MA) degrees. These typically take one year on a full-time basis.

The most important decision to make when choosing a postgraduate research degree is the subject or topic. Students can decide upon their research topics in two ways. The first is to develop an idea themselves and then approach a supervisor – this is more common in arts and humanities subjects. It is best to choose a supervisor who is already an expert in your area of research, and who has a genuine interest in guiding your research in the right direction.

The second method is to apply to take part in a research programme that is ongoing at a university. Students may hear that a position exists, see it advertised, or be approached by a supervisor. This route is more likely in the case of science or IT subject areas. A big advantage here is that set research programmes are more likely to have funding attached.

In July 2006, the Irish government announced very ambitious plans to spend at least €3.8 billion on scientific research over the next seven years, and also set targets for doubling the number of Ph.D graduates and increasing private-sector investment in R&D to €2.5 billion by 2013. This should result in many extra opportunities for postgraduate researchers in the areas highlighted.
 
Most research students take a good deal of care over their choice of supervisor and institution. Visit the campus and meet with your supervisor to discuss exactly how the arrangement will work. Are supervisor meetings frequent? What are the library, IT, laboratory and social facilities like? What other postgraduates are in the department? Do they have links with other universities or colleges in Ireland or abroad that might be useful? Ask for examples of previously completed research topics and find out what previous researchers are doing now.

The career prospects for students with a postgraduate qualification in research can vary from those who studied taught courses. Many Ph.D holders wish to move into academia and become full-time lecturers or researchers, but a permanent academic position can be difficult to achieve. In some very high-tech industries, like aeronautics and medical research, a postgraduate research qualification can be considered mandatory.

Some Ph.D holders, however, can find it difficult to find a job after graduation. They may be over-qualified in an area that is too obscure for the contemporary job market, or they may have difficulties adapting to a business environment after years in less commercial circles. Again, it depends on the individual and their particular career ambitions.

Budding research students should be well prepared for what awaits them. Postgraduate research study requires a high level of self-motivation, and it can often be a solitary and pressurised experience. However, for a student with a real interest in his or her subject, and who chooses a topic that matches realistic career options, a postgraduate research degree provides a tremendous opportunity.

THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Application procedures vary from college to college, and from discipline to discipline. Most institutions have research proposal forms that standardise the application process. Candidates usually discuss their proposals with their prospective supervisors before submission.

A typical research proposal is three to four pages long and can consist of the following elements:

· Title of your proposed research topic
· What you hope to achieve, demonstrate or argue
· The methodology you plan to employ
· Your motivation for the project
· Your prospective supervisor
· At least two academic references
· Professional references

Candidates may be called for an interview before being accepted. In general, you can apply for, and start, a research postgraduate programme at any time during the year. However, most prospective students apply for September/October entry.