Hardiman Research Scholarships at National University of Ireland

Overview

We are now offering 30 scholarships for structured PhD programmes. The Hardiman Research Scholarships are fully-funded four-year PhD scholarships, focused on five key areas of research in which the University offers leading expertise. 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. The scholarships support world-class basic research in;

- Humanities and Social Sciences, including Law and Business Studies (Stream A)

Science, Medicine, Engineering and Informatics (Stream B).

Its primary strategic aim is to attract the best students to NUI Galway and to support their 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

complete an application form (including a personal statement),
provide a 3 page curriculum vitae and
provide the names of up to three proposed supervisor(s) and two referees in their application form.

Potential Research Supervisors

View the list of potential research supervisors in our priority research areas

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 7 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 within each stream.

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. 40 points)
Academic Qualifications (max. 30 points)
Referees’ report (max. 20 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, on Sunday June 19, 2011.

To Apply

Applicants should submit the following to hrscholarnuigalway.ie by 5pm, Sunday June 19, 2011:

Completed application form
Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 page)

Academic References

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

Please provide the names and contact details, including email address, for each of your referees in the relevant section on the application form.
Download the Academic Reference Form
Fill out Section A in two copies of the Academic Reference Form and provide these to your referees.
Each of your referees should then complete Section B of the Academic Reference Form and return by email to hrscholarnuigalway.ie , to be received by 5pm Sunday, June 19, 2011.

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.

May 30, 2011	Applications open
June 19, 2011	Applications close
June 23-30, 2011	Interviews (skype may be used)
September, 2011	Scholarship begins

http://www.nuigalway.ie/about-us/news-and-events/hardiman-scholarships/index.html

Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship

International Scholarship

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Wednesday, June 8, 2011