UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarships Terms and Conditions – November 2014 Round Terms and Conditions/Assessment Procedures As part of its contribution to the further development of the 4th level in Irish education, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is proud to announce a scheme of advanced research awards. These awards are intended to underline the School's commitment to research excellence and to attract and to retain the very best scholars. 1. The overall aim is to attract applicants of the highest academic standards to participate, as fulltime students, in UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School’s PhD Programme. 2. Applications will be accepted from suitably qualified applicants regardless of nationality or residence. Applicants, however, must make their own visa/consular arrangements to ensure that they are eligible to reside in Ireland for the duration of their studies. 3. Having submitted a previous application—whether successful or not—will not disallow a candidate from applying. 4. Applicants are expected to have a first class honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent) and/or a master's degree from a reputable institution and be qualified for direct admission to the PhD programme. If examination results are not known at the time of application, the Business School may make a provisional offer of a Scholarship subject to the student achieving a specified grade in their degree, or such other conditions as the School may impose. 5. Successful applicants must be formally enrolled by 28th September 2015. 6. Successful applicants to this Scholarship Scheme will be designated as 'UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholars’ or such name as may from time to time be assigned to the scholarships (hereafter referred to as 'Doctoral Scholars'). 7. UCD is committed to the maintenance of the highest ethical standards in its research. Where ethical issues may arise, applicants will be required to submit a written statement to the effect that full consideration has been given to the ethical implications of the research proposal. This statement must further demonstrate the applicant’s proposed resolution of the ethical issues arising. Such applications will be referred to the UCD Ethics Committee. All research should be conducted in accordance with the UCD Code of Good Practice in Research. If a research project requires access to archival material in private custodianship or archival material with restricted access, written evidence of appropriate permission to consult such material must be furnished to UCD. 8. Applicants must complete the appropriate and current application form for the Scheme. Complete application packs consist of : ● PhD Application Form (hard and soft copy) ● Research Proposal (Word format; .doc or .docx) ● Statement of Intent (Word format; .doc or .docx) ● Previous research experience (Word format; .doc or .docx) ● Transcripts (hard and soft copy) ● Two References (hard and soft copy) ● Sample of Scholarly Work (Word format; .doc or .docx) All transcripts must be appropriately stamped or endorsed as original copies. Offers will be conditional on receipt of transcripts.
Soft copies of the PhD Application Form, transcripts, and references will be accepted for initial review, but original hard copy versions should be posted immediately thereafter to facilitate verification and formal processing. All offers are subject to the receipt of all such documents. The complete application pack should be sent to: Jane O'Mara, Manager, Centre for Doctoral Research, The Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin Ireland. All soft copies should be sent to
[email protected] 9. Applications will be evaluated and ranked by a Selection Board according to the following criteria: (a) Academic excellence and potential of the candidate; (b) Originality and potential of the research proposed; (c) Potential contribution to or 'fit' with UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School's research programme or expertise; (d) Testament of referees; (e) Prior experience and formation in chosen field of study, including prior professional experience and training, especially where this involved research and equivalent tasks; (f) Potential contribution of the research in terms of highimpact publications; (g) Candidate’s potential to pursue an academic career in a topranked business school. 10. The Chairperson of the Selection Board will send a ranked list to the Graduate School Board in the form of a numerical grade as follows:
90 100
An application of exceptional and rare quality in terms of potential, merit and feasibility of the proposed project, the distinction of the applicant, and the potential contribution of the project to the research programme of the Business School and to the development of the applicant's career and research skills.
80 90
An application which is outstanding in terms of potential, merit and feasibility of the proposed project, the distinction of the applicant, and the potential contribution of the project to the research programme of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and to the development of the applicant's career and research skills.
70 80
An application which is excellent and shows clear potential but which is not outstanding in all the above respects.
SCHOLARSHIP THRESHOLD
60 70
An application which is very good and has potential but which is not of consistently high quality.
50 60
An application which is good and which might be further developed with guidance, but which is of lesser quality than toprated proposals. Such proposals are unlikely to have a significant influence on the development of research in the relevant area or make a significant contribution to the development of the applicant's career or research skills.
