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Postgraduate funding and scholarships
The School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies (SLLCS) welcomes applications from prospective postgraduate students in Ireland and from around the world.
When seeking funding for your postgraduate studies, it is recommended that you start researching and preparing applications about a year in advance, as the available sources of funding are highly competitive.
Potential sources of funding to pursue postgraduate study may include:
• Your own funds
• External funding bodies, such as charities and trusts
• National/governmental agencies
• Employers and the private sector
• University scholarships, funded studentships, and projects advertised by supervisors
There are various funding options for postgraduate students and researchers at Trinity, each with specific requirements and competition. For further information, see the College’s Postgraduate Scholarship webpage.
For more information on postgraduate study in SLLCS, contact our Postgraduate office.
Trinity Research Doctoral Award scheme
SLLCS offers one annual scholarship to a new student through the competitive Trinity Research Doctoral Award scheme. To be eligible, applicants must complete the proposal form and indicate on their application that they want to be considered for the scholarship.The deadline for applications is 1 April each year. By this date, a full PhD application must be submitted. Applicants will only be considered for the scholarship if their PhD application is accepted. Additionally, applicants might consider applying for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, with a deadline usually in October.
Advertised doctoral projects
Sometimes, researchers at Trinity develop doctoral projects from their own research and advertise these positions like job openings. If you apply for such a position, make sure that your first contact with the principal researcher highlights how the project aligns with your research interests and goals.
Existing Trinity students
For existing students, the Postgraduate Research Studentships and Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships are available. For the Postgraduate Research Studentships, the proposal form must be completed in full and sent to the School’s Postgraduate Office by email. In the subject line you should include your student number and state that you would like to be considered for the Postgraduate Research Studentships. The deadline for receipt of these completed proposal forms is 1 April each year.School specific Scholarships
The School offers some funding through a number of Scholarships. More information on the funding options is available from the College's Postgraduate Scholarship webpage.
Constantia Maxwell Scholarship
Constantia Maxwell (1886-1962) was the first female member of the academic staff in Trinity College Dublin, first appointed in 1909 as an assistant to the Professor of Modern History, then appointed to a lectureship in 1911 until 1939, when she was granted a personal Chair in Economic History. On 6 June 1945, Constantia Maxwell became the first woman to be elected for the prestigious Lecky Chair in modern history, which she held until her retirement in 1951.
The Constantia Maxwell Scholarship provides a contribution of up to €3,000 towards the tuition fees (EU or Non-EU) of one of the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma courses in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultural Studies in the academic year 2025-26. This scholarship is funded by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (FAHSS) at Trinity College Dublin.
Postgraduate fees for 2025-26 are available from the College's Academic Registry.
Selection criteria:
The scholarship will be awarded based on the merit of the overall application. This decision is made at School level by the Postgraduate Scholarship Committee of the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultural Studies.
Deadline:
Closing date for the Constantia Maxwell scholarship applications is Tuesday, 1 April 2025.
Scholarship application process:
Applicants wishing to be considered for the Constantia Maxwell scholarship are required to submit a cover letter outlining their full name, their application number (assigned when the application is submitted - see below), indicating the name of the scholarship and a brief statement (max 1 page) detailing how they would benefit from this award.
Submitting an application:
• Email your application to the Postgraduate office with the subject line: “Constantia Maxwell Scholarship - [your name] [your application number]”.
• You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of scholarship application.
• There will be no further communication until scholarship awards are made.
• Awards will be allocated and the successful candidates informed no later than Thursday, 1 May 2025.
• A decision to accept or decline the scholarship is required by Friday, 9 May 2025, via email reply to the Postgraduate office.
• The scholarship award will be confirmed upon your firm acceptance of the offer and payment of the deposit to attend one of the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma courses in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultural Studies in 2025-26.
• A non-response from you will be considered as declining the offer. A declined offer will be allocated to the next candidate in line.
The Rachel Thompson Ussher Fellowship
Award: This award is for a three year period of research on the Ph.D. register. It covers annual fees and provides maintenance of €13,000 per annum. There is an associated travel grant (€2,000-2,500), funded from the same bequest to which the holder of this fellowship may apply for research travel.
Who can apply:
This fellowship was founded in 2002 by a bequest from Ms Rachel Thompson, M.A. 1930, to the TCD Association and Trust. The fellowship is awarded at three-year intervals to a candidate wishing to pursue a Ph.D. in the area of Modern Languages.
