Fully Funded PhD Studentship at University College Cork: Developing a Speech Sound Assessment for Irish-Speaking Children

Application Deadline: October 24, 2025
Start Date: January 2026
Funding Package: €22,000 annual stipend + €5,840 EU tuition fees + €3,250 research expenses (per annum, 4 years)

🌍 About the Opportunity

University College Cork (UCC) is inviting applications for a fully funded 4-year PhD studentship focused on developing and piloting a speech sound assessment tool for Irish-speaking bilingual children in Ireland.

This pioneering research aims to bridge a critical gap: despite statutory rights under the Official Languages Act (2002/2021), Irish-speaking children currently have very few dedicated assessment resources in speech and language therapy. Most existing tools are English-based, resulting in many Irish-speaking children being assessed only in English—a practice that risks language attrition and undermines Irish linguistic development.

This PhD will create and validate the first comprehensive Irish-language version of the Diagnostic Evaluation of Articulation and Phonology (DEAP) for children aged 3–7, ensuring equitable access to high-quality speech and language therapy through Irish.

🎯 Research Objectives

The PhD project will:

• Review existing literature on Irish speech sound development.
• Develop and co-design tools with key stakeholders (parents, teachers, speech and language therapists).
• Create pilot versions of the DEAP screener in Irish, including articulation, phonology, and oromotor assessments.
• Test and refine the tool with a representative sample of Irish-speaking children across Ireland’s three main dialects.
• Evaluate diagnostic accuracy for identifying speech sound disorders.
• Prepare resources for clinical use, including phoneme lists and therapy materials.

This research will use participatory action methods and a mixed-methods approach to ensure inclusivity, accuracy, and impact.

📚 Academic Environment

The successful candidate will be based in the School of Clinical Therapies, College of Medicine and Health, UCC, under the supervision of Dr. Ciara O’Toole and co-supervisors.

They will also benefit from UCC’s PhD training programme, which offers a wide range of professional, technical, and research development courses.

💶 Funding Details

This prestigious PhD studentship is fully funded by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) and includes:

• €22,000 annual stipend (for 4 years)
• €5,840 EU tuition fees per year (Non-EU candidates may apply but may incur additional costs)
• €3,250 research expenses annually (to support fieldwork and resource development)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Essential:

• At least a 2H1 (second-class honours, grade 1) degree in Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology, Applied Linguistics, Irish, or related discipline.
• Fluency in spoken and written Irish (ideally TEG B2 or higher).
• Strong academic writing skills in English.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification (MSc/MA) in a relevant discipline.
• Skills in phonetic transcription and phonological analysis.
• Detailed knowledge of Irish language acquisition in children.

Please note: Garda vetting and international policy clearance may form part of the selection process.

📩 How to Apply

Applications should be sent to Dr. Ciara O’Toole (c.otoole@ucc.ie) quoting exactly:
“Speech sound assessment of Irish-speaking children” in the subject line.

Deadline: Friday, October 24, 2025, at 12:00pm.

Applications must include a single PDF document containing:

• Cover Letter (1–2 pages): Outline your suitability and motivation for this PhD, highlighting relevant skills and experience.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Including academic achievements, research experience, undergraduate results, publications (if any), and contact details for two referees.

🌟 Why Apply?

This PhD studentship is a unique opportunity to:

• Contribute to language rights and equity in healthcare.
• Develop an Irish-language clinical tool that will benefit generations of bilingual children.
• Receive a fully funded research package with financial stability and research support.
• Train within a world-class academic environment at University College Cork.

If you are passionate about Irish language preservation, speech and language development, and impactful clinical research, this opportunity could be the perfect step in your academic career.

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