-
Courses
Courses
Choosing a course is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make! View our courses and see what our students and lecturers have to say about the courses you are interested in at the links below.
-
University Life
University Life
Each year more than 4,000 choose NUI Galway as their University of choice. Find out what life at NUI Galway is all about here.
-
About NUI Galway
About NUI Galway
Since 1845, NUI Galway has been sharing the highest quality teaching and research with Ireland and the world. Find out what makes our University so special – from our distinguished history to the latest news and campus developments.
-
Colleges & Schools
Colleges & Schools
NUI Galway has earned international recognition as a research-led university with a commitment to top quality teaching across a range of key areas of expertise.
-
Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation
NUI Galway’s vibrant research community take on some of the most pressing challenges of our times.
-
Business & Industry
Guiding Breakthrough Research at NUI Galway
We explore and facilitate commercial opportunities for the research community at NUI Galway, as well as facilitating industry partnership.
-
Alumni, Friends & Supporters
Alumni, Friends & Supporters
There are over 90,000 NUI Galway graduates Worldwide, connect with us and tap into the online community.
-
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
At NUI Galway, we believe that the best learning takes place when you apply what you learn in a real world context. That's why many of our courses include work placements or community projects.
Archaeology (Structured PhD)
Course Overview
The Structured PhD in Archaeology is a four-year, full-time programme of study and research and applicants must have a high honours standard in their primary degree or present such other evidence of fitness which will satisfy the Head of discipline and the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies.
As part of the doctoral training available on the Structured PhD programme, students avail themselves of a range of interdisciplinary taught modules. The wide menu of available options include modules that:
- are discipline-specific in that they augment the student’s existing knowledge in their specialist area, e.g., Introduction to Adobe Photoshop; Introduction to Digital Surveying and Archaeological Specialisms.
- are dissertation-specific in that they supply core skills which are essential to completion of the research project.
- acknowledge a student’s professional development, e.g., presentation of a paper at an International Conference and core surveying skills.
- enhance a student’s employability through generic training.
Each student will be assigned a primary Supervisor(s) and a Graduate Research Committee made up of experienced researchers to plan their programme of study and to provide on-going support to their research.
To view the Discipline of Archaeology website please click HERE.
Programmes Available
- Structured PhD (Archaeology)—full-time
- Structured PhD (Archaeology)-part-time
Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Associated
Learning Outcomes
Entry Requirements
Applicants for the PhD must have a high honours standard in their primary degree or present such other evidence of fitness which will satisfy the Head of Discipline and the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Current research projects
Visit the Discipline of Archaeology website for information on current research projects.
Current funded research opportunity
Work Placement
Related Student Organisations
Career Opportunities
Find a Supervisor / PhD Project
If you are still looking for a potential supervisor or PhD project or would like to identify the key research interests of our academic staff and researchers, you can use our online portal to help in that search
Research Areas
The Burren Landscape Through Time
Exploring the archaeology of the Burren from prehistoric to early modern times.
Landscape Archaeology
Providing an enhanced understanding of the interaction between people and landscape, from prehistoric times to modern day.
Ritual and Place
Exploring the role and context of ritual centres in prehistoric and medieval Ireland.
Material Culture, Art and Society
Exploring the style, pedigree and iconography of religious and decorative art in early medieval Ireland against its wider European backdrop.
Gaelic and Colonial Ireland
Providing modern Irish society with a new understanding of native society and its engagement with newcomers and colonisation.
Public Archaeology
Developing professional ethics and standards through mutually accountable work with communities to support their heritage in Ireland and abroad with particular concern for the positive and negative impact of development.
Irish Prehistory
All aspects of Irish prehistory including, but not limited to: the development of societies; interactions between people, place and landscape in prehistory; upland settlement; regionality; role of mountains in prehistory; megalithic monuments; lithics.
Researcher Profiles
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Non EU
Extra Information
EU Part time: Year 1 €3,491 (inclusive of student levy €140) p.a. 2022/23
All students, irrespective of funding, must pay the student levy €140.
Contact Us
Ms Maggie Ronayne
E maggie.ronayne@nuigalway.ie
T +353 91 493 701
What Our Students Say

Enda O'Flaherty | Structured PhD (Archaeology)
The provision of additional structured learning opportunities compliments a student’s own research. This option to receive formal accredited training assists a student’s own academic endeavours but also encourages their professional development through the growth of an adaptable skill base.