>50 (not recommended)
An application which is not recommended because it is poor and regarded as deficient in many respects
Applications that merit the award of a UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarship must achieve a score of 70 or above. However, at all times there will be a limited number of Doctoral Scholarships available. 11. The Graduate School Board may recommend the award of one of three types of scholarships: (i) Full Scholarships valued at €20,000 per annum. Successful applicants who do not qualify for any external fee support will, in addition, be awarded a UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School grant to cover fees (EU/nonEU). (ii) Half scholarships valued at €8000 per annum. Successful applicants who do not qualify for any external fee support will, in addition, be awarded a UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School grant to cover fees (EU/nonEU). (iii) Feesonly scholarship holders will be awarded a UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School grant to cover fees (EU/nonEU). In addition, all successful applicants will also be given one UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School grant of €2000 towards the cost of consumables purchased during the four years of the PhD programme. 12. All Students are obliged to pay the Student Centre Levy. 13. The Graduate Studies Board will make its recommendation to the Dean of the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School who has ultimate responsibility for the decision to award a scholarship. 14. All applicants for UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarships must inform the University of any other scholarship funding applied for. The School reserves the right to reduce the funding under the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarship scheme in the light of other scholarship funding received. 15. Successful applicants will be assigned to a specific principal investigator/supervisor or a joint project with a small number of investigators/cosupervisors. It will be the norm for the academic progress and welfare of research doctoral students at UCD to be monitored and supported by a Doctoral Studies Panel. 16. Scholarships will be awarded only to those who are fulltime students and who engage fulltime in research during the period of the Scholarship. Scholarships will normally be awarded for a period of four years, subject to annual review and according to the original date of the applicant’s registration. Where a student withdraws indefinitely from doctoral study, the Scholarship will terminate. 17. Scholars are expected to maintain a real presence within the Business School during the period of their Scholarships. However, the Business School recognises that Scholars may benefit from travel/research elsewhere, such as: • taking courses which are relevant to the Scholar’s training and providing that the case for taking such courses has been made to the Scholar’s Doctoral Studies Panel and with the agreement of her/his Head of School.
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spending part of the academic year resident at specialised labs, production facilities, archives or other appropriate research sites. Where such research trips are conducted during the regular teaching term of the Scholar’s institution, Scholars must have the prior approval of their Doctoral Studies Panel and Director of the PhD Programme.
18. UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School considers that the PhD programme should normally be four years' duration and will normally fund for up to four years. A formal review of the Doctoral Scholar’s
progress, in the form of the Stage 1 to Stage 2 PhD Transfer Assessment, will be undertaken after approximately 12 months. Satisfactory progress must be demonstrated at the Transfer Assessment before the Doctoral Scholar is permitted to enter stage 2 of the PhD programme. Successful applicants under this Scholarship Scheme must transfer to Stage 2 within two years of their registration as graduate research students. Failure to do so will automatically terminate a Scholarship. 19. Doctoral Scholars will be required to attend taught courses including modules on generic and transferable skills as recommended by their supervisors, Doctoral Studies Panel or Graduate School Board. 21. Doctoral Scholars are afforded the opportunity to develop the practical application of their academic skills by ongoing academic training as a Research Assistant (RA) and/or Teaching Assistant (TA) with the intention of exposing the Scholar to a range of research projects and methodologies as well as gaining experience in other aspects of academic work, including exposure to teaching and examining. This process is an important component of the PhD programme of education, and it also ensures that students benefit from the expertise and knowledge of high performing PhD students. 21. Research Assistants (RAs) will be directed by and report to a researchactive member of staff (referred to as a Principal Investigator (PI) who will normally not be their supervisor. Typical duties will include: • Assisting the PI in conducting research activities, including planning, organizing, conducting and communicating the research. • Coordinating and performing a range of independent and/or team activities involved in collecting, analyzing, documenting and interpreting literature and data. • Preparing reports, developing forms and questionnaires, etc. • Providing information on research progress and outcomes. • Providing guidance and information to support staff and/or research students. • Contributing to the publication of the research. • Performing other incidental related duties. 22. Teaching Assistants (TAs) will be directed by and report to an ‘academically qualified’ member of the teaching team (as per AACSB criteria). Typical duties will include: • Tutoring • Invigilating tests or exams • Preparing examinations • Preparing module material, research on module topics, etc. • Grading • Updating a module’s virtual learning environment (Blackboard) • Communicating with students • Holding office hours • Assisting with the administration of a course • Lecturing (limited) • Other incidental related duties. Doctoral Scholars cannot engage in teaching activities until they have passed the teaching training programme. 23. Participation as an RA/TA will not be greater than 200 hours in a calendar year for a full scholarship holder, 125 hours in a calendar year for a half scholarship holder, and 70 hours in a calendar year for a feesonly scholarship holder. These hours include reasonable preparation time, actual contact time and reasonable assessment time. The details of the participation are determined by the Director of the PhD Programme in the Business School. 24. Doctoral Scholars are required to submit to the Doctoral Research Centre a monthly record of hours spent on TA/RA duties, signed by the relevant faculty member(s) to whom they are assigned. 25. The Graduate Studies Board may reassign Doctoral Scholars to different RA/TA duties as it sees fit.
