how to get phd funding ireland

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Postgraduate student grants

Can i get a student grant as a postgraduate student, what type of postgraduate grants can i get, means test and income limits for the postgraduate student grant, applying for a student grant, contact susi, other financial supports for postgraduate students.

If you are enrolling in a postgraduate course, you may get financial support under the Student Grant Scheme .

To qualify for a student grant, you must meet nationality, immigration and residency criteria . You must also pass a means test (see ‘Means test and income limits for the postgraduate student grant’ below).

Student grant applications for the academic year 2024-2025 are open . You apply online for a student grant (see ‘Applying for a student grant' below).

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is the grant-awarding authority that handles all grant applications.

International protection students

If you are in the international protection system, you may qualify for financial support through the International Protection Student Scheme (for Further and Higher Education Students) 2024-2025 .

You can qualify for assistance under the Student Grant Scheme in one of the following 3 ways:

• A postgraduate fee contribution of up to €4,000 and a maintenance grant.
• A postgraduate fee grant of up to €6,270 and a maintenance grant, if you qualify for the special rate of grant (see ‘Special rate of grant’ below).
• A postgraduate fee contribution only of up to €4,000.

Financial assistance is available under the Student Grant Scheme towards the cost of tuition fees for approved postgraduate courses in Ireland and Northern Ireland .

You cannot get support under the Student Grant Scheme for postgraduate courses in another EU country.

How much maintenance grant will I get?

The SUSI maintenance grant rate you get depends on:

• Your assessed means (see ‘Means test and income limits for the postgraduate student grant’ below)
• The distance you normally live from the college (you get the ‘adjacent rate’ if you normally live 30 kilometres or less from your college, and the ‘non-adjacent’ rate if you live more than 30 kilometres away)
• If you’re a disadvantaged student (see ‘Special rate of grant’ below)

Special rate of grant

Postgraduate students who meet a number of conditions may qualify for the special rate of grant. If you qualify, you can get your tuition fees paid and essential field trips (up to €6,270). You may also qualify for a special maintenance grant.

To qualify for the special rate of grant:

• You must have met the conditions for the standard maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme for the academic year 2024-2025.
• Your total reckonable income in the tax year January to December 2023 must be €26,200 or less, not including Qualified Child Increases and standard exclusions (the reckonable income limit can increase with the number of dependent children – see ‘Other family members in college’ below).
• Your parents or guardian (or you, if you are an independent student), must be getting certain social welfare payments or participating in a designated programme on 31 December 2023.

Qualifying social welfare payments and programmes include:

• Long-term social welfare payments
• Working Family Payment (WFP)
• Designated programmes (for example, a Community Employment Scheme )

You can find out more about what social welfare payments and schemes are eligible , and how they can be combined to help you meet the required criteria.

Who can’t get a maintenance grant?

You cannot get a maintenance grant if you are:

• Getting a Back To Education Allowance (BTEA)
• Getting a Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) allowance
• A tuition student

A tuition student is someone who fulfils all the conditions for a student grant except for residence in the State, but who has been resident in an EEA state or Switzerland for 3 of the last 5 years.

The means test for a student grant in 2024-2025 is based on your and your family's gross income for the previous full tax year (2023). However, if you or your family have had a change of circumstances from 1 January 2024, your changed circumstances will be taken into account. See what counts as a change in circumstances on the SUSI website.

SUSI looks at all ’reckonable income’ when assessing your student grant application. Reckonable income is gross income from all sources. Some social welfare payments and financial support payments are excluded.

You can deduct up to €7,925 (previously €6,552) for your earnings outside of term-time (known as ‘holiday earnings’).

Your applicant class determines whose income is included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes. There are 3 types of applicant class:

• Dependent student
• Mature dependent student
• Independent student

Read more about reckonable income on the SUSI website and in the Student Grant Scheme 2024 (pdf) .

Income limits for maintenance grant and fee grant

The family income limits for a maintenance grant and a postgraduate fee contribution in 2024-2025 are set out in the table below. These income limits are applied after your means are assessed.

