2027 UCC Futures Scholars Programme – €25,000 PhD Scholarship in Ireland
The 2027 UCC Futures Scholars Programme (GoI) offers a competitive doctoral scholarship opportunity for outstanding researchers seeking to undertake full-time PhD research at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. Supported through the Research Ireland Empower programme and managed by the UCC Doctoral Institute, the scholarship is open to qualified candidates across all academic disciplines.
Successful applicants will be recognised as Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship holders, providing an opportunity to pursue doctoral research while receiving substantial financial support.
About the UCC Futures Scholars Programme
The programme is UCC’s flagship institutional doctoral scholarship initiative. It aims to recruit outstanding doctoral researchers, strengthen research capacity and support the development of future research leaders.
Applications are invited from candidates proposing full-time PhD research in any discipline. Both fundamental and applied research projects are eligible, with the programme particularly welcoming ambitious, innovative and researcher-led projects aligned with UCC’s strategic research and innovation priorities.
The programme supports investigator-led research and offers scholars the opportunity to lead and shape their own projects with support from an academic supervisory team. Selection is competitive and informed by independent expert peer review.
Scholarship Benefits
The UCC Futures Scholars Programme provides substantial financial support throughout the doctoral programme.
Successful scholars will receive:
- €25,000 annual stipend
- Up to €5,750 per year toward tuition fees
- At least €5,000 per year toward eligible direct research costs
- Potential additional funding for eligible direct research costs, subject to funding availability and approval
Eligible research costs may include research consumables, specialist training, conference attendance, fieldwork, travel and other approved research-related expenses.
The scholarship must be accepted as a complete award, meaning applicants cannot choose to accept only selected funding components.
Scholarship Duration
The length of funding depends on the applicant’s stage of doctoral study.
New entrants who have not yet started their doctoral programme may receive up to four years of funding, subject to registration and satisfactory progression.
For the pilot 2027 intake, eligible applicants who have already registered for the first year of their doctoral programme between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027 may receive up to three years of funding.
Key Dates
Applicants should carefully note the important dates for the 2027 scholarship cycle:
- Call launched: 2 November 2026
- Information session: 2 December 2026
- Application deadline: 5:00 pm, 11 December 2026
- Online interviews: 9–12 February 2027
- Offers issued: End of February 2027
- Student registration: October 2027
The expected scholarship start date is 1 October 2027.
PhD Scholarship Conditions
Scholarship holders must be registered as full-time doctoral students for the duration of the award. They are expected to be primarily based at UCC, although approved research-related travel, placements and mobility activities may be permitted.
Award holders must commence the scholarship on 1 October 2027 and must satisfy the relevant academic, registration, immigration and other compliance requirements.
Recipients may not hold full-time employment with UCC, another research organisation or another organisation during the scholarship tenure.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is particularly suited to highly motivated researchers with strong doctoral research proposals and the potential to contribute to research, innovation and wider societal impact.
Because applications are welcomed across all disciplines, candidates from a broad range of academic fields can consider this opportunity, provided they meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.
Applicants should carefully review the official eligibility criteria and application requirements before submitting their proposals.
How to Apply
Prospective applicants should prepare their doctoral research proposal and supporting documentation in accordance with the programme requirements. UCC provides applicant resources, including an information-session recording, slides and a help pack for applicants and supervisors.
The UCC Futures Scholars Programme offers an attractive opportunity for researchers seeking fully supported doctoral study in Ireland, combining an annual stipend with tuition support and dedicated research funding.
