Hardiman Research Scholarships

We are now offering Hardiman Research Scholarships for structured PhD programmes including Cancer-Care-West scholarships. These scholarships are fully-funded four-year PhD scholarships. The value of the Research Scholarship is a stipend of €16,000 plus fees.

The Hardiman Research Scholarships offer opportunities for suitably qualified individuals to pursue a postgraduate degree by research focused on the five key areas of research in which the University offers leading expertise.  These are:

- Biomedical Science and Engineering
- Informatics, Physical, and Computational Sciences
- Environment, Marine, and Energy
- Applied Social Sciences and Public Policy
- Humanities in Context

The Cancer-Care-West Hardiman Scholarships have been established with the generous support of Cancer Care West and Galway University Foundation.  The scholarships will support translational and clinical research in the area of Cancer Biology, Therapeutics, and Psycho-oncology at NUI Galway and the associated University Hospital Galway (UHG).  Scholarships will be awarded competitively to the highest calibre graduate students in the areas of: Surgical Oncology; Medical Oncology; Radiation Oncology; Psycho-Oncology; and Haematological Oncology.   Due to a technical issue with the Cancer Care West Supervisors' list, the deadline for the Cancer-Care-West Hardiman Scholarships only has been extended to Friday 20th January 2012, 5 pm (GMT).

The primary strategic aim is to attract the best students to NUI Galway and to support the development as innovative individuals who will contribute globally to economic, cultural and social development.

While a majority of postgraduate awards supported by the Hardiman Scholarships will be awarded to European Union (EU) citizens, or to those who are ordinarily resident within a member state of the EU, a proportion of awards will also be offered to exceptional candidates who are ordinarily resident in non- EU member states. Scholarships will be awarded only to those who will engage full-time in research during the period of the award in NUI Galway.

Requirements

• The Hardiman Scholarship programme does not accept applications from persons currently registered as PhD candidates.
• Successful applicants will be expected to have a first or upper second class honours primary degree or equivalent. For students with undergraduate results expressed in GPA ("Grade Point Average") or QCA form, in the Irish university system a first corresponds to a 3.6 or above and an upper second corresponds to a 3.2 or above (but less than a 3.6).

Guidelines

All applicants will be requested to

1. complete an application form (including a personal statement), and
2. provide the names of up to three proposed supervisor(s) and two referees in their application form.

Potential Research Supervisors

Hardiman Supervisor List

CCW Hardiman Supervisor List  

References will not be accepted from any proposed supervisors.

• You must have two independent referees, who have recent knowledge of your achievements to act on your behalf. 
• References supplied by referees are supplied confidentially and are not made available to applicants at any stage during or after the competition.

Personal Statement

In section 6 of the application form, you must provide a personal statement on your interest and commitment to research and the reasons why you have selected your potential supervisor(s) and research topic. The following questions may guide you in your approach to developing your research statement.

• Why do you wish to pursue a higher degree by research?
• Why have you selected this research topic?
• What are your particular strengths?
• What projects, essays or other relevant research experience do you have?
• Why have you selected this particular research supervisor?
• Why have you selected NUI Galway as compared to other institutions available?
• What are your longer term career plans and how would a Hardiman scholarship help you in achieving your goals?

Give any other details which might assist the panel in assessing your application.

Assessment Process

All applications will be assessed by a panel of evaluators. The panel will consist of a number of assessors with experience of similar review processes. All applications will be assessed by at least 3 assessors from different backgrounds.

The applications will be assessed under four main headings which reflect the main sections of the application process. Assessors will consider all four elements of the application and allocate scores as follows:

• Personal Research Statement (max. 50 points)
• Academic Qualifications (max. 30 points)
• Referees’ report (max. 10 points)
• Prior Research Experience (max. 10 points)

Applications and all materials relating to applications must be submitted by email and be received before the closing date and time advertised. Applications will not be assessed if they are incomplete or have been received after the advertised closing date. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by two members of the assessment panel.

Application Procedure

The deadline for receipt of applications is 5 pm (GMT), on Saturday January 7, 2012.

To Apply

Complete Hardiman application form (Hardiman Scholarship Application)       (Hardiman Gaeilge)

Complete Cancer Care West Hardiman application form (CCW Hardiman Scholarship Application Form )

Applicants should submit their completed applications to hrscholar@nuigalway.ie by 5pm (GMT), Saturday January 7, 2012:

Academic References

We require two references that indicate your academic suitability and potential to undertake postgraduate research. Potential supervisors may not act as referees.

1. Please provide the names and contact details, including email address, for each of your referees in the relevant section on the application form.
2. Hardiman Referee Report Fill out Section A in two copies of the Academic Reference Form and provide these to your referees.
3. Each of your referees should then complete Section B of the Academic Reference Form and return by email to hrscholar@nuigalway.ie , to be received by 5pm (GMT)  Saturday, January 7, 2012.

Selection Process

Shortlisting of applicants will be undertaken by a panel. All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed. An indicative timescale is given below. Successful candidates will register for a structured PhD in one of the five Colleges.

Read more about structured PhD programmes