Postgraduate scholarships from the Government of Ireland are presently accepting applications through 2024. Outstanding students can apply for postgraduate scholarships from the Irish government to work on research projects in a field of interest. It is a singular national effort in the Irish research environment that opens up new avenues for supported postgraduate study there. The scholarship program is run by the Irish Research Council.

We encourage ideas that cover new and developing fields of study, those that introduce creative, novel approaches, and proposals that expand understanding by fusing methods, data, tools, and viewpoints from two or more disciplines. ideas from across disciplines are also welcomed.

This program is extremely competitive; during the past five years, the average candidate success rate has been 18%. Candidates who are selected for the Program are acknowledged as having world-class potential to become future research leaders.

In contrast to other funding alternatives for postgraduate education in Ireland, this Postgraduate Scholarship Program collaborates with them. Among its attributes are:

• Individual, renowned honors in the applicant’s name for outstanding research
• A selection procedure that is impartial and uses international, unbiased expert peer review
• Funding for all academic fields, from zoology to archaeology;
• Awards for non-directed, bottom-up research, excluding those supported by our strategic funding partners.

Duration of Scholarship:

• Research master’s degree: 1 year
• Structured research master’s degree: 2 years
• Traditional doctoral degree: 3 years
• Structured doctoral degree: 4 years

Benefits of Scholarship

The selected candidates will benefit from a maximum of €28,000 annually in any approved year. This amount will consist of the following elements:

• A stipend of €19,000;
• Fees contribution, paid to the host institution, up to a maximum of €5,750, which includes non-European Union fees.
• A direct research allowance of €3,250 enables the researcher to conduct the research project.

Partner Funding Organizations

Some government bodies and agencies partner with the Irish Research Council to support this Scholarship Program to deliver on shared national objectives. The strategic funding partners of the Irish Research Council for 2024 are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

All candidates should complete and pass some eligibility questions on the online application system before accessing an application form. Please review further information outlining what would deem an application ineligible in the call for application:

• Applicants’ age is not a matter to be eligible for this scholarship program.
• All candidates should be affiliated with an eligible Irish research-performing organization or higher education institution.
• Applications are only acceptable in either the Irish or English language.
• To be eligible for the 2024 scholarship, candidates must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to this Program, including to strategic partner themes.
• The Irish Research Council does not provide funding for research under any of the following prohibited areas:

1. Human cloning for reproductive purposes;
2. Genetic modification of human beings causes such changes, but for research relating to cancer treatment of the gonads.
3. Creation of human embryos solely for stem cell procurement or research, including somatic cell nuclear transfer

• Applicants from both European Union and Non-EU member states are welcome to apply.
• Have a first-class or upper second-class honors bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to this Program, including to its strategic partner’s theme; and
• If you apply for a research master’s or doctoral degree, you must not currently hold, or have previously held, a Council scholarship.
• Innovative proposals for degrees addressing new and emerging research fields or those introducing creative approaches are welcomed.
• Interdisciplinary proposals are also recommended, as the programs greatly value integrating several aspects of education/research.

Note: The majority of scholarships will be awarded to nationals of European Union member states and a proportion of scholarship will be awarded to those not resident or citizens of European Union members.

Selection Process

The Government of Ireland, Postgraduate Scholarship Program, is strongly competitive, and an objective selection process using international, independent expert peer review chooses the successful applicants.

Application Process

Eligible applicants can read the terms and conditions of the scholarship carefully to ensure they meet all the eligibility criteria and then apply online.

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