Funding your research

There is help available from various sources to fund your life as a research student.

Fees for postgraduate study by research vary from institution to institution and within each institution depending on the area of study. They range from below €4,000 for an MSc by independent research, to over €7,000. Non EU students can expect to pay approximately twice the fees paid by EU applicants. Fees vary little within institutions between masters and PhDs though you can normally expect to pay more for those based on experimentation. Slightly lower fees apply as you move beyond year two of study.

As with all postgraduate programmes you will need to think about maintenance costs. While there are always hidden costs that are difficult to budget for, there are a number that are more obvious. For those undergoing research in either science or social sciences, attendance at conferences, both at home and abroad, are an important part of developing your profile academically.

How to fund yourself

While most postgraduates support themselves, there are a number of other ways of funding postgraduate study. The following are specific to research students.

Funded postgraduate research positions

Most institutions, in both the Republic and Northern Ireland, advertise funded postgraduate research positions on the Postgraduate Study/Research section of their website. These studentships are funded as part of a larger project awarded to principal investigators within each institution. In Northern Ireland there are two types of full-time research studentship available: Research Studentships and Cast Studentships. You can view full details of these on the postgraduate section of the Department of Employment and Learning website. To be eligible for these awards you must have been a resident in the UK (or, for fees-only awards, elsewhere in the EU) for three years before applying.

Research councils

The Republic's two research councils, IRCHSS and IRCSET, have now merged to become the Irish Research Council. The UK has seven councils. The awards they offer are considered highly prestigious and are made on the basis of excellence, with competition very intense.

Working within your institution

Many university departments offer postgraduates paid roles as teaching assistants or tutors. However, there is normally a maximum number of hours that you can be allocated to ensure that there is no negative impact on your own studies.

Funding from your institution

Many institutions provide bursaries or travel funds to help cover the cost of attendance/travel to conferences. Applications are dealt with throughout the year, and money is allocated on a first come basis. Visit the Graduate Studies office of your intended institution for details.

How to apply successfully for funding
Funding from Research Councils
Postgraduate funding: is there any still out there?