The degree for which research students register depends on their academic qualifications and research experience. There are three possibilities: • MPhil • MPhil with transfer to PhD • PhD Most of the University's research students take the second route of initially registering for a MPhil and transferring their registration to a PhD after 12 to 18 months without submitting for the MPhil. Undertaking a PhD degree involves: • critically investigating and evaluating an approved topic, with the investigation resulting in an independent and original contribution to knowledge; • demonstrating an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field; • presenting and defending a substantial thesis by oral examination to the satisfaction of the examiners. .................................................................................................................................. Maximum of 50,000 words for a PhD in business/management and related subject areas; maximum of 30,000 words for a DBA or related subject areas. Undertaking an MPhil degree involves: • critically investigating and evaluating an approved topic; • demonstrating an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field; • presenting and defending a substantial thesis by oral examination to the satisfaction of the examiners. .................................................................................................................................. Maximum of 30,000 words for a MPhil in business/management and related subject areas; maximum of 20,000 words for a MBA or related subject areas. Students may register for an MPhil with the intention of transferring to a PhD after 12 to 18 months, without submitting for the MPhil. .................................................................................................................................. Candidates applying for a Doctorate program must hold either an ICUA or recognized Master degree or any other equivalent professional qualification together with experience in the area of interest, acceptable to the Examination and Assessment Board (EAB). In addition all applicants will be required to submit a detailed CV and must state the topic they wish to specialize, supported by two references of which one must be from your most recent employer or a person already holding a Post-Graduate qualification. Executives and Professionals will be allowed to submit existing Project/Thesis based on their personal achievement. .................................................................................................................................. Every research student is supervised by a team consisting of a Director of Studies and at least one other supervisor. The supervision team will have expertise in the relevant research area and experience of successfully supervising research degree candidates to completion of their degrees. The team often includes an external supervisor in order to make use of expertise and facilities available in other educational establishments or in industrial, commercial, professional and research organizations. Such collaboration also serves to broaden the perspective of the research. We welcome applications from part-time students in employment who wish to undertake a research project which is connected with their work. .................................................................................................................................. ICUA will run research methodology courses and seminar series, often in the evenings or Saturday to enable part-time students to participate. The University's Research Degrees Committee also organizes a University-wide research training program in general skills for research students, which covers topics such as: • selecting a research topic; • literature review; • skills in data collection; • research methodology • skills in writing a thesis