External Funding for Postgraduate Students

Please find below information for funding outside of Waterford Institute of Technology. The information set out here is intended as a guide only.  Detailed information on all financial support for further and higher education can be obtained from the relevant Higher Education Authority website: www.studentfinance.ie. 

For information on internal funding for postgraduate at WIT please click here.

Local Authority (Higher Education) Grants

Grant holders who complete a primary degree course may have the grant renewed in order to undertake a full-time postgraduate course. The grant, which covers fees and possibly a contribution to subsistence, may be renewed in subsequent years but is limited to one postgraduate degree or diploma course for each student.

A mature candidate (23 years of age on 1 January of year of entry to postgraduate study) may be eligible for a Local Authority grant on the basis of parents' income if ordinarily resident with parents or on the basis of own income if resident away from home. Details of income limits for eligibility are available from Local Authorities (Higher Education Section).

Government of Ireland Research Scholarships in the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

These scholarships fund research opportunities in the Humanities, Social Sciences, Law and Business Studies. Applicants must be nationals of a member country of the European Union. They should already be, or will be during the forthcoming year, registered in a recognised third-level institution as full-time postgraduate research students pursuing degrees by major thesis.

Scholarships are awarded initially for one year, but subject to terms and conditions, may be renewable for up to two additional years. Fees will also be covered for the period of the Scholarship. The closing date for receipt of applications is early January.

Application forms and further information are available from:Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences  www.irchss.ie or Email: info@irchss.ie

Government of Ireland Research Scholarships in Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)

Graduate research scholarships are available to up to 150 outstanding students in Science, Engineering and Technology, by the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). A formal call for submissions from interested students is advertised in national newspapers early in the new year and the funding starts in the following academic year.

Funding will be available for three years to outstanding students who register to study towards a Ph.D., though this time period may be revised to cater for students whose research demands longer time periods. The level of funding will be kept under review and raised upwards on a regular basis.

Applications for the IRCSET calls must be made via the on-line system and forms are available from www.ircset.ie. or Email: info@embark.ie.

Fáilte Ireland Tourism Research Scholarships

The Fáilte Ireland Tourism Research Scholarship Scheme offers opportunities for students from tourism and hospitality-related disciplines, to pursue one of the following postgraduate degrees at a recognised higher education institution in Ireland :   A masters degree by research, a doctoral degree by research or an integrated masters/doctoral programme leading to the award of a doctorate. The maximum period of funding is up to two academic years.  

Applications will be accepted from suitably qualified applicants who are either citizens of Ireland or citizens of a Member State of the European Union (that is, a State which is a full member of the European Union as of the Schemes closing date) who have been ordinarily resident within Ireland for a continuous period of not less than 3 years prior to the closing date.

Please see website for further details www.failteireland.ie