Explore UCD

UCD Home >

PhD Global Human Development

PhD Global Human Development

Duration: 3-4 Years Full Time 
Entry to the programme is in September and January
Application Deadlines: 15th October 2024 for a Jan 2025 start and 30th June 2025 for a September 2025 start

The PhD in Global Human Development is a 4 year full time ‘sandwich’ programme offered by UCD. The programme has been developed for government personnel and public servants (such as Higher Education academics, research institutes) mainly in East Africa

PhD students on the programme are required to spend at least one trimester per academic year at UCD. Upon returning to their home country, the candidates are expected to be in regular contact with their local supervisors.

The Global Human Development PhD program spans four years for full-time students (it is allowed, but not typically feasible, to finish within three years). For part-time students, the course is five to seven years.

Programme Objectives

The aim of this programme is to provide graduate research students and supervisors with what is necessary to conduct top class research in the field of development. Students will be provided with the academic and intellectual tools to work on the issues related to the Millennium Development Goals and poverty reduction through their respective core disciplines and place this within real-world experience and research in the developing world. 

Programme Requirements

All students within the programme will adhere to all UCD and relevant College-level requirements for a structured PhD and specific programme requirements for the PhD in Global Human Development. This includes, inter alia, the acquisition of a minimum of 30 taught credits at UCD, a formal transfer assessment and completion of a Research and Professional Development Plan (RPDP). All students will submit their final dissertation to UCD and upon successful completion of their examination, will be awarded a UCD PhD. 

General Information for Incoming Students

A Welcome Note from the Dean of Graduate Studies, with information on registration, fees, support services and orientation, can be found here

This is a 3-4 year full-time PhD Programme and students have to adhere to all UCD and relevant College-level requirements of a structured PhD.
Some general information on UCD Structured PhDs is available here.

As set out by the requirements of UCD Graduate Studies, GHD students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits of course work, plus a programme of original research leading to the award of Doctoral degree by research. More information can be found here.

Modules

The modules for the Global Human Development programme for 2024-25 are outlined below.

Students may register for other modules depending on their research theme with permission from their supervisor and the relevant Module Coordinator.

The range of modules is subject to change.

The College of Social Sciences and Law schools also make a range of modules available to graduate research students outside their school each year. For a sample of such modules, click here.

The Global Human Development PhD programme is unique in that the students will only spend certain trimesters at UCD.

Entry Requirements

The entry requirements for the PhD in Global Human Development is a Master degree (MA or M.Sc.), with an overall grade of 2.1 (GPA 3.6) in the areas of Agricultural Science, Business Studies, Economics,  Engineering, Mathematics,  Medicine, Politics, Sociology and other related areas of study whose ultimate focus is Global Human Development, in particular, poverty reduction.

Application Procedure

Applications will be considered when the documentation below, including references, has been emailed to (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)dara.gannon@ucd.ie

Application Deadlines: 15th October 2024 for a Jan 2025 start and 30th June 2025 for a September 2025 start

  • Application Form for a January 2025 start (fillable word doc)
  • Application Form for a September 2025 start (fillable word doc)
  • Cover letter, stating reasons for interest in Politics and International programme.  
  • Thesis proposal(1,500-2,000 words maximum)
    • Please note that SPIRe requires the proposal to be submittedas a separate word or pdf document using the following headings. Proposals may not be accepted if they do not comply with this requirement.
      • provisional thesis title
      • a statement of the research question
      • a brief literature review that points to research gaps the PhD project could address
      • an outline of theoretical approaches considered
      • a brief discussion of the proposed methodology
  • Copies ofALL Academic Transcripts(Undergraduate and Postgraduate)
  • C.V. or Resume(2 pages maximum)
  • Evidence of English language competence, where non-native English speaking applicants have NOT obtained previous university degrees from a university in an English-speaking country.
    Applicants must provide a cert that complies withUCD Minimum English Language Requirements and the certificate should be no more than 2 years old.
  • Two academic references: These should be sentdirectly by the refereesto(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)dara.gannon@ucd.ie with the applicant's name in the Subject field. If sent by email, they must be from an institutional email address and ideally on institutional headed paper. SPIRe reserves the right to verify all references.Sending only the contact details of referees is not sufficient. 

This documentation should be emailed to Ms Dara Gannon (School Manager) at (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)dara.gannon@ucd.ie 
Applications will only be considered if all of the above has been included.

The submission of original academic transcripts and other documentation will be required as a condition of the final award of a place on the programme. 

EU Fees (January 2025 start)

The FT fee is €3,570

The PT fee is €2,360

Non-EU Fees (January 2025 start)

The FT fee is €6,860

The PT fee is €4,530

EU Graduate Research Fees for the Academic Year 2024-25

Non-EU Graduate Research Fees for the Academic Year 2024-25

Note that the GHD programme is listed on the pages listed below as an 'exception' to the general graduate fees for the College of Social Sciences and Law and can be found on the right hand side
EU Fees (September 2025 start)

The FT fee is €3,570

The PT fee is €2,360

Non-EU Fees (September 2025 start)

The FT fee is €6,860

The PT fee is €4,530

EU Graduate Research Fees for the Academic Year 2025-26

Non-EU Graduate Research Fees for the Academic Year 2025-26

Further information relating to fees     

Fees published are inclusive of a Student Centre Levy (€254) which must be paid by all students.

Helpful Links

A list of SPIRe academics and their research interests can be accessed here

A list of current PhD students and their respective supervisors is available here 

UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe)

School Office: G301, Newman Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.