Call for Expressions of Interest in Funded PhD Opportunity
The School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy is seeking expressions of interest from prospective PhD students to fill one fully funded PhD studentships in the Planning subject area.
About the School:
The School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy has an international reputation as a centre of excellence for research and teaching in a multidisciplinary School ranked in the QS top 150. It has established a wide international network of research collaborators, and delivers a dual degree programme with Chang’an University, China. The School’s Faculty have established reputations for both research excellence and the transfer of research to policy impact and maintain an international profile. The School supports a positive research culture for its faculty and researchers through a collaborative and creative research environment.
The Funded PhD Opportunity:
The School invites motivated researchers to apply for the following fully-funded position as part of our School’s structured PhD programme: A PhD under the lead supervision of Dr. Ozge Yenigun, Assistant Professor in Urban and Regional Planning, will address critical challenges in urban and regional development. Relevant research topics include, but are not limited to:
- Planning for local and regional economic development, including people- and place-based economic development planning and policy tools, development finance, urban regeneration and redevelopment, and policies promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.
- Social and economic mobility and inclusion for marginalized communities, including immigrants (through planning practices, urban policies and governance frameworks)
- Just transitions and regional development, addressing job creation, workforce development and community resilience in the context of low-carbon transitions. Proposals that explore understudied geographical contexts are welcome.
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates must, at a minimum, satisfy the entry requirements for a PhD degree at UCD, which include the UCD Minimum Language Requirements. We particularly encourage applications from candidates that possess the following additional qualifications:
- A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g. urban planning, urban design, urban studies, geography or any cognate field);
- Demonstrable motivation to conduct policy-relevant research;
- Relevant research and/or other research-related experience;
- A desire to develop an international research profile;
- Strong organisational, writing, presentation and other communication skills;
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain high-quality work.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Candidates with a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and spatial analysis skills are welcome to apply, with strong quantitative analytical skills considered an additional asset.
Scholarship Terms:
The benefits of the PhD scholarship include:
- A tax-free stipend of €22,000 per annum for four years subject to performance;
- Funding support for research costs and travel to conferences and workshops;
- Waived tuition fees for EU or Non-EU students;
- UCD career building and networking opportunities.
Note: The PhD scholarship shall begin no later than May 2025. Scholars will be based at the UCD Campus. UCD reserves the right not to fill any position. The University may also decide to change the topic area(s) of the research. Please note, non-EU candidates will be required to meet Irish Visa requirements.
Application Procedure:
An expression of interest should be lodged containing the following documents in a single PDF and sent by email to
- A cover letter explaining how the candidate’s profile matches the above criteria (max 1 page);
- An outline of an initial research proposal for PhD research related to one or more of the above topics (max 2 pages);
- A current CV;
- A scan of transcripts/diplomas;
- Evidence of English language competency (UCD’s English Language Requirements);
- Details of two referees (name, affiliation, position and contact details including email).
Closing Date for Applications: 5pm GMT, 17th January 2024
The review of applications will begin immediately after the closing date and shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an online interview. Shortlisted candidates may also be asked to submit a sample of their work (e.g., a published paper, dissertations/master’s thesis, research reports, etc.).
Applicants may contact Research Manager, Louise Dunne, at
These PhDs are being funded through the Chang’an-Dublin International College (CDIC) of Transportation, founded in 2020, as a joint international college established in collaboration between University College Dublin (UCD) and Chang’an University (CHD). There may be opportunities to travel to Chang’an University in Xi’an, China, and successful candidates will be expected to travel with their supervisor to act as a Teaching Assistant, if requested. The cost of this travel expense will be covered by the School.
