Funding for study in Ireland and Northern Ireland

Funding for study in Ireland

Research Councils

The Government of Ireland Awards from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) and the Embark Awards from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) are very important for students seeking funding, with awards of up to €16,000 from IRCHSS and €24,003 from IRCSET for research in the Republic of Ireland. These awards are announced early in the academic year. 

Higher Education Grants

Both the Higher Education Grants Scheme (HEG) and the Vocational Education Committees’ Scholarship Scheme (VEC Scheme) also cover approved full-time postgraduate courses of at least one year’s duration. Students in receipt of grants as undergraduates can have these extended for a maximum of two years, to allow completion of postgraduate study (this will cover only one postgraduate qualification). Grant assistance is paid in respect of postgraduate study in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland only. Information on eligibility conditions, including closing date, and application forms are available from the appropriate local authority or Vocational Education Committee. 

University and institutes of technology funding

Several of the higher education institutions in Ireland offer postgraduate funding on a competitive basis. They do so mainly for research degrees, in order to attract the best possible candidates.

Funding in Northern Ireland

An overview of and guidance on available funding in Northern Ireland can be found on the Department for Employment and Learning website. To be eligible for their awards you must have been a resident in the UK - or, for fees-only awards, elsewhere in the EU - for three years before putting in your application. 

Studentships and CASTs

Studentship awards and CASTs (Co-operative Awards in Science and Technology) are available for postgraduate research degrees and, to a lesser extent, some advanced study courses such as Masters. You apply for these awards at the same time as you apply for your course of study, via the institution you are applying to. Being offered a place on the course does not mean you’ve been allocated funding. The basic maintenance grant is £12,600. A collaborative body, eg an employer, supplements CASTs by at least 40 per cent of the standard maintenance grant. 

Universities

Individual institutions will have details of the types of funding they provide – these may be attached to a particular course or given to those students undergoing financial hardship. The University of Ulster now offers a special loan to its full-time postgraduate students, which covers tuition fees. Check the relevant websites for details of funding for research at  the University of Ulster and Queen’s University Belfast. 

Other bursaries

There are other bursaries available for postgraduates in particular fields and at certain institutions. Each year, the Department for Employment and Learning offers a one-year fees-only Fellowship Award at the Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna. This is aimed at students interested in careers in international service in government, private business, international organisations, research and teaching. The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) could pay for extra course costs incurred as a direct result of a disability. For advice, contact SKILL.

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