Income limits for the fee grant only

The family income limits for a standard rate postgraduate fee contribution only (with no maintenance grant) in 2024-2025 are set out in the table below.

Other family members in college

The reckonable income limits may be increased for each additional family member who is doing a full-time course of at least one year’s duration:

• In full maintenance (Band 1), special rate and postgraduate fee contribution only categories by €4,950
• In part maintenance (Bands 2, 3 and 4) categories by €4,785

If you are an independent student, the family member taken into account is your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. If you are dependent on your parents, the family members taken into account are your parent(s) and their other dependent children.

Read more about income limits for postgraduate students.

Online applications for the student grant 2024-2025 are open . The closing date for grant applications is usually sometime in November.

You must apply for your grant on the SUSI website online . If your application is successful, your grant or fee contribution is awarded when you confirm you have accepted your college place.

Read about how to:

• Apply for a student grant
• Appeal to SUSI if you are unhappy with a decision made about your application
• Renew your student grant application for another academic year

If you have any questions or need help applying for a student grant, contact the SUSI Support desk Monday-Friday, 9am-5.30pm (excluding public holidays).

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)

P.O. Box 869 Little Island Cork

You can claim tax relief on postgraduate tuition fees.

You should contact your college or university to find out about other financial supports , scholarships or bursaries available. You can also find information on the Higher Education Authority website .

Some financial institutions offer loans to students to want to do a postgraduate course.

Related documents

• Grants and funds for mature students Information on grants and funds available for mature students in third-level education. 1446.4502
• Student Grant Scheme This page explains the Student Grant Scheme (also called the SUSI Grant). Find out how to apply for a grant and the grant rates. 1410.8636
• Assistive technology grant for students with disabilities This document describes a scheme that provides a grant to schools to allow them to buy equipment for students with disabilities at post-primary level. 1256.8026

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You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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Funding options

Fees are set annually by the Governing Authority of the University.

• Check out  University information on fees and funding

Most students on the PhD programme are supported by sources such as:

• external research studentships, which are applied for individually
• studentships associated with (externally) funded research projects, in which academic staff are involved, mainly through University research centres and institutes
• internal University studentships of various sorts.

Funding applications typically depend on an excellent academic record and the submission of a detailed research proposal.

Intending PhD applicants should explore these options systematically, and consult with the director of the PhD programme in economics, possible supervisors, and with academic staff for advice.

University of Galway

• NUI Galway Hardiman Research Scholarships
• College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies Doctoral Research Scholarships
• Research Vacancies   Opportunities for Funded PhD Projects (all fields of study, including economics)
• Irish Research Council postgraduate funding schemes (including Government of Ireland PhD fellowship scheme)
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Teagasc  (see especially Teagasc Walsh Fellowships)
• Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Fellowships
• Health Research Board
• National University of Ireland (NUI) awards  (NUI Galway is a constituent university of the NUI)

International

• EU Marie Curie Fellowships
• Inter-American Development Bank
• Asian Development Bank

Remember ...

Remember, that as many of the deadlines for these funding sources are early in the year, usually between January and April, you should start thinking about the application process in September/October of the year before starting the PhD. 

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Aljawaz Your guide to study abroad

Our complete guide on phd study in ireland.

Herilalao Study in Ireland Leave a comment

Ireland has one of the world’s oldest higher education systems and has been a center of learning in Europe since as far as 500 AD. With this many centuries of experience in dispensing education and training, you’ll certainly get access to world-class PhD resources at its universities. Moreover, being part of the European Higher Education Area, Ireland follows the Bologna process, offering PhDs as third-cycle degree-programs. Here’s our overview of how a PhD in Ireland works: structure, requirements, duration, funding and more.

Table of Contents

Benefits of doing a PhD in Ireland

The decision to do a PhD stem from considering several factors: your field of study and research, the university you plan to do your research at, and your goals. Ireland has a number of universities with an excellent reputation, nationally and internationally. Here are some of the benefits you’ll gain if you choose to do your PhD in Ireland.

