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PhD Sociology

PhD (NFQ Level 10)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The School has an exciting and diverse PhD programme which has been extensively revised in recent years. There are new taught components that provide greater structure and professional training, but the emphasis remains on students completing a major, independent piece of research that makes a significant contribution to sociological knowledge.

The PhD in Sociology is awarded following the completion of 270 credits, comprising 240 credits for the thesis and a further 30 credits of taught modules.  This is normally a 4 year full-time or 5-6 year part-time programme.

You will find fuller information below on Structured PhD  and on School’s Application Procedures. Funding opportunities are available through scholarships and tutoring and you will find information on these below.

In advance of making your application you should read through the Application Procedures, and make contact with a member of staff whose area of research you think most closely relates to your area of research to discuss your proposal.  For information on research areas of staff please click here.  It is important that you send them a clear outline of your draft research proposal, cv, and copy of transcripts. We strongly recommend that a member of staff reads and reviews your final proposal before you make you application to the School.

 

See here to get a flavour of some of the research being carried out by our present research students. 

Application procedures here: https://www.ucd.ie/sociology/study/graduateprogrammes/phdmlittinsociology/

Please visit the following links for further information on graduate studies in UCD - Research Degrees (MLitt, PhD, Prof Doctorate), Application Process  and FAQ's.

About This Course

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40640 Social Simulation: Methods and Models Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40730 Social and Political Thought: Basic texts and discussions Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40810 Introduction to Comparative Social Change: Concepts and Cases Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41160 Global Solutions and Applied Social Change Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41200 Research Design Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40330 Workshop in Qualitative Research Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40720 Organised Violence and Society Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40790 Art, Knowledge & Social Change Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41060 Religion in Compar Perspective Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41120 Human Development Challenges in the Global South Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41130 AI and Society Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41150 Queering Global Challenges Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41170 R.A.G.E. - Remembrance, Activism, Genocide, Emotions Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable Spring  5
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40640 Social Simulation: Methods and Models Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40730 Social and Political Thought: Basic texts and discussions Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40810 Introduction to Comparative Social Change: Concepts and Cases Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41160 Global Solutions and Applied Social Change Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41200 Research Design Autumn  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40330 Workshop in Qualitative Research Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40620 Nationalism and Social Change Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40720 Organised Violence and Society Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC40790 Art, Knowledge & Social Change Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41060 Religion in Compar Perspective Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41120 Human Development Challenges in the Global South Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41130 AI and Society Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41150 Queering Global Challenges Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC41170 R.A.G.E. - Remembrance, Activism, Genocide, Emotions Spring  10
Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:
PhD students are required to complete 30 taught credits over the course of their programme (as outlined in Section 7 of the Academic Regulations). A list of modules considered appropriate by your School is given below, and from which you can select module(s) subject to timetables/capacity. If your supervisor has recommended a module that does not appear below then please follow the advice on registration to taught modules published on the Graduate Studies website. The module SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable is mandatory to complete in the PhD Sociology course.
 SOC50060 PhD/MLitt Roundtable Spring  5

PhD Sociology (W149) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 7130
nonEU    fee per year - € 13730

PhD Sociology (W149) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 7130
nonEU    fee per year - € 13730

PhD Sociology (W150) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4710
nonEU    fee per year - € 9200

PhD Sociology (W150) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4710
nonEU    fee per year - € 9200

***Fees are subject to change

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: Yes


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to PhD Sociology:

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W149
PhD Sociology
Doctor of Philosophy

Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Research
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W150
PhD Sociology
Doctor of Philosophy

Part-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Research
Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W149
Sociology
Doctor of Philosophy

Full-Time
Commencing January 2026
Graduate Research
Not available to International applicantsOpens 01 Oct 2025
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
W150
Sociology
Doctor of Philosophy

Part-Time
Commencing January 2026
Graduate Research
Not available to International applicantsOpens 01 Oct 2025
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