IRC schemes 2015
The Irish Research Council Government of Ireland (GOI) & Employment Based Programme (EBP) 2015
See following link: http://research.ie/funding/postgraduate-funding
The online system for the 2015 Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme and Employment Based Programme has now opened. The timeline for both schemes is the same (see below).
In the GOI scheme a number of scholarships are also offered in collaboration with the IRC's Strategic Funding Partners (SFPs). Within the GOI, while candidates can only apply under one theme, if they apply under a SFPs theme and their application is unsuccessful, it will still go forward for consideration under the main GOI theme.
The calls are open to new entrants and already registered research students (Terms & Conditions apply - see clauses 4.4.1 - 4.4.4) both EU and non-EU. Applications will only be accepted through the online submission system. Applicants should read the Guide for Applicants and Terms & Conditions.
Those who have previously applied on one occasion (without success) are eligible to apply again.
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).
- Applicants should justify their expenses as accurately as possible (Financial Justification section of application) while ensuring that they do not underbudget for their award. For successful awardees it will be possible to re-allocate expenses within the 8 categories (upon approval by your supervisor) but any re-allocations over 10% will have to be approved by the IRC.
- 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 keep checking the FAQs for any useful information that may be helpful with their application
Also note:
- Those currently funded by the IRC for a research masters cannot apply for further funding for their research masters
- 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 2015 - up to 4 years funding available
- Those currently funded by the IRC for a research masters can apply for funding to do a PhD (again as a new entrant) if they are going to transfer to the PhD register (must be registered for a PhD by 1st October 2015) - up to 2 years funding available
- Those currently funded by the IRC for a PhD cannot apply to have this award extended.
- Academic Supervisors have to be pre-registered on the IRC online system if they haven't been previously, and they should email graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie in this instance. 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. Employment Partners need to be pre-registered on the system by the applicant if they haven't been previously to allow the applicant to add an Employment Mentor. Referees and Employment Mentors do not need to pre-register on the online system.
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. If an incorrect email address has been inserted for Employment Mentors however it cannot be changed so it is important this has been entered correctly. Note that while Referees may submit their Referee form as soon as they have been added to an application, Academic Supervisors and Employment Mentors can only complete their respective forms after the applicant has submitted their application. (Academic Supervisors and Employment Mentors cannot act as one of the Referees either). NB: Referees don't have to be external to the University.
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.
As per page 6 of the Guides for Applicants, students should inform the Graduate Studies Office of their intention to submit an application as there are sections on the application form that the Graduate Studies Office may need to check before endorsing the application.
Any queries are to be directed to graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie who will submit a FAQ to the IRC as necessary. The FAQs should be monitored by all applicants as should the Guide for Applicants, the Terms & Conditions and the IRC's online presentations.
Deadlines:
The relevant deadlines are as follows:
1. The deadline for FAQs to the IRC (to be directed through graduatestudiesoffice@dcu.ie) is 4pm (GMT) on Wednesday 4th February 2015.
2. The deadline for applicants to the scheme is exactly 4pm (GMT) on Wednesday 11th February 2015.
3. The deadline for academic supervisors, referees and employment mentors is exactly 4pm (GMT) on Wednesday 18th February 2015.
4. The closing date for endorsement by the research office of the proposed host institution is exactly 4pm (GMT) on Wednesday 25th February 2015.
Results are expected to be announced in June 2015.
2015 GOI Application Flowchart
2015 GOI FAQs - 2/2/15
2015 EBP Application Flowchart
2015 EBP FAQs - 28/1/15
2015 EBP - DCU information for potential applicants
DCU fact sheet for DCU academics interested in the scheme, plus invitations to potential Employment Partners and research applicants are available on the GSO's Information for Staff pages (section 10.2): http://www.dcu.ie/graduatestudies/index.shtml
List of graduate training modules per Faculty: http://www.dcu.ie/graduatestudies/training.shtml
Academic Contacts for Postgraduate Research: https://www.dcu.ie/graduatestudies/contact.shtml