UCC Futures PhD Scholars Programme in Ireland (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the 2027 UCC Futures Scholars Programme (Government of Ireland) at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. This is a fully funded PhD scholarship for students who want to do full time doctoral research in any subject area. The application deadline is 5pm on 11 December 2026. Students of all nationalities can apply, and there is no age limit. You can apply as a new PhD student, or as a student who has completed no more than the first year of an eligible PhD at UCC.

The scholarship gives you a yearly stipend of €25,000, a contribution towards your tuition fees, and at least €5,000 each year for research costs. The official call document does not mention any application fee. Your application must be submitted through your UCC Lead Supervisor, so finding a supervisor is your first step. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Degree level: PhD (doctoral research)
• Host country: Ireland
• Host university: University College Cork (UCC)
• Funding type: Fully funded.
• Application deadline: 5pm on 11 December 2026
• Open to all nationalities: Yes.

What This Scholarship Offers:

• You receive €25,000 each year to cover your living costs while you study.
• UCC pays up to €5,750 each year towards your fees. UCC also waives any non EU fee amount that the scholarship does not cover, so international students do not pay the extra amount.
• You receive at least €5,000 each year for research costs. This can cover research materials, specialist training, conferences, fieldwork and travel.
• If your project needs more funding, you can apply for more, depending on availability.

Besides the money, you gain:

• The title of Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship holder, which is respected in Irish academia
• A team of academic supervisors at UCC to guide your research
• The chance to build a strong research career in academia, industry, public policy or society
• Training and researcher development throughout your PhD

Also Check: CENTA PhD Studentships 2027 in the UK (Fully Funded)

Eligibility Criteria:

Who Can Apply

You can apply if you meet all of these points.

• You want to do a full time PhD at UCC.
• You are a new entrant, or you first registered for your PhD on or after 1 September 2026.
• You have, or expect to get, a First Class Honours or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1.1 or 2.1), or a Master’s degree. An international equivalent is accepted.
• You meet the UCC English language requirements.
• You have an eligible UCC Lead Supervisor who agrees to submit your application.
• If you are still finishing another degree, you complete all its requirements by 30 September 2027.
• You can show official proof of your qualifications, such as transcripts.

If you took an approved leave of absence, you may still qualify as long as you are still in your first year of registration on 1 October 2027. Do not send medical records with your application.

Who Cannot Apply

You are not eligible if you:

• Have ever held a Research Ireland doctoral scholarship or any other doctoral scholarship
• Already have a doctoral degree
• Are a permanent staff member of a university or research organisation
• Submit more than one application to this call

Rules for Your Lead Supervisor

Your Lead Supervisor must:

• Be UCC academic, research or affiliated clinical staff who can supervise PhD students
• Have a contract that runs beyond 30 September 2031
• Have an active profile in the UCC Pure system
• Use their UCC email address for all application activity
• Support only one application as Lead Supervisor. They can still be a co supervisor on other applications.

Also Check: Berlin School of Economics PhD Program 2027

Programs Available:

The scholarship is open to all subject areas. Applications are reviewed in two streams, and you choose the one that fits your project best.

STEM leaning stream:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Mathematics
• Health Sciences

AHSS leaning stream:

• Arts
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Business
• Law
• Education

Related subjects in each stream are also accepted.

Important Dates:

• Call launch: 2 November 2026
• Pure information session: 2 December 2026 (time to be confirmed)
• Application deadline: 5pm on 11 December 2026
• Online interviews: 9 to 12 February 2027
• Offers issued: End of February 2027
• Documents due in UCC Apply: 1 April 2027
• Registration and start date: 1 October 2027

Also Check: Birmingham City University Doctoral Landscape Awards in UK

How Applications Are Selected:

Applications are marked on three areas.

• Applicant profile and training plan: 45%
• Quality of the research project: 45%
• Research environment and interdisciplinary links: 10%

How to Apply:

1. Find an eligible UCC Lead Supervisor and agree on your research idea.
2. Download the Application Form (Word file) from the UCC website.
3. Write your proposal of up to 2,700 words together with your supervisor. You can write in English or Irish.
4. Choose your review stream, STEM leaning or AHSS leaning.
5. Ask your Lead Supervisor to review and submit the form through UCC Pure before the deadline.