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Principal Engineer - Doctorate (Apprenticeship) Programme content

Develop the expertise to examine and solve real-world problems in your workplace with UL’s apprenticeship Doctorate in Engineering.

Key information

EU fees per year €900
NFQ Level NFQ Level 10 Major
Duration Four years
Attendance Part-time
Programme type Professional / Flexible
Start date May
Award Doctorate

Key information

  • Complete part-time over four years 
  • Blended delivery – online lectures and at least 1 compulsory on-campus day per semester. Students are required to attend five days in Year 1 and one day in Year 2, 3, and 4
  • Modules taught during autumn, spring and summer semesters 
  • Complete a Qualifier module to identify research topic before starting DEng
  • Dedicated thesis supervisor and in-company apprenticeship mentor
  • Participate in a ‘Community of Practice’. Interact and engage in peer-to-peer learning activities around the academic content.
  • Submit dissertation at the end of the final semester and participate in the Viva Voce process to defend your work. 

You will learn through a blend of

  • Lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities 
  • Reflective practice and guided research 
  • Regular feedback from faculty and peers  

Part-time considerations

  • Designed for working professionals 
  • Evening or recorded lectures 
  • Timetable provided after registration 

Programme content - Year 1

Core modules

  • Engineering Doctorate Qualifier module (PP8001)* introduces students to the requirements of a Professional Doctorate. Participants will identify a problem that is significant to their industry or profession to propose an appropriate approach to solving this problem. This problem definition will form the basis of a submission to the Professional Doctorate in Engineering Academic Board.  

*You must pass this Qualifier Module to gain access to the Doctoral programme. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

During this semester, you’ll attend a residential week of face-to-face classes on campus at the end of May as part of the Generic and Transferable Skills Summer School. Following this, you’ll complete your summer modules online through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Brightspace. 

Core modules

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Programme content - Year 2

Core modules

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core modules

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core modules

  • Research Dissertation 2 (PT8013) second of ten modules that enables students to engage in independent but supervised research and work towards a summer report.
  • Summer Report 1 (PT8003) focuses on the Literature Review Chapter of the Thesis. Students are required to be on campus at the end of May each year to present their research updates. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Programme content - Year 3

Core modules

  • Research Dissertation 3 (PT8023) third of ten modules that enables students to engage in independent but supervised research and work towards a summer report. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core modules

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core modules

  • Research Dissertation 5 (PT8053) fifth of ten modules that enables students to engage in independent but supervised research and work towards a summer report.
  • Summer Report 2 (PT8043) focuses on the Methodology chapter and an update of the Literature Review chapter. Students are required to be on campus at the end of May each year to present their research updates. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Programme content - Year 4

Core modules

  • Research Dissertation 6 (PT8005) sixth of ten modules that enables students to engage in independent but supervised research and work towards a summer report. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core modules

  • Research Conference/Workshop (CS8009) enables students to present their research at reputable conferences or workshops relevant to their field. The experience offers peer review, exposure to diverse research perspectives, and engagement with academic, industry, and regulatory communities.
  • Research Dissertation 7 (PT8016) seventh of ten modules that enables students to engage in independent but supervised research and work towards a summer report.

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library. 

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules  

Core modules

  • Research Dissertation 8 (PT8073) eight of ten modules that enables students to engage in independent but supervised research and work towards a summer report.
  • Summer Report 3 (PT8063) focuses on showing students are following a suitable trajectory to complete their research. Students are required to be on campus at the end of May each year to present their research updates. 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Programme content - Year 4

Core module

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core module

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

Core module

  • Exam Board Graduation 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.  

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s Book of Modules 

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