Research funding and PhD opportunities
Dr Andrea Valova
Graduate Studies Office
andrea.valova@nuim.ie
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Introduction
• Postgraduate qualifications valued by employers in both private and
public sector
• Where to begin?
• Supervisor
• Programme
• Funding - Apply for all relevant awards, big and small!
• PhD as a route to what?
• Academia? ~20% of PhDs only
• Publications: Where?
• Conferences: Which ones? What form of participation ? Funding?
• What are my funding options?
• Personal scholarships / Project funded scholarships
• Internal / External
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Postgraduate Research Programmes at NUIM
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Key characteristics of structured PhD programmes
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Core: advancement of knowledge through original research
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Integrated support for professional development
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Student-centric programmes - tailored to suit individual students
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Arrangements for supervision
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Regular monitoring of progress
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Departments have developed their own unique Structured PhD/Research Masters
programmes, with a minimum /maximum amount of credits
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The following types of Research Modules are available under the Structured PhD
programme:
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Subject Specific Modules /Advanced Specialist Modules
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Generic Skills Modules /Transferable Modules
In addition to modules available at NUIM, students can take modules at other HEIs
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Modules Explained
Subject Specific /Advanced Specialist Modules
Subject Specific Modules
These include Master’s level taught modules in the discipline area or in a cognate discipline area
Advanced Specialist Modules
These include advanced specialist doctorate level courses provided by Department/Research
Institute/other Irish or international 4th Level institution. Students from other departments may
register for these modules.
http://www.nuim.ie/courses/
Generic Skills / Transferable Skills Modules
Generic Skills Modules
These include modules on research skills and awareness; ethics and understanding; communication
skills; personal effectiveness/development; teamwork and leadership; career management and
networking; entrepreneurship and innovation.
http://graduatestudies.nuim.ie/prospectivepostgrads/researchdegrees/structuredresearchprogrammesa
ndgenericskills/genericskills
Transferable Skills Modules
These include modules offered in disciplines other than the one in which you are registered. At the
moment they are offered by disciplines such as languages; computer science; business and law; statistics;
maths or from other disciplines that would enhance the student’s skills development.
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Funding Options
Personal scholarships
Scholarship awarded to an individual directly by a funding agency/sponsor.
Student applies to the body which provides funding and funding body decides.
Graduate Studies Office provides support at all stages: application, award
acceptance, stipend processing, budget management…
Examples: NUIM John & Pat Hume Scholarship, Irish Research Council
Postgraduate Scholarship, NUI Travelling Studentship…
Project funded scholarships
Larger grants provided by various funding agencies to individual
researchers/University can include stipend for research students.
The supervisor/department/University selects whom to award the scholarship –
not the funding body.
Research Administration Office is in charge of paperwork and budget
management.
Examples: EU FP7/Horizon 2020 awards, HEA institutional awards…
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
NUIM John & Pat Hume Scholarships
• 2013-14 Terms & Conditions:
• Applicants with 1st class honours/2.1 with 1st in relevant discipline,
intending to pursue a PhD programme (can start as Research Masters), if in
Faculty of Science & Engineering: 2.1 with first in final year research
project also qualifies
• Value: Fees + €5k stipend, some departments can award additional €3k for
University related activities (demonstrations, tutorials etc.)
• Duration up to 4 years, subject to satisfactory progress
• 2014-15 call expected in March, application deadline early May
• Existing postgraduate research students ineligible for the current degree
• To date: scholarships available in each department/Institute
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Irish Research Council
www.research.ie
• Created in 2012 following merge of the Irish Research Council for Sciences,
Engineering and Technology, and the Irish Research Council for the
Humanities and Social Sciences
• Postgraduate schemes open to all disciplines
• Duration up to 2 years for structured Research Masters and up to 4 years for
structured PhD
• One start date – Oct 2014
• 2 attempts only
• Current students eligible (except for Employment Based scheme)
• Maximum value of award €24k per year (€16k stipend, fees up to €5,750 per
year, optional research expenses allowance up to €2,750 per year)
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Irish Research Council – overview of schemes
Government of Ireland
Postgraduate Scholarships
1 call - expected before
Christmas
Research Masters & PhD
Full time student
Scholarship 16k/year, up to 4
years
Irish Research Council 100%
funded
no partner
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Enterprise Partnership
Scheme Postgraduate
Scholarships
2 calls - 1st call expected
before Christmas
Research Masters & PhD
Employment Based
Postgraduate Research
Scheme
piloted in 2012, a separate
call in 2014
Research Masters & PhD
Employed by Partner, registered
full time student
Scholarship 16k/year, up to 4 Salary minimum 24k/year, new
years
students only, up to 4 years
IRC funding 16k towards salary
Funding: IRC 66%, Enterprise costs + 8k for fees and research
partner 33%
expenses; remaining salary costs
Partner
Enterprise Partner based
Partner must have operational
anywhere
base in Ireland
IPR agreement
IPR agreement
Full time student
July 2013
Enterprise Partnership Scheme
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Any discipline
Enterprise Partners already participating listed at IRC’s
website but scheme open to new Partners
IPR agreement must be signed before funding can
commence
Flexibility regarding Enterprise Partner’s involvement in the
project & fellow’s placement with Partner
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Employment Based Postgraduate
Research Scheme
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Any discipline
Scheme piloted in 2012, call expected in 2014
Student must be employed for the duration of the Research
Masters/PhD by the partner, minimum salary €24k per year
Student must spent 50% - 70% of their time at the partner
IRC contributes €16k towards salary costs + €8k for fees
and research related costs
IPR agreement must be signed before funding can
commence
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Applying for IRC scholarship
• At least 2.1 at undergrad level (Masters can be considered)
• Online application system: Smart & Simple
• Justification of research expenses required
• Budget must be used as awarded
• NUIM procurement rules apply to externally funded students –
implications for costing
• Ethical statement
• Note internal pre-application requirement and application
deadline to be published by Graduate Studies Office
following launch of the call
• Workshop for applicants
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
NUI Awards
(2013-14 situation)
Postgraduate Travelling Studentships
• NUI graduates only eligible
• Enable students to undertake postgraduate
research abroad towards a doctoral degree –
either registered abroad OR in Ireland with
substantial period(s) of research abroad
• Up to 4 years - €16,000 per year
• 2013 deadline late March/early April
• To be confirmed for 2014
http://www.nui.ie/awards/postgraduates.asp
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Other funding opportunities
NUIM Graduate Studies website:
graduatestudies.nuim.ie
EU research grants funded positions:
ec.europa.eu/euraxess
www.ResearchProfessional.com
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Various funding opportunities including for postgrads
Campus access
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013
Contact
andrea.valova@nuim.ie
Graduate Studies Office
John Hume Building 3rd Floor
Tel. 01-708 6605
GRADUATE SCHOOL
July 2013