PhD Languages, Cultures & Linguistics

The PhD in Linguistics is a research degree. Students with prior training in Linguistics, typically an MA or an MLitt or equivalent in Linguistics, work independently on a research topic of their choice in one of the research areas in Linguistics represented at UCD. They include, but are not limited to the broad areas of Sociolinguistics, Pragmatics, Language Contact, Corpus Linguistics, Translation, Syntax and Phonetics and Phonology, for details see staff profiles and inquire with staff members.

We encourage applications from candidates who are interested in pursuing interdisciplinary research projects that straddle different subdisciplines of Linguistics such as PhoneticsPhonology and Sociolinguistics andor Pragmatics using a variety of methodological approaches. Candidates who are interested in projects that focus on the interaction between Linguistics and other disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences are also very welcome to apply. We are particularly interested in projects that explore aspects of language and language use[1] in Ireland (Irish English, Irish and the languages of newcomers to Ireland), including multilingual language practices in a variety of contexts, and projects that focus on the structure and development of lesser-used languages worldwide.

Students do their research under the close guidance of one member of staff in Linguistics or two members of staff if the project has an interdisciplinary focus. In addition to their supervisor(s), students also regularly receive advice on their work from the members of the PhD advisory panel. The panel consists of members of staff in Linguistics and from relevant cognate disciplines. As part of their degree, students also take several modules in Linguistics and cognate disciplines in order to acquire the necessary skills to carry out their research project. The degree is generally completed over a period of three to four years and students have to pass the Study Transfer Assessment at the end of stage 1 to be admitted to stage 2.

Students who wish to apply for the PhD in Linguistics must first identify a potential supervisor and contact them directly with their PhD project area to discuss the research proposal. The thesis proposal is not fully binding but allows us to determine the broad area of Linguistics that a candidate wishes to do research in and their interests.

Proposals should include the following information: a precise research question, a discussion of the types of data and (data collection and analysis) methods to be used in the research, a discussion of the academic motivations for the project and an indicative list of references. Before writing the proposal, candidates should contact a potential thesis supervisor in Linguistics at UCD for a preliminary discussion.