IADT Masters by Research Degrees (MA/MSc) Information for Applicants This document will guide you through the application process for a research masters (MA/MSc) at IADT. You may apply in one of TWO ways. In either case you will initially apply by developing an outline proposal of 2/3 pages. If this is deemed satisfactory by IADT you will go on to develop a full proposal for the end of August. If this full proposal passes an IADT and an External evaluation process you will be proposed for Registration with IADT and the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Assuming both bodies deem the proposed Research Project and Team acceptable, your Research will normally start in the October/November period. Of the full proposals received in late August the best 3 candidates will qualify for full waiver of fees for the 2 year duration of the Masters programme. All other acceptable proposals may proceed subject to payment of Fees by the applicants (Fees are currently set at €4500pa but may be subject to review). In all cases projects will only proceed if a qualified supervision team is available. This will normally be known based on the outline proposal but can occasionally become an issue at a later stage. IADT will try to avoid any last minute difficulties of this nature. The TWO ways to apply are as follows: Firstly, you may contact postgraduate@iadt.ie to see if there any projects being proposed by IADT lecturers which may be of interest to you. You may also contact lecturers whom you know or whose work you are interested in to see if they have projects they wish to propose. or Secondly you may propose your own project. If you propose your own project it must fall into one of the following Research Areas and IADT will only proceed with the project if a supervision team can be put in place. Therefore, it would be important to discuss your ideas with the relevant Head of Faculty or with postgraduate@iadt.ie as soon as possible. Research Area Head of Faculty Creative Arts and Media David Smith (david.smith@iadt.ie) Public Cultures Dr Josephine Browne (josephine.browne@iadt.ie) Entrepreneurship Dr Josephine Browne (josephine.browne@iadt.ie) Applied Psychology David Smith (david.smith@iadt.ie) Digital Technologies David Smith (david.smith@iadt.ie)
In either case above you must adhere to the following steps in order to apply: 1. Register your interest in a research masters by emailing postgraduate@iadt.ie. Please give your name, contact details, project title (from the first list above) or your own project title and likely research area (from the second list above). 2. Please contact the relevant Contact or Head of Faculty to discuss possible research projects. 3. You will be expected to have a minimum of a 2nd class honours degree at NFQ Level 8 in a relevant discipline for a Masters degree by research. If you do not have the required qualifications you may apply on the basis of equivalent qualifications, knowledge or experience. This requires an additional process which includes you preparing a portfolio of prior learning. Please let us know in your email if you are applying on this basis. 4. Develop an outline research proposal. This will be the case whether you are applying for one of our projects titles or proposing one of your own. This document should be no more than 2/3 pages and should include a brief literature review, the proposed research question (with possible hypotheses where appropriate), proposed methodology and references. Please state if you are proposing practice‐based research. 5. Complete the postgraduate research application form PG Form 1 and submit it with the outline research proposal to postgraduate@iadt.ie by 5pm on Thursday 9th June 2016. Please indicate on the research application form if you are applying for an IADT Research Masters Scholarship. 6. When the application has been received the Head of Faculty and academic representatives from the relevant discipline area will consider the proposal and make a recommendation of initial approval (or not) to the Head of Strategic and Postgraduate Development. Approval of the project takes into account: (a) if you are appropriately qualified for masters by research (b) if the outline proposal is capable of being studied to masters level (c) if the outline proposal could be completed within the two years usual for a research masters (d) if the appropriate necessary resources (e.g. library, computing, laboratory facilities, technical assistance) are available (e) If proper supervision can be provided and can be maintained throughout the research. Criteria for approval – IADT Procedures and Guidelines for Research Degrees 2014, p. 8. They will also rank the proposals if multiple acceptable proposals are received for the one project. 7. If the project is approved the full research proposal is developed and finalised in consultation between the student and the relevant Head of Faculty and/or potential supervisors (see Appendix 1) and the QQI postgraduate registration form is completed. For practice‐based research the proposed methods of assessment have to be included in the proposal. A workshop
describing this stage of the process will be run by Dr. Mark Riordan, Head of Strategic and Postgraduate Development on Wednesday June 22nd 2016 probably at 10am. 8. The full research proposal and the completed QQI postgraduate registration form (signed by the relevant Head of Faculty) are then sent to an external expert for evaluation as a suitable research programme. 9. Assuming the External Evaluation is successful (i.e. is scored greater than 70%). The full research proposal, the completed QQI form and the external evaluation report is sent to the Registrar. If on evaluation the proposal is considered acceptable you will be offered a provional place on a master’s research degree and registered at IADT. The proposal and completed QQI registration form and external evaluation report is then sent to QQI. In due course assuming QQI have no issues you will also receive a QQI registration number and your Registration status will be confirmed. 10. You start work on your research project. This is usually in the October/November period. There will be an induction workshop at this time.
Appendix 1 Research proposal The research proposal is structured as follows: A. Cover sheet with project title, student name and date of submission B. Abstract The abstract (maximum 200 words) outlines in everyday language the nature of the proposed research project and what it is hoped will be achieved, i.e., the likely application of research outcomes. C. General Outline of Project (500 words) 1. Main research question 2. Objectives 3. Proposed Methodology 4. Contribution to knowledge of discipline area / relationship of project to existing research 5. Area of research. Relate the research proposal to the focus of research in IADT. For further information see the Institute’s website. D. Detailed Project Description (2000‐3000 words) If there is a staff research proposal this section is omitted. 1. Description of project a. Background and Rationale (including literature review) b. Research question (and hypotheses if appropriate) c. Design of study i. Theoretical framework, investigative and analytic approaches ii. Identify and select appropriate research methods iii. For experimental studies please indicate participants, materials, procedure and approach to data analysis 2. Project Schedule / timescale This outlines the research plan. Please indicate steps and timing in graphical format. Two approaches are attached as is a sample timeline. 3. Project requirements Indicate the equipment required for the project (if any). Identify any specialist knowledge and skills (e.g. technical skills, use of specialist software etc) that are required to complete the project. 4. Permissions sought (from an ethics and legal perspective) E. Bibliography (no more than 2 pages)
Appendix 2 Project Schedule/Timescale in Graphical Format – two models Projec t Stages Mth 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 Month Milestone 2016 – October 2016 – November 2016 ‐ December 2017 – January 2017 – February 2017 – March 2017 – April 2017 – May 2017 – June 2017 – July 2017 – August 2017 ‐ September 2017 – October 2017 ‐ November 2017 ‐ December 2018 – January 2018 – February 2018 – March
2018 ‐ April 2018 ‐ May 2018 ‐ June 2018 ‐ July 2018 ‐ August 2018 – September Sample timeline Evaluation of Cognitive Skills Improvements using technological and text‐based skills training tools – timeline in project proposal 2014 September 2016 Project commenced October 2016 Completion of proposal document November 2016 Completion of extensive / comprehensive literature review December 206 Familiarisation with all the relevant materials, any required training completed January 2017 Completion of ethics documentation for experiments March 2017 Complete pilot studies, one with each age group and condition April 2017 Any adjustments to materials and procedure made (if required); participants for main study recruited May 2017 Data collection on main study commenced March 2018 Data collection for main study completed April 2018 Analysis of data June 2018 Journal articles on research prepared August 2018 Initial dissertation draft completed September 2018 Submission of final version of dissertation
