The PhD (Engineering Science) is a full-time programme that runs for a minimum of 36 months from the date of initial registration.

The PhD (Engineering Science) and Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship is a 48 month full-time programme.

Candidates must have obtained a standard of at least Second Class Honours, Grade I in an approved primary or Masters degree, in a relevant science or engineering discipline, to gain entry to the programme.

The PhD (Engineering Science) is a thematic structured PhD programme and students are required to successfully complete a minimum of 30 ECTS of taught modules by the end of Year 3. The programme provides 2 streams of study for students. These are:

• PhD – Stream 1: 36 months, 30 ECTS credits of taught modules
• PhD – Stream 2: 48 months, 55 ECTS credits of taught modules

Both streams include a structured (i.e. taught modules) element designed to provide candidates with:

• advanced technical modules in areas related to the candidates research;
• transferable skills modules to provide candidates with the communication skills required to work in industry and academia;
• an awareness of how innovative research couples with innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurship (ICE).

Students registering for PhD – Stream 2 undertake a total of 30 ECTS credits from modules related to innovation, commercialisation and entrepreneurship. Successful completion of these modules leads to the students being awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (NFQ Level 9).

Programme Streams
All students on the PhD Engineering Science programme will register in the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS) and follow one of 2 streams leading to the qualifications of PhD:

• PhD - Stream 1 (36 months)
• PhD - Stream 2 (48 months) - with requirement of completing ICE related modules to the total value of 30 credits leading to the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (NFQ Level 9).

It is expected that students would select the stream they will follow at the commencement of the programme. However, in certain cases, and subject to approval by the programme committee and Colleges of SEFS and Business and Law; students may be permitted to switch between streams.

The primary component of the PhD programme is original research. At the end of the programme, candidates are required to submit and defend a thesis on the candidate’s research topic.

In addition, Stream 1 candidates are required to successfully complete 30 credits from modules selected according to the procedure below before submission of the PhD thesis is allowed. Stream 2 candidates are required to successfully complete 55 credits from modules selected according to the procedure below before progression to final-year registration.

Module Selection and Personal Development Plan
The PhD in Engineering Science programme is multi-disciplinary in nature and this is reflected by the wide range and diversity of modules offered as part of the programme. Each PhD candidate will, in consultation with their progress review panel, define a Professional Development Plan (PDP) during their first progress review meeting to be completed within 3-6 months after registration. The PDP defines the selection of modules to be taken to fulfil their credit requirements for the structured component of their PhD.

Each candidate’s PDP will include a listing of the modules agreed with the progress review panel. The PDP is submitted for approval to the Tyndall Graduate Studies Committee. The candidate’s academic and research progress will be reviewed regularly by the progress review panel in accordance with Tyndall Graduate Student Supervision Procedures and the UCC procedure for Progress Reviews.

The tables below summarise the ECTS credits and module requirements for each stream and each year (these are indicative).

Table 1: Overall Credit Requirements for PhD Engineering Science

Table 2: Details of Credit Requirements per Module Area

*While it is expected that all stream 1 candidates would have successfully completed their taught module requirements by the end of second year, students will have the opportunity to take modules in year 3 if required, and agreed by the Programme Committee and Tyndall Graduate Studies Academic Committee, in order to complete their requirements.

** While it is expected that all stream 2 candidates would have successfully completed their technical and transferable skills module requirements by the end of second year, students will have the opportunity to take modules in years 3 and/or 4 if required, and agreed by the Programme Committee and the College of SEFS, in order to complete their requirements.

Module Selection
As this is an inter-institutional programme, students have the opportunity to take modules delivered by other institutes. These modules will appear in the UCC Book of Modules and the name of the delivering institute will be listed.

The module selection must be chosen in conjunction with each students progress review panel and submitted to Tyndall Graduate Studies Academic Committee for approval.

Technical Modules:
The modules offered to PhD (Engineering Science) candidates will include those listed below. Other modules may be proposed as part of the submission of the PDP and may fulfil credit requirements if agreed by the Programme Examination board.

SE6001 Compound Semiconductor Device Fabrication (5 credits)
SE6002 Biomedical Materials (5 credits) (AIT - BMEDH5001)
SE6003 Polymer Materials (5 credits) (AIT - PLASH5001)
SE6004 Microsystems Engineering (5 credits) (CIT - INTR8012)
SE6005 Photonic Devices (5 credits) (DCU - EE506)
SE6006 Scientific Programming Concepts (5 credits) (NUIG - PH502)
SE6007 Electronic Structure Theory (5 credits)
SE6008 Statistical Mechanics (5 credits)
SE6009 High Performance Computing and Parallel Programming (5 credits) (NUIG - PH504)
SE6010 Optical Design and Image Formation (5 credits) (NUIG - PHY506)
SE6011 Nanobiomaterials (5 credits) (NUIG - CH508)
SE6012 Biomaterials (5 credits) (UL - MT8001)
SE6013 Advanced Characterisation Techniques (5 credits) (UL - PH5093)
SE6014 Semiconductor Growth and Fabrication Technology (5 credits)
SE6015 Advanced Semiconductor Fabrication and Packaging (5 credits)
SE6016 Special Topics in Nanoscience (5 credits)
SE6019 Nanowire Transistors: Materials and Physics in One-Dimension (5 credits)
SE6020 Photonics Integrated Circuits Assembly and Packaging (5 credits)

Transferable Skills Modules:
Students can select PG coded modules listed under ‘Modules for Postgraduate Training’ section of the Calendar or relevant inter-institutional modules listed in the book of modules with a SE code.

‘Modules for Postgraduate Training’ can be viewed here

ICE Modules:
Stream 1 students will take at least 1 of the ICE modules listed below. Stream 2 students will register for the Postgraduate Certificate in ICE and take modules to the value of 30 credits. Students take 20 credits of core modules and 10 credits of elective modules as follows:

Core Modules
Students take core modules to the value of 15 credits as follows:
IS6306 Technology Business Planning (5 credits)
IS6307 Creativity and Opportunity Recognition (5 credits)
MG6705 Marketing for Technology Entrepreneurs (5 credits)

Elective modules
Students take 15 credits from the following:
LW6104 Principles of Intellectual Property Law 5 credits)
MG6305 People and Organisations (5 credits)
MG6309 Strategy (5 credits)
MG6704 Internationalisation and Sales (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

See also under the General Regulations for the PhD Degree.

Programme Learning Outcomes for PhD (Engineering Science) (NFQ Level 10, Major Award)
The following learning outcomes apply to all candidates on the programme.
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate their ability to advance knowledge in microtechnologies, nanoscience, nanotechnology, or photonics as evidenced by a body of original research described in a doctoral thesis;
• Identify important concepts from affiliated scientific and engineering disciplines and to incorporate these concepts into research projects as required;
• Effectively communicate and present scientific and technological results to inform specialist and non-specialist audiences and be able to express the value of their research to society;
• Work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multi-disciplinary settings;
• Execute the steps needed to identify and protect intellectual property that may arise from original research.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
The following additional learning outcomes apply to candidates who elect to complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship stream.
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Communicate and work effectively to a high professional standard;
• Demonstrate advanced analytical and problem solving skills associated with effective practice;
• Engage in the application of advanced frameworks and techniques in organizational settings;
• Conduct research for business/policy sponsors and academic audiences;
• Self-direct career development.