IRC 2016 call
2018 IRC Government of Ireland scholarships
The online application system for the 2018 GOI and strategic funding partners (SFPs) call has opened, with an applicant deadline of 4pm (Irish time) on Wednesday 1st November 2017.
IRC GOI FAQs - 27th October 2017 (Final FAQ document)
What they consist of..
Scholarships consist of a (tax-free) stipend of €16,000 p.a. paid in monthly instalments, plus research expenses of €2,250 p.a. plus payment of annual University research fees for the duration of the award.
What has changed from last year..
Note that in a difference to last year, applicants do not have to budget for research expenses - successful scholars will automatically be awarded research expenses of €2,250 p.a.
Applicants provide a lay abstract only - in previous years it was a lay abstract and a scientific abstract..
We recommend..
You initially save a draft application on the online system so the Graduate Studies Office is aware that you are making an application. It may then be easiest to work on the Word copy of the Indicative Application Form (link below) and cut and paste to the online form. This will make it easier in terms of formatting, spell checking..
Who can apply..
DCU encourages applications from NEW ENTRANTS (eg. undergraduate students currently entering their final year of study in 2017-18) and CONTINUING STUDENTS (those already registered on a part-time or full-time master's by research or PhD). For continuing students, their date of first registration in DCU must fall between September 2015 and October 2017. Continuing students can check their date of first registration and how many years' funding they are eligible for by emailing the Graduate Studies Office - graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie Students currently registered as part-time must be prepared to enter into full-time study. Those who have previously applied on one occasion (without success) are eligible to apply again.
EU and Non-EU applications are welcome although only a proportion of awards will be made to applicants from outside the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland (see 5.2 of the Terms and Conditions). Non-EU applicants must satisfy DCU's english language entrance requirements before commencing scholarship awards at DCU: http://dcu.ie/registry/english.shtml
Applications can be made in ANY discipline and there are separate funding streams (assessed independently) for the 'Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences' and for 'Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics'. (School of Nursing and Human Sciences applications are assessed under AHSS).
Applicants are eligible to apply for the 2018 GOI scheme, the 2018 EBP scheme (opens later in the year) and the 2018 EPS scheme (opens March 2018) - two applications allowable per scheme.
Applying under a SFP theme..
Applicants can choose to apply under ONE (only) of the SFP themes and their applications in this respect will ALSO go forward for a GOI scholarship. The SFPs for 2018 are as follows:
- The Conflict Resolution Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Andrew Grene scholarship) - will fund research to examine areas relevant to the work of the Conflict Resolution Unit (Appendix 1, Terms and Conditions)
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA scholarship) - Scholarships are offered in the following areas/themes: Climate Research, Water Research, Sustainability (Appendix 2, Terms and Conditions)
Climate Research: Theme 1 - Carbon stocks, GHG emissions, sinks and management options; Theme 2 - Ireland's future climate, its impacts, and adaptation options; Theme 3 - Climate solutions, transition management and opportunities; Theme 4 - Air science
Water Research: Theme 1 - Safe water ; Theme 2 - Ecosystem services and sustainability; Theme 3 - Innovative water technologies; Theme 4 - Understanding, managing and conserving our water resources; Theme 5 - Emerging and cross-cutting issues
Sustainability: Theme 1 - Resource efficiency; Theme 2 - Health & wellbeing (including Radiation Protection); Theme 3 - Natural capital and ecosystem services including soils and biodiversity; Theme 4 - Socio-economic aspects of a sustainable environment
- The Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA scholarship) - structured PhD only - a substantive part of research to be based on an analysis of data from Growing Up in Ireland and relate to one or more outcomes from Better Outcomes Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020 (Appendix 3, Terms and Conditions)
Application Deadlines:
1. The deadline for FAQs to the IRC (to be directed through graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie) is 4pm (Irish time) on Wednesday 25th October 2017.
2. The deadline for applicants to the scheme is exactly 4pm (Irish time) on Wednesday 1st November 2017.
3. The deadline for academic supervisors, referees is exactly 4pm (Irish time) on Wednesday 8th November 2017.
4. The closing date for endorsement by the research office of the proposed host institution is exactly 4pm (Irish time) on Wednesday 15th November 2017.
Scheme outcome: end of March 2018
Scholarship start date: 1st October 2018
Documentation:
2018 Indicative Applicant Form (Word)
2018 Appendix 2 (Guide for Applicants) - Evaluation Criteria & Detail
2018 GOI FAQs - 20th October 2017
2018 Guide For Academic Supervisors
A reminder that further DCU information is also on the Staff Information pages of the Graduate Studies Office website (Section 10.1 Staff & Research Supervisors)
Full Evaluation criteria and detail:
1. Applicant - 40%
2. Project - 40%
3. Training and Career Development Aspects of Proposal - 10% (particular attention to be paid to the skills relevant to employment outside the traditional academic sector)
4. Environment - 10%
Please note the following:
- The typical registration period for a PhD at DCU is 4 years and 2 years for a Research Masters - so DCU encourages that applicants apply for awards of these durations. Note that if successful in either scheme, it is not possible to update your award (ie. if awarded for 36 months the IRC are not able to upgrade the award to 48 months).
- Academic Supervisors may need to be pre-registered if they haven't previously be registered on the online IRC system - they can email graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie for this to happen. Applicants will know if their supervisor needs to be pre-registered as their details won't appear in the drop down list on the online system. Academic supervisors should also submit the details of the award to DCU's IPAS system 2 weeks prior to the application deadline.
- Applications are assessed under four headings: (1) applicant; (2) project; (3) training and career development aspects of the proposal; and (4) environment. Assessors consider all four headings and allocate scores as per the evaluation criteria detailed in Appendix 2 of the Guide for Applicants
- Applicants should save draft applications (with their contact details) to the IRC online system as soon as possible in the event that the Graduate Studies Office wants to get in touch with any supporting information.
- Applicants should check with their Referees that they have received the email with login and password details once they have been added to the application - if an incorrect email address was entered it can be removed and inserted again. Note that while Referees may submit their Referee form as soon as they have been added to an application, Academic Supervisors can only complete their respective form after the applicant has submitted their application.
- Principal/Primary Academic Supervisors cannot act as one of the Referees although Secondary Supervisors can act as Referees. Referees don't have to be external to the University and don't have to be academics.
- With regards to the 'Personal Statement' (Section 5 of application) applicants should note that assessors will be aware that a supervisor has been involved in writing the research proposal so what is really valued is the ability of the applicant to communicate effectively. Applicants need to show how their research will challenge the field and their career (thoughts should be given to potential outputs/dissemination). Applicants should try and make their application stand out. In the Training and Career Development section, particular attention should be paid to the skills relevant to employment outside the traditional academic sector
- Applicants should keep checking the FAQs for any useful information that may be helpful with their application. Any queries are to be directed to graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie who will submit a FAQ to the IRC as necessary.
- Those currently funded by the IRC for a research masters can apply for a PhD as a new entrant if they are going to graduate with their research masters and be registered for a PhD (new project) by 1st October 2018 - up to 4 years funding available
- Those currently funded by the IRC for a research masters can apply for funding to complete a PhD if they are going to transfer to the PhD register (must be registered for a PhD by 1st October 2018) - up to 2 years funding available