You don’t necessarily need a master to do a PhD in Ireland

Unlike in many countries, where it’s mandatory for a PhD candidate to hold a master’s degree, in Ireland, you may directly jump from a bachelor’s degree to a PhD. The possibility to do your PhD depends on the program the student is applying for and their academic goals. So, make sure to check with your university whether a master is part of the requirements for doctoral studies in your institution. 

You can conduct research in a subject you are passionate about

Because a PhD can be challenging in so many ways, in order to have the required resilience to pursue it, you should make sure to choose the right topic for your research project. Start by choosing a subject you are really enthusiastic about, that you are eager to deepen your knowledge about. The idea is to give yourself this extra motivation to carry on your research and achieve your goals. 

You are allowed to contact a supervisor of interest

This means getting to know beforehand a potential supervisor to find out if they share your interest in your research topic. It is also a great way to find out if you can work well with this person. Since you’ll have to interact a lot with this person for the duration of your PhD, this proactive approach can only be beneficial. 

You have access to several scholarships and funding programs

We will elaborate a bit more on this subject later in this guide. But know just that it is rare to not have any funding option for a PhD research in Ireland. There are programs both for European and non-European students. They are either from the government of Ireland, the Irish Research Council and even the universities themselves. 

You benefit from a 2-year visa extension after you graduate

At the completion of your studies in Ireland, you have a 24-month stay back option you can take advantage of. This is one of the reasons why Ireland is a popular study destination in Europe. Students can apply for an extension of their visa for 2 more years in order to seek employment in Ireland.

How long is a PhD course in Ireland? 

The typical duration of a full-time PhD in Ireland is 3 to 4 years. A part-time PhD, on the other hand, will take 5 to 6 years to complete. The academic year in the country is the same as in the UK, with 2 semesters a year: from September to December, then from January to April. In case the students don’t complete the requirements for their degree within these timelines, they can apply for a permission to continue their research. 

Supervision and support during the PhD

During your PhD, your host university will assign you at least one supervisor. This supervisor is an active academic whose main responsibilities are to manage and oversee your research and studies. In some case, there might be a co-supervisor who supports the primary supervisor. 

There is also a Research Study Panel (RSP) whose role is to monitor your progress, provide advice and support the student-supervisor relationship. You will be assigned a RSP within the first trimester upon your registration. Moreover, you’ll have to meet them at least twice in the first year and once a year the following years. 

Assessment and examination

Upon their registration, full-time PhD students initially enroll into a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil). They must then complete an assessment in their first year to upgrade to a PhD. 

In the following years, students conduct research and produce a written thesis of up to 100,000 words in length. This dissertation must include details such as the context, description, methodology and result of the research, and will be assessed during an oral examination (viva voce). 

Moreover, before they submit their thesis, students need the approval of their primary supervisor. Furthermore, the oral defense of the dissertation is assessed by an examination committee including an internal and an external examiner. 

Applying for a PhD in Ireland

As already mentioned earlier, a master is not mandatory for your admission in a PhD program in Ireland. Also, application for a PhD program in the country is pretty straightforward. You’ll get admission as long as you comply to the requirements set by your university of choice. 

Read our guide on the requirements to study at Irish universities .

A proof of an excellent command of the English language is also mandatory, with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5. Along with this, you have to provide your latest academic transcripts (master or bachelor’s degree), as some programs may be more competitive than others. 

Moreover, as in most PhD application, you need to provide a research proposal. It should include details about the research you wish to conduct, how you will do it and why it should be approved. This research proposal should be approved by a panel of expert before you can start your PhD program. 

Like for the master’s degree in Ireland , it can happen that your university asks you to apply via the Postgraduate Application Centre ( PAC ). It’s an online registration portal for postgraduate studies for most Irish universities, which guides you throughout all the application process. The advantage of the PAC platform is that you can make multiple application, with a €50 fee. 

PhD fees in Ireland for international students

The cost of a PhD in Ireland starts at €9,000 a year for international students. But some programs may cost as high as €30,000 per year. And business studies and medicine are the most expensive ones. Moreover, it’s quite rare for a PhD to not come with some form of scholarship, grant or bursary. Many universities provide monetary support, that are available for both local and international students.

