Expand+Research in Geography focuses on better understanding complex relationships in the social and natural worlds, as well as between them, as they undergo significant transformation and adaptation. The School of Geography has an active research culture a...

Hide-Research in Geography focuses on better understanding complex relationships in the social and natural worlds, as well as between them, as they undergo significant transformation and adaptation. The School of Geography has an active research culture and agenda with the goal of delivering research excellence in human and physical geography by sustained specialisation, emergent international exploration, and interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond UCD.

Research Masters and PhD Programmes
Our flagship research degree is our structured PhD programme. The structured PhD focuses on the completion of taught modules in conjunction with a research thesis. This has proven to be highly successful and enables our PhD students to achieve the best possible experience of graduate research and training. Making a substantial and original contribution to knowledge, normally leading to peer-reviewed publications is a core goal of doctoral studies in the UCD School of Geography. For a list of current research students, click here.

Doctoral students normally have two supervisors, a research advisory panel that consists of experts who support the students from cognate areas of research. A two stage process ensures that students have developed their research design and have achieved the high standards expected of doctoral degrees. Stage transfer offers students the opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from scholars outside of their research team and gives invaluable viva experience. The doctoral programme in the school is overseen by the Postgraduate Director who is a key point of contact for current students. For further details on UCD graduate programmes click here (link to graduate pages). In order to identify a suitable supervisor, please click staff pages here (link to staff pages).

The School of Geography offers two Research Masters Programmes (MLitt - Human Geography and MSc - Physical Geography). These degrees are suitable for students who want to carry out research either with the view to progressing towards a PhD degree in the future or simply gaining the skill set that accompanies investigative research. The normal duration for completion of a Master’s degree is 1-2 years.