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School of English

Doctoral Research Scholarships 2026-2027

The School of English

Dublin City University

Doctoral Research Scholarship 2026-2027 (x2)

DCU School of English is a dynamic research-focused school with expertise in a variety of literary eras and genres. As part of our commitment to excellence in postgraduate research the School of English is pleased to offer scholarships for two full-time PhD student commencing September 2026. This call outlines two areas in which applications are sought. The successful candidates will receive a stipend of €25,000 per annum and have a fee waiver for up to four years, subject to satisfactory annual progression.

Areas:

Call One (led by Dr Jack Quin)

In line with his areas of interest and expertise, Dr Quin invites proposals in the following areas:

  • Visual and material culture
  • Irish literature
  • Modern poetry and poetics
  • Intermediality / inter-arts
  • Modernism
  • Queer literature

Call Two (led by Dr Jennifer Mooney and Dr Keith O’Sullivan)

Dr Mooney and Dr O’Sullivan invite proposals that make use of DCU Library’s collection of Children’s and Young Adult Literature:

DCU is home to some of the most significant collections of children’s and young adult literature in Ireland. These collections inform the teaching, research and publications of the School of English’s world-renowned specialists in children’s and young adult literature. The School of English is seeking research proposals that draw upon the university’s special collections and are focused on children’s and young adult literature. Proposals that build on the research interests of members of the School of English working in children’s and young adult literature will be especially welcome. These interests include, but are not limited to, twentieth-century and twenty-first-century literature; multimodal texts; young-adult-authored poetry; contemporary realism; contemporary fantasy; and genders and sexualities (all in relation to children’s and young adult literature).

DCU’s special collections include the following:

  • Bartlett Puffin Collection – The collection comprises 778 titles in Penguin’s Puffin series collected by Jan Bartlett and staff at the former Church of Ireland College of Education.

  • Children’s Books Ireland (CBI) Collection – This is an extensive collection of children’s books by Irish authors and illustrators – and those who have made their home on this island. The collection comprises titles submitted for the CBI Book of the Year Awards.

  • Junior Special Collection – The collection comprises books of Irish interest, rare items, items of value, and items at risk. It provides an important insight into children’s literature in twentieth-century Ireland.

  • Kildare Place Society Collection – In 1969 the training college of the Kildare Place Society moved to Rathmines and became the Church of Ireland Training College, and later again the Church of Ireland College of Education. This collection contains some 185 records and publications of the society.

  • Padraic Colum Collection – Colum was a poet, playwright, writer, folklorist, and children’s writer. DCU Library holds a number of books by and about Padraic Colum.

  • Patricia Lynch Collection – Lynch was born in Cork in 1898. DCU Library holds 70 of her titles and an almost complete set of her first editions.

  • Ladybird Collection – DCU Library holds approximately 500 items published with the Ladybird trademark since 1940.

  • Schoolbook Collection – The Schoolbook Collection comprises more than 10,000 items published to support the national school curricula.

  • Hans Christian Andersen Collection (HCCA) – The HCCA Collection comprises 273 physical books from around the world in 21 different languages, and is a snapshot of the world's best writing and illustration for young people. 

Eligibility:

Applicants should have a relevant undergraduate degree at first-class honours level or at least 2.1 level. It is desirable that they should hold a relevant master’s qualification. Candidates who are currently completing a master’s qualification are welcome to apply. Candidates must be available to register and begin full-time research before October 2026.

Scholarship Application Procedure:

Please carefully consider which call you wish to apply for and contact the appropriate staff member(s). 

Call One

Send enquiries and email applications to Dr Jack Quin, School of English, at jack.quin@dcu.ie indicating School of English PhD scholarship in the subject line. 

Call Two

Send enquiries and email applications to Dr Jennifer Mooney and Dr Keith O’Sullivan, School of English at jennifer.mooney@dcu.ie and keith.osullivan@dcu.ie indicating School of English PhD scholarship in the subject line

In advance of submission, please refer to the DCU School of English advice on writing a research proposal, available here: https://www.dcu.ie/english/writing-research-proposal-school-english 

Applications should include the following:

  • A CV including names and contact details of two academic referees.
  • A copy of undergraduate and postgraduate degree certificates.
  • Copies of transcripts from undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
  • A letter outlining the candidate’s suitability for the scholarship.
  • A research proposal of c.1500-2000 words accompanied by a bibliography (which is not included in the word count).

Other useful resources:

DCU Graduate Studies Office: http://dcu.ie/graduatestudies/index.shtml

Closing date for final applications:

April 10th 2026 at 5 p.m.