26. UCD attaches considerable importance to procedures for monitoring Scholarships. Doctoral Scholars will be required to submit annually their completedtodate Research and Professional Development Plan (RPDP), which has been signed by their supervisor, to the UCD Business School Director of PhD Programme. In addition, they will be asked to submit a record of their RA/TA duties for the year. 27. Doctoral Scholars are required to give an individual presentation once per year as part of the School’s doctoral seminar series. The student’s Doctoral Studies Panel will normally attend this presentation. In addition, expected deliverables from Doctoral Scholars are as follows: o Year 1: Pilot project and revised proposal (this will form the basis of the student’s transfer assessment – in addition to completed coursework). o Year 2: A completed paper/chapter of sufficient quality to submit (though not necessarily published) for conference presentation and a wellregarded academic journal; o Year 3: A completed paper/chapter of sufficient quality to submit (though not necessarily published) for conference presentation and a wellregarded academic journal. o Year 4: A completed paper/chapter that is of sufficient quality to submit (though not necessarily published) for conference presentation and a wellregarded academic journal. A completed thesis for submission, and preparation for a viva voce defence. 28. Scholarships will automatically cease on completion of the Ph.D. Programme. 29. A student in receipt of a full scholarship is precluded from receiving another internal (UCD) scholarship. The terms do not preclude Doctoral Scholars from applying for, or benefiting from, external funding to support a research project in which the Doctoral Scholar will participate during the term of their Scholarship, and indeed the School encourages Scholars to do so. The value of the Business School Scholarship may be adjusted should such funding be obtained, as may the RA/TA requirements. 30. Scholars unable for any reason (including medical reasons) to pursue their studies in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Scholarship, must inform their Director of PhD Programmes in the Business School (via their supervisor) within two weeks of such a situation coming to their attention. Given the basis on which Scholarships are awarded, UCD reserves the right to withdraw, suspend, reallocate or seek reimbursement of all or part of the Scholarship. 31. UCD recognises that for personal, professional or other reasons; Doctoral Scholars may wish to terminate their Scholarship. This should not be done without prior consultation with the Director of PhD Programmes in the Business School. 32. All publicity, including public lectures, publications, print materials and press releases, television and radio advertisements, website content, film, video and audio recordings associated with or arising from the research undertaken by a Scholar while in receipt of a Scholarship must contain acknowledgment of funding received from the 'UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarship’. 33. All recipients of UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarships must participate in publicity and events associated with the scheme, including providing information on their research for inclusion in the School's website. Scholarship holders are required to acknowledge the scholarship in a note accompanying any publications derived from research done during the term of the scholarship. 34. It is the responsibility of the Scholar to inform the University of any change to the circumstances on which the award of the Scholarship was based. The Scholar must also take responsibility for updating their personal records including any change of address, telephone, or email on the UCD Student Web system within two weeks of such a change. 35. UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Doctoral Scholarships are held subject to these Terms and Conditions. If any of the above are breached by a Scholar, UCD reserves the right to suspend or terminate the
Scholarship and/or will require the Scholar to reimburse UCD for such payments as have already been made to the Scholar. 36. Successful applicants will be required to sign a form of consent under the Data Protection Act 1988 in relation to records on data concerning their registration status and academic record. 37. All issues relating to intellectual property will be subject to the University’s practices and policies. 38. UCD reserves the right to revise the Terms and Conditions of this scheme at any time. 39. Doctoral Scholars will be subject to the general regulations, policies and codes of practice of the university, and the specific regulations, policies and codes of practice governing doctoral studies and research, as may be amended from time to time by the university. APPLICATIONS WHICH ARE EITHER LATE OR INCOMPLETE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFIED