[seanbrady]

Alrite lads and ladies, just contacting the community to inquire about the doctoral programs available in ireland/ colleges accepting researched based applications for doctorate programs related to games?

Also I currently have a hons bachelors degree and I am going to skip the masters stage, it is not needed. Any opinions regarding this?

Thanks in advance.

[erckle]

Hey Sean

It depends on what area you wish to focus your research in. Do you have a research hypothesis? And if so, what general area is it in?

Most lecturers in colleges would be happy to at least talk to you if you have a proposal that lines up with their research interests (from my experience at least).

As for skipping the Masters, you're correct, it is not necessarily needed if you wish to pursue a PhD, but it can make all the difference if you wish to apply to a funding authority for a scholarship (i.e. a proven track record in research ideally with a publication if possible, over an undergraduate degree). Although it is possible to get a scholarship without a masters.
_________________
- erckle

There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand binary, and those that dont.

[aphra]

A masters is often used to transfer/focus more into a particular area and if your overall grades at the undergraduate level are not at a 2.1 level.

If you go straight from a BA/BSc a lot of colleges enrol students as an MLitt/MPhil for one year and then you transfer into a PhD if satisfactory progress is made.

Choose the college/lecturer after you have a research topic/idea and draft proposal for the PhD.

Colleges/universities vary in their areas of expertise.

Aphra.

[RedXIV]

Sorry to hijack this for a second OP.

I'm just looking to clarify this, If I want to do a research masters I simply have to find a lecturer/college to agree with my hypothesis and work from there? (as well as a B.Sc)

Sorry, I just never heard it explained properly

Thanks

[aphra]

for both a research masters and PhD you will need a lecturer to agree to your research proposal and topic before you are admitted and each department will have a minimum grade you must have received in your BA, which is usually a 2.1, to advance to postgraduate work.

Of course getting funding is another ball game.

Aphra.
(PS I am a lecturer!)

[RedXIV]

will send you something posthaste!

Thanks for the info!

[seanbrady]

Apologies for late reply, got caught up sorting out my next life move. Similar to many students just finishing or considering going back to college.

Thank you once again for the answers, responses and advice.

At the time of the post I had to decide between multiple different options which the acquirement of employment in the industry would have surely quashed.

The options were; - take a year out and work on game projects and portfolio
- go back to college and do a taught program for a
different discipline
- work on the cruise ships as a fitness instructor
- start my own business
- get my doctorate

Using the advice given here and additional research that has been done I decided to go for the doctorate route. May as well advance my education while I have the funding.

Thank you once again for advice. Any further opinions or suggestions regarding are still wanted and I will continue checking it.

Thank you.

P.S. -----***************

Aphra, since you are a lecturer would consider looking over a research proposal once it is complete?

Thanks in advance for reading this.

Sean.

[aphra]

if you are a social scientist then yes...if you are a computer scientist you might want to find a more appropriate potential supervisor.

Aphra.

Ps I just posted some links to PhD projects in UU under jobs.

[seanbrady]

@Aphra - Thank you for reply

The area I am considering is the area of human computer interaction, would that generally fall under your knowledge base. I havent fully thought out the study focus but I am at present assembling one or two possibilities for my research proposal.

P.S. Are those phd projects open to graduates with just a honours bachelors degree?

[aphra]

well HCI could if you were looking at social aspects....but I suspect you might want to look to places like the interaction design centre in UL and there is a HCI network of academics in IReland and a conference coming up in DCU in September - http://www.clarity-centre.org/iHCI2010/ - you will find people there who might be potential supervisors.

Re PhD projects in UU - contact Darryl Charles to ask re entry requirements.

Aphra.

[seanbrady]

Thank you, will do.

[seanbrady]

Sean here with question for clarification of research avenue......

Sorry I am just wondering whether or not a research area concerning uncovering and presenting the realistic health risks/effects for the typical die hard game developer and constructing cost free ways of prevention would be a viable research topic in yer opinion.

Plus would it fall under the social sciences or scientific areas due to its ties to the health industry.

*** Note: I am a qualified personal trainer and fitness instructor which gives the appropriate knowledge to record data relating to body composition and general health and fitness levels along with prescribing improvement strategies.

[david4482]

Think your into "Health Sciences" ground there Sean, so imagine you would be applying to colleges with departments of Physiotherapy and maybe Occupational therapy?
_________________
We've proved we're full of ideas and talent and at the end of the day I think that if we're given lemons we can make rocket launchers.

[seanbrady]

Thank you for response. Taking that into consideration I would have to perhaps go to dit as that is the college often associated with the organisation and institute which provided my exercise and health studies and personal training education.

Thank you once again.

[aphra]

well there is a serious games group in the computer science department of DIT so they would probably be interested in a game related health type project.

Also you should try and do a PhD in a department related to your undergraduate degree if possible.

Aphra.

[seanbrady]

I will do, cheers.