Considering Part-Time PhD in Ireland – University vs. Supervisor Fit?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently exploring the idea of doing a part-time PhD in Ireland. I recently had a great interaction with a professor at DCU who expressed interest in working with me, and I really like the connection so far.

That said, when I first started looking into PhDs, I had ideally hoped to do one at UCD, mainly because I live within close commuting distance of the campus.

I’m trying to figure out how important it is to prioritize the university itself versus the research area versus the supervisor when making this decision. Should the supervisor fit take priority, or is the university’s reputation and proximity more important in the long run?

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated! This is all quite new to me, so apologies if this is a very basic question.

Thanks in advance!