PhD scholarships in Ireland for international students 

Here are some options of funding for your PhD studies in the Emerald Isle.

Postgraduate scholarship program from the Government of Ireland

The Irish Department of Education and Skills in partnership with the Irish Research Council offers a scholarship to fund a PhD or a master in any discipline at a university in Ireland. This scholarship is open to both local and international students, who are eligible as long as they have a bachelor’s degree (or an international equivalent). 

The scholarship includes: 

• €18,500 stipend per year
• A contribution of up to €5,750 per year to the tuition fees
• An annual contribution of €3,250 to the student’s research expenses.

Learn more on the website of the Irish Research Council .

Enterprise Partnership Program 

It’s a system that joins research students with a partner enterprise for their postgraduate degree. The student’s research topic should then be directly related to the partner organization which can be a company, a governmental body or a charity. And by the end of the degree, students will gain both research and professional skills.

Find out more about this scholarship . 

To benefit from this scholarship, applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree. The program is open both to domestic and foreign students, and it includes the same benefits as for the Irish Government postgraduate scholarship. 

Scholarships from Irish universities

The last option of PhD funding is from the university you intend to apply to in Ireland. It’s common for universities to have in-house incentives for researchers, whether it is a tuition fee reduction or a fully funded PhD opportunity. 

Read also our resource on the types of scholarships in Ireland .

Can I work while doing a PhD in Ireland?

The answer is yes! You can definitely get a job to earn an extra-income while doing your PhD, without the need of a work permit. However, if you’re a non-European citizen, you’ll need a valid Irish Resident Permit (IRP) as well as the Stamp 2, which allow you to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during the academic year. And like for any student job in Ireland , you can work up to 40 hours a week during holidays.  

You can check our guide on the subject to find out all the other requirements to work during your studies. Moreover, you can also get an employment contract with your host university. This is the case for students who enroll in a structured PhD with job placement or engagement with a research enterprise partner included. Check with your university to find out more on the subject.

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Trinity Researchers Secure Grow Phase Funding under the National Challenge Fund

In a significant step toward addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) researchers are among the first nine teams to receive Grow Phase funding under Ireland's €65 million National Challenge Fund. This announcement was made by Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science. The fund aims to drive innovative solutions to critical issues related to the Green Transition and Digital Transformation, with the selected teams sharing a total of €4.5 million in funding.

The National Challenge Fund, which is supported by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, is a competitive program designed to foster collaboration between academic researchers, government entities, enterprises, and societal stakeholders. The goal is to develop practical and impactful solutions that can be implemented not just in Ireland but across Europe and the globe.

Trinity’s Leading Teams

Two Trinity College Dublin teams have been recognized for their pioneering projects and have secured Grow Phase funding:

SubScrewHydro Project Lead Researcher:   Prof. Aonghus McNabola, Professor in Energy and the Environment, Dept of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin Co-Lead:   Prof. Mary Kelly Quinn, University College Dublin Project Overview:   The SubScrewHydro project focuses on developing a low-cost, fish-friendly micro hydropower energy storage system. This innovative approach aims to harness sustainable energy while preserving aquatic ecosystems, addressing a key challenge in renewable energy development.

DRIVE Project Lead Researcher:   Dr. Séamus O’Shaughnessy, Mechanical Engineer, Trinity College Dublin Co-Lead:   Dr. Daniel Trimble, Trinity College Dublin Project Overview:   The DRIVE project seeks to enhance the thermal management of batteries in electric vehicles (EVs). By improving the efficiency and lifespan of EV batteries, this research could significantly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and support the transition to greener transportation.

A Milestone in National Research Efforts

Minister O’Donovan emphasized the importance of the National Challenge Fund in driving research that delivers tangible benefits for society and the environment. He expressed his optimism about the potential impact of these projects, stating:

"I am pleased to announce the first cohort of the National Challenge Fund project teams that are now finalists in this competition-based funding programme. This innovative, solutions-focused programme is a key driver in delivering research and innovation that makes a real and positive impact across society, the economy, and the environment – not just here in Ireland, but across Europe and around the world."

