Irish Research Council

Government of Ireland

Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme

Lucy Byrnes Dean of Graduate Studies

Fiona Burns Research Office

Gary Lupton Research Office

Joanna Forde Research Accounts Office

Trina O’Neill Research Accounts Office

www.research.ie

Guide for Applicants

Guide to the Online Application System

Terms & Conditions

FAQs

etc.

Register

On line Application

1. Supervisor & Referees

2. Research Mobility

3. Academic Qualifications

4. Proposed Research

5. Personal/Ethical/Gender Statement

Ethics– Research Office

6. Financial Justification – Research Accounts Office

7. Application Declaration

1. Supervisor & Referees

Supervisor = Pre-registered academic

Referee

• must be a qualified researcher (from academia or enterprise).

• Must select 2

N.B. Correct contact details

Supervisor can be referee but supervisor will then have to provide a supervisor report AND a separate reference

3. Academic Qualifications

• Undergraduate Qualifications

Additional details e.g. projects, other good marks, place in class, scholarships or prizes

• Postgraduate Qualifications

• Other Education

Any certificates/diplomas? Other training? e.g. I.T.

• Research Achievements

plus Research projects – give aim, methodology employed, results

4. Proposed Research

Degree type

• Structured Doctoral Degree (48 months)

• Structured Masters Degree (24 months)

Abstract 350 words

= project summary

Readable by non-specialists

Structured PhD

• Supervisor AND Graduate Research Committee

• Annual Progress Reviews

• 30-45 ECTS/ 360 ECTS tailored to you

– Generic and Transferrable skills, e.g.

• Teaching and learning

– Advanced specialised courses

• 4-year programme

4. Proposed Research cont.

Description of topic 1,000 words

e.g. aims, objectives, central research questions

Methodology 500 words

investigative and analytic methods and theoretical frameworks

Research Plan 400 words

e.g. schedule for completion of tasks/phases of project,

efficient management and performance of research,

annual progress reviews

Gantt chart

Tasks/month

1-6 7-12 13-18 19-24 24-30 31-36 37-42 42-48

Task A

Task B

Task C

Task D

PhD thesiswriting

4. Proposed Research cont.

Relationship of the project to existing research 400 words

How project will make a new contribution to knowledge

Specialist knowledge/data required to undertake the project 400 words

Plans for acquiring knowledge data, expertise in research group

Relevant advanced specialised modules

4. Proposed Research cont.

Reasons for choosing institution and supervisor for project 300 words

GRC, membership?

Proposed research trips 200 words

Dissemination plans 400 words

Bibliography Upload as pdf

Total word count = 3,600

Why NUI Galway?

• Facilities– several new research buildings

• Research funding– Research income ~ €45 million p.a.

• Research outputs– Publications

– Patents

• International academic standing of research supervisors

Dr. Lucy Byrnes

Training and Development Plan 600 words

• Career goals

• How will PhD/Research Masters help?

• Plan for acquisition of new knowledge and skills

• Career in non-academic sector

Structured PhD

• Research

• Taught modules – Advanced specialised and

Generic & transferrable skills modules

5. Personal/Ethical/Gender Statements

Personal statement 500 words

• Should be well thought-out.

• Writing should be clear and of high quality. Avoid clichés.

• The more specific you are the more convincing your case.

• Back up your statements with evidence.

• Don’t be afraid to be ambitious.

• Portray your excitement.

5. Ethics – Human Participants

• Role of the Research Ethics Committee is to safeguard the health, welfare and rights of human participants and researchers in research studies

• Formal ethical approval is not required at the application stage however in conjunction with your supervisor you do need to address possible ethical concerns in your proposal

• Does my study have ethical concerns? You need to work with your supervisor to ascertain this – examples studies involving vulnerable groups, etc

• If you get funded then you can seek formal ethical approval before commencing your study

• More information http://www.nuigalway.ie/research/vp_research/ethics.html

• New legislation – December 2012 http://www.imb.ie/EN/Veterinary/Scientific-Animal-Protection/About-the-legislation.aspx

• Irish Medicines Board Responsible

• Research cannot proceed without Authorisation and Ethical Approval

• Need Project and Individual Authorisation – contact your supervisor for guidancehttp://www.imb.ie/EN/Veterinary/Scientific-Animal-Protection/Authorisations-.aspx

• Ethical approval – contact your supervisor for guidancehttp://www.nuigalway.ie/research/vp_research/internal/acrec.htmlacrec@nuigalway.ie

5. Ethics - Animals in Research

5. Personal/Ethical/Gender Statements cont.

Gender Dimension statement

‘All applicants must complete the gender dimension statement, regardless of subject area’

Consider gender

in the ideas/proposal, research and dissemination phases

Does your research involve humans?

YES: gender always relevant

NO: at what point down the line will humans be involved and how will gender be influencing your research at that stage?

www.yellowwindow.com/genderinresearch

for relevant case studies

e.g. Health,

Socio-economic sciences and humanities

RESEARCH ACCOUNTS OFFICE

6. Financial Information

- WHEN ENTERING THE COSTS ENSURE THE CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT AND

APPROPRIATE TO THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF YEARS YOU APPLYING FOR.

- ENSURE THE JUSTIFICATIONS ARE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE AND NOTE WHICH YEAR

THEY APPLY TO.

RESEARCH ACCOUNTS OFFICE

IRC GUIDELINES

-MAXIMUM OF €2,250 PER YEAR IN OTHER COSTS

-SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED IN YR 1 OF THE AWARD OR IN THE

FIRST 3 MONTHS OF A ONE YR AWARD

- ONLY VOUCHED EXPENSES CAN BE CLAIMED ON THE AWARD

IRC GUIDELINES

RESEARCH ACCOUNTS OFFICE

- OTHER ELIGIBLE EXPENSES SUCH AS SMALL CONSUMABLES, BOOKS,

TRAINING, PUBLISHING AND WRITE UP COSTS

Postgraduate Evaluation Criteria

• Project 40%

– Training and Career Development 10%

• Applicant 30%

• Environment 20%

Competition for funding

Need to show that research is a considered career path

Convince IRC that up to €96,000 will be well spent

• This is a competition and not a time for modesty.

• Be truthful.

• Make your application STAND OUT

Deadline

5.00 p.m. (GMT) on 12 March, 2013

Save drafts, back-up if working offline

Print copy before you submit

Submit in good time

Referees & Supervisors

• Deadline 5.00 p.m. (GMT) on 26 March, 2013

• Help referees to provide an informed report/reference for you

– Give them a copy of your application

• Applicant’s responsibility to ensure reports and references are received in time

Other Scholarships

Examples

• Teagasc

• Environmental Protection Agency

• Dept. of Children & Youth Affairs

– Research Scholarship Programme

– closing date 16 April

Ask proposed supervisor

Check websites

Questions