2027 UCC Futures Scholars Programme – €25,000 PhD Scholarship in Ireland
The 2027 UCC Futures Scholars Programme (GoI) offers an exciting opportunity for outstanding doctoral researchers to undertake fully funded PhD research at University College Cork (UCC), Ireland). Supported through the Research Ireland Empower programme, the scholarship is designed to strengthen research capacity and develop the next generation of research leaders across all disciplines.
Applications are invited for ambitious, innovative and researcher-led PhD projects that contribute to knowledge and align with UCC’s strategic research and innovation priorities. The application deadline is 5pm on 11 December 2026, with successful applicants expected to begin their studies in October 2027.
About the UCC Futures Scholars Programme
The UCC Futures Scholars Programme is UCC’s flagship institutional doctoral scholarship programme. It is managed by the UCC Doctoral Institute and delivered through a university-wide partnership involving academic colleges, schools, research institutes and professional services.
The programme supports both fundamental and applied research and welcomes projects across all disciplines and research areas.
Successful candidates will be recognised as Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship holders. The programme provides researchers with the opportunity to lead their own doctoral projects while working with an academic supervisory team at UCC.
Selection is competitive and includes independent expert peer review.
Scholarship Funding
The UCC Futures Scholars Programme provides substantial financial support for successful doctoral candidates.
The scholarship package includes:
- €25,000 annual stipend
- Up to €5,750 per year towards tuition fees
- At least €5,000 per year towards eligible direct research costs
Research costs may cover items such as research consumables, specialist training, conference attendance, fieldwork, travel and other approved research-related expenses.
Subject to funding availability, scholars may also apply for additional eligible research costs where these are justified by the needs of their research project.
The scholarship must be accepted in full, including all three funding components. Applicants cannot accept only part of the award.
Duration of the Scholarship
The length of funding depends on the applicant’s stage of doctoral study.
New doctoral entrants who have not yet started the programme may receive up to four years of funding, subject to registration and satisfactory progression.
For the pilot 2027 intake, current first-year doctoral candidates may also be eligible if they first registered between 1 September 2026 and 31 August 2027. Eligible applicants in this category may receive up to three years of funding.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to suitably qualified candidates proposing full-time PhD research in any discipline.
The programme welcomes both new doctoral entrants and eligible first-year PhD candidates under the specific conditions of the 2027 pilot call.
Scholarship holders must remain registered on a full-time basis and are expected to be primarily based at UCC during their studies, apart from approved research-related travel, placements or mobility activities.
Successful applicants must commence their scholarship on 1 October 2027. Full-time employment during the scholarship is not permitted.
Application Timeline
Applicants should plan carefully around the programme’s key dates:
- Call launched: 2 November 2026
- Information session: 2 December 2026
- Application deadline: 5pm, 11 December 2026
- Online interviews: 9–12 February 2027
- Offers issued: End of February 2027
- Student registration: October 2027
Why Apply?
The UCC Futures Scholars Programme offers doctoral researchers the opportunity to pursue high-quality research with significant financial support while becoming part of an international research community.
With funding available across disciplines, the programme is particularly attractive to researchers with ambitious projects that demonstrate originality, strong research potential and alignment with UCC’s strategic priorities.
For prospective PhD students seeking a funded doctoral opportunity in Ireland, the 2027 UCC Futures Scholars Programme provides a competitive pathway to advanced research training and the development of a future academic, professional or research leadership career.
Application deadline: 5pm on 11 December 2026.
