The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science and managed by the Council, is a nationally established initiative.
This unique program within the Irish research landscape offers prestigious individual awards for outstanding research in the applicant’s name. It employs an impartial selection process utilizing international expert peer review. Funding is available across all disciplines, spanning from archaeology to zoology, and encourages bottom-up, non-directed research, except for projects funded by strategic partners.
Innovative proposals addressing emerging research areas or employing creative approaches are encouraged, as are interdisciplinary proposals recognizing the value of integrating perspectives from multiple fields.
With an average success rate of 18% over the past five years, the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is highly competitive. Successful recipients are acknowledged for their potential as future research leaders on a global scale.
Potential applicants should carefully ascertain whether they are eligible before applying to either programme. All applicants must complete and pass an eligibility quiz on the online application system before accessing an application form.
• There is no age limit for applicants to be eligible for either program type.
• All applicants must be affiliated with an eligible Irish higher education institution or research-performing organization.
• Applications will only be accepted in either the Irish or English language.
• Applicants must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to the relevant programme, including to strategic partner themes. This applies regardless of whether the applicant has changed their host institution or research topic since a previous submission.
• The Irish Research Council is not in a position to award funding for research activity under any of the following prohibited areas:
▪ human cloning for reproductive purposes;
▪ genetic modification of human beings that could make such changes heritable (with the exception of research relating to cancer treatment of the gonads, which may be funded); or
▪ creation of human embryos solely for the purpose of research or for the purpose of stem cell procurement, including by means of somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Postgraduate
Postdoctoral
The scholarship's worth can reach a maximum of €28,000 annually in any sanctioned year and will encompass:
- A yearly stipend of €19,000.
- Support for fees, encompassing non-EU fees, capped at €5,750 annually.
- Eligible direct research expenses of €3,250 per annum.