The announcement marks a pivotal moment for the National Challenge Fund, which has already supported 96 teams since its inception. The nine teams selected for the Grow Phase funding will now compete for additional funding in the program's final phase. The most competitive teams under the 2050 and Future Digital Challenges categories will have the opportunity to secure a further €1 million in prize funding.

As the selected teams advance their research over the next 12 months, the focus will be on unlocking the transformational potential of digital technologies and supporting Ireland's commitment to becoming climate neutral. The National Challenge Fund, coordinated by Science Foundation Ireland, continues to play a crucial role in addressing national priorities and fostering collaboration across sectors.

Minister O’Donovan also highlighted the importance of ensuring continuity in research funding, noting that calls previously managed by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Irish Research Council (IRC) will continue as Research Ireland – Taighde Éireann begins its operations.

This latest round of funding underscores Ireland's commitment to leading the charge in environmental sustainability and digital innovation, with Trinity College Dublin researchers at the forefront of this transformative journey.

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• Top Universities for PhD Study in Ireland – 2023

Written by Taru Medha

If you’re an international PhD student looking to blend rich historical and literary heritage with a focus on modern research, then Irish universities have a lot to offer. At the country’s historic and prestigious universities you’ll be following in the footsteps of the likes of James Joyce and Samuel Beckett.

Despite its size, the Republic of Ireland boasts several internationally renowned higher education institutions. Trinity College Dublin , Ireland’s oldest and most historic institute is 161st in the world according to the Times Higher Education Ranking 2023 .

The higher education sector in Ireland can broadly be divided into the university sector, the technological sector and the colleges of education, each performing a crucial role in making Ireland’s education system one of the most renowned in the world.

• University sector – Ireland hosts seven public universities that are known for their academic research and teaching. One of the biggest public universities in Ireland is the National University of Ireland (NUI) which has four institutes under its umbrella: University College Dublin , University of Galway , University College Cork and the National University of Ireland, Maynooth . Despite being primarily state funded, all public universities remain autonomous which means they develop their own programmes and follow their own research agendas. Universities in Ireland tend to undertake the majority of Ireland’s research activity and they also receive high levels of funding for it.
• Technological sector – The technological sector is made up of five technological universities and two universities of technology. They offer professional education and training in Business, Science, Media, Engineering, Linguistics and Music. The technological sector focuses more on applied professional and vocational areas and less on abstract academic theory.
• Colleges of Education – These are seven specialised institutions that provide training for teachers, and they offer 18-month postgraduate diplomas.

There are also some privately-owned, fee-paying institutions that mainly offer vocational or Business programmes. They’re usually accredited by a partner university, but this is not the case with all of them. You should always check the validity of qualifications in other countries.

The Institute of Public Administration and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, both recognised by the National University of Ireland (NUI), also offer PhD programmes.

Top 10 universities in Ireland for a PhD

Universities in Ireland are known for their quality of education, research and student life which is reflected by their position in the international university ranking tables.

The table below lists the 10 best universities in Ireland for PhD courses according to global rankings. This information is based on the latest ranking tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education , QS and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) . It is important to note that each ranking system has their own methodology, and different factors affect the final result for a particular university.

Wherever you decide to study in Ireland, each institute has international repute and will be a wonderful addition to your resume.

You can browse and compare a list of available PhD degrees in Ireland on the FindAPhD website.

More about a PhD in Ireland

You can also find further information on what PhD study in Ireland looks like and how to apply for them on our website.

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

This guide tells you all about everything you need to apply for a PhD programme in Ireland.

This guide tells you all about how much a PhD in Ireland costs and where to find the right funding for it.

Want to study a PhD in Ireland? This guide gives a detailed introduction to the kind of visa you need to study in Ireland and how to apply for it.

What's it like to live in the Republic of Ireland during a PhD? Our guide covers accommodation, student living costs, working and other key information.

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