Applications are now open for the 2025 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is an established national initiative, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and managed by the Council. A new national research agency, Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland, has been established by the government. The agency will amalgamate the work of the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. The full operation of Taighde Éireann will be enabled over the coming period.
The Government of Ireland programmes, namely the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme and the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, are established national initiatives, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and managed by the Irish Research Council. These programmes support suitably qualified research master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral candidates pursuing, or intending to pursue, full-time research in any discipline.
The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is unique in the Irish research landscape and complements other channels for funded postgraduate education in the Irish ecosystem. Among its features are:
- individual, prestigious awards for excellent research in the name of the applicant;
- an objective selection process using international, independent expert peer review;
- funding across all disciplines, from archaeology to zoology; and
- awards for bottom-up, non-directed research, with the exception of those funded by our strategic funding partners.
Requirements
- There is no age limit for applicants to be eligible for either programme type.
- All applicants must be affiliated with an eligible Irish higher education institution or research-performing organisation. 
- 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.
Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme:
An applicant who is a new entrant to the postgraduate degree for which they are seeking funding is eligible to apply for funding for the full duration of the degree as outlined below:  
Degree type  
- Research master’s degree  : 1 year  
- Structured research master’s degree : 2 years 
- Traditional doctoral degree: 3 years      
- Structured doctoral degree  : 4 years
Benefits
The value of the scholarship will be up to a maximum of €31,000 per annum in any approved year and will consist of the following:
- a stipend of €22,000 per annum;
- a contribution to fees, including non-EU fees, up to a maximum of €5,750 per annum; and
- eligible direct research expenses of €3,250 per annum.
Timeline:
| Call open | 29 August 2024 |
| FAQ deadline | 16:00 (Irish time) 03 October 2024 |
| Applicant deadline | 16:00 (Irish time) 10 October 2024 |
| Supervisor /Mentor deadline | 16:00 (Irish time) 17 October 2024 |
| Research office endorsement deadline | 16:00 (Irish time) 24 October 2024 |
| Call outcome | End of April 2025 |
| Award start date | 1 September 2025 |
Method of Application
For More Information,
Visit the Official Webpage
Application Deadline: 10 October 2024.
