PhD in Occupational Science (not on offer in 2025/26)
Overview
The PhD in Occupational Science is a full-time, thematic PhD programme that runs for 3 years from the date of first registration for the programme. Students complete the equivalent of 90 credits in each 12 month period. The programme is flexible and tailored to the needs of each PhD student but by the end of Year 3, all students will have completed the 60 credits of training requirements in order to progress to completion. 70 credits each year will be allocated for the primary component of the PhD programme, which is the completion of original research leading to the submission of a research thesis equivalent to 210 credits.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Students take 90 credits as follows – core modules to the value of 15 credits, up to 15 credits of elective modules, and 70 credits of research: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| Students take 15 credits as follows: | ||
| OS7001 | Training School: Foundational Knowledge and Induction to Programme | 5 |
| OS7002 | Core Concepts in Occupational Science | 5 |
| OS7003 | Understanding Fundamental Concepts in Play | 5 |
| Elective Modules 1 | ||
| Students take up to 15 credits from the following: | 0-15 | |
| Philosophy of Science (5) | ||
| Teaching and Learning for Graduate Studies (5) | ||
| Qualitative Data Analysis Software (NVivo) Training (5) | ||
| Graduate Information Literacy (5) | ||
| Contemporary Practices in Publishing and Editing (5) | ||
| Historical Perspectives to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (5) | ||
| An Introduction to Research Integrity, Ethics and Open Science (5) | ||
| Qualitative Research Inquiry (5) | ||
| Community-Based Participatory Research (5) | ||
PG6027 | Going Public: Publishing Research in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | |
| Skills in Public Engagement of Science (5) | ||
| Career Development for end-stage PhD Students in Humanities and Social Sciences (5) | ||
| Systematic Reviews for the Health Sciences (5) | ||
| Researching through a gender lens: an interdisciplinary introduction (5) | ||
| The PhD Journey: Research Skills for Doctoral Researchers (online) (10) | ||
| The PhD Journey: Research Training for Doctoral Researchers (5) | ||
| Research | ||
| Students undertake work on the thesis to the value of 70 credits. 2 | 70 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Students take 90 credits as follows – core modules to the value of 15 credits, up to 15 credits of elective modules, and 70 credits of research: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| Students take 15 credits as follows: | ||
| OS7004 | Training School: Advancing Knowledge in Occupational Science Research | 5 |
| OS7005 | Diverse Ways of Thinking: Interdisciplinary Theories and Occupational Science | 5 |
| OS7006 | Contemporary Perspectives on Challenges for Play Occupation | 5 |
| Elective Modules 1 | ||
| Students take up to 15 credits from the following: | 0-15 | |
| Philosophy of Science (5) | ||
| Teaching and Learning for Graduate Studies (5) | ||
| Qualitative Data Analysis Software (NVivo) Training (5) | ||
| Graduate Information Literacy (5) | ||
| Contemporary Practices in Publishing and Editing (5) | ||
| Historical Perspectives to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (5) | ||
| An Introduction to Research Integrity, Ethics and Open Science (5) | ||
| Qualitative Research Inquiry (5) | ||
| Community-Based Participatory Research (5) | ||
PG6027 | Going Public: Publishing Research in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | |
| Skills in Public Engagement of Science (5) | ||
| Career Development for end-stage PhD Students in Humanities and Social Sciences (5) | ||
| Systematic Reviews for the Health Sciences (5) | ||
| Researching through a gender lens: an interdisciplinary introduction (5) | ||
| The PhD Journey: Research Skills for Doctoral Researchers (online) (10) | ||
| The PhD Journey: Research Training for Doctoral Researchers (5) | ||
| Research | ||
| Students undertake work on the thesis to the value of 70 credits. 2 | 70 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Students take 90 credits as follows – core modules to the value of 15 credits, up to 15 credits of elective modules, and 70 credits of research: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| Students take 15 credits as follows: | ||
| OS7007 | Training School: Knowledge Translation in Play and Occupational Science Research | 5 |
| OS7008 | Occupation as Transformative: Translating Knowledge in Occupational Science | 5 |
| OS7009 | Translating Knowledge in Play Occupation | 5 |
| Elective Modules 1 | ||
| Students take up to 15 credits from the following: | 0-15 | |
| Philosophy of Science (5) | ||
| Teaching and Learning for Graduate Studies (5) | ||
| Qualitative Data Analysis Software (NVivo) Training (5) | ||
| Graduate Information Literacy (5) | ||
| Contemporary Practices in Publishing and Editing (5) | ||
| Historical Perspectives to Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (5) | ||
| An Introduction to Research Integrity, Ethics and Open Science (5) | ||
| Qualitative Research Inquiry (5) | ||
| Community-Based Participatory Research (5) | ||
PG6027 | Going Public: Publishing Research in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education | |
| Skills in Public Engagement of Science (5) | ||
| Career Development for end-stage PhD Students in Humanities and Social Sciences (5) | ||
| Systematic Reviews for the Health Sciences (5) | ||
| Researching through a gender lens: an interdisciplinary introduction (5) | ||
| The PhD Journey: Research Skills for Doctoral Researchers (online) (10) | ||
| The PhD Journey: Research Training for Doctoral Researchers (5) | ||
| Research | ||
| Students undertake work on the thesis to the value of 70 credits. 2 | 70 | |
- 1
By the end of Year 3, all students must pass elective modules to the value of 15 ECTS. These modules can be taken from the following list or can be modules offered by an external institution, as approved by the Programme Director. These 15 credits can be taken during any year across the 3-year programme.
- 2
Progress on which will be formally assessed through annual postgraduate research progress review procedure and finally assessed by means of the thesis submitted during Year 3.
Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Programme Learning Outcomes for PhD in Occupational Science (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
1-1
Create and interpret new knowledge, through designing and conducting an empirical study, involving research and instrument design, data collection, data analysis and representation of findings, in a chosen research area relating to occupational science
1-2
2
Demonstrate doctoral level knowledge of the epistemological and ontological foundations underpinning occupational science, and utilise these to develop occupational science research
1-3
3
Demonstrate skills in critiquing the broader implications of applying occupational science knowledge to particular contexts
1-4
4
Demonstrate intellectual independence and academic integrity as well as the skills to conduct ethical research assessment
1-5
5
Demonstrate an ability to take leadership in addressing complex historical, social, political, and cultural processes
1-6
6
Participate and contribute in critical debates on contemporary issues in occupational science relating to knowledge advancement, policy, leadership, pedagogy and practice
1-7
7
Develop and demonstrate a significant range of the principal skills, techniques, tools, practices and/or materials which are associated with researching in occupational science
1-8
8
Demonstrate an in-depth insight into the possibilities and limitations of academia, its role in society and the responsibility of human kind for how it is used
1-9
9
Act as a critically informed occupational science researcher to communicate results of research and innovation to peers