Selection Criteria:
The Award is granted to exceptionally well-qualified candidate of outstanding promise intending and permitted to register on year one for a higher degree of Ph.D. in the University of Dublin. It is open to competition by graduates of any nationality for research in Modern Languages.
Application process:
Applications for this Award are made in conjunction with the Ph.D. application. An outstanding Ph.D. proposal is required. Complete the proposal form as normal and indicate on the application form that you would like to be considered for the Fellowship. The deadline for applications each year is 1 April. By this point, a full application for the Ph.D. has to have been made on the system. Applicants will only be considered for the funding if their application for the Ph.D. is accepted.
Nominations are assessed after 1 May. Candidates are informed of the outcome of their application from June/July onwards.
A.J. Leventhal Scholarship in Modern Languages or Literature
More information to be added.
Henry Flood Research Scholarship
Applications for the September 2024 intake closed on 31 May 2024.
Award:
Scholarships valued at €8,000 plus EU fee cover per year.
Who can apply: Awarded for the purpose of PhD research in the area of Irish Folk and Language studies to a graduate on the books of the University who has shown sufficient merit. The scholarship is tenable for one year but may be renewed for a maximum of a further two years.
Selection Criteria:
The scholarship will be assessed based on academic achievement, and evaluation of the applicants’ potential to contribute to the overall Trinity community.
Application process:
Applications, including a research plan of approximately 1,000 words, a sample of the applicant’s writing / work (e.g. dissertation, or a chapter from a postgraduate thesis), a summary of any postgraduate funding already received or applied for, a CV, and two references should be sent to the Head of the Department of Irish and Celtic Studies, copying (cc) Caoimhe Ní Bhraonain.
Claude and Vincenette Pichois Research Award
Applications for the September 2024 intake closed on 1 May 2024.
Award:
The Award covers EU fees and currently provides maintenance of €16,000 per annum, with payments made according to the method used for Ussher Awards.
Who can apply:
This award is for the purpose of supporting research in 19th and/or 20th century french literature. Open to candidates holding a first-class or II.1 honours Degree in French (or equivalent) and having a research project within the area of nineteenth and/or twentieth-century French Literature. Award holders must be new entrants to the University of Dublin research register, must intend to register for a Ph.D. degree in the University of Dublin and must engage in full-time research. Award holders may engage in teaching-related activities, as designated by their Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate), up to a maximum of four hours per week.
The Award will be renewed annually, normally to a maximum of three years, on the basis of a progress report being deemed satisfactory by the research supervisor. When approved by the research supervisor, the report will be sent to the Trinity Foundation for the information of Funders.
Selection Criteria:
Candidates for the Award will be selected on academic merit by the Claude and Vincenette Pichois Research Award Committee consisting of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (as chairperson), the Head of the Discipline of French, and the intended supervisor. This Committee will pass on its recommendations for approval by the Head of the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies, for onward transmission, normally by 7 June, to the Dean of Graduate Studies, and for notification to the President of the Trinity Foundation.
Application process:
Applications for this Award must be made on the College award form, together with a complete application for admission to the research register, inclusive of sealed letters of reference from two academic referees, each contained in a special envelope provided by the Graduate Studies Office. Applications should be mailed to the Graduate Studies Office, Trinity College.
Key Capital Scholarships
Key Capital has founded this scholarship to support a student who has no other financial support. The scholarships are worth €10,000 and are awarded to the student who achieves the highest combined marks in their cohort on the writing sample and the sample translation at the point of applying and is not in receipt of any other external financial support.
Scholarships for international students
Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin offers a number of scholarship opportunities for prospective and current international students interested in study or research at Ireland's leading university. Since its foundation in 1592, Trinity has sought to assist international students of limited means and reward academic achievement. International students are always encouraged to explore external funding options in their home countries.
The Rachel Thompson Ussher Fellowship (see above) is open to competition by graduates of any nationality for research in Modern Languages.
Irish Research Council funding
The Irish Research Council manages a suite of interlinked programmes funding researchers across all career stages and disciplines.
Financial assistance for current students
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)
Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is the grant-awarding authority in Ireland for students. Students enrolling in postgraduate courses may get financial assistance under the Student Grant Scheme with the cost of tuition fees. There are two ways postgraduates may qualify for assistance under the Student Grant Scheme. They may either apply for a flat rate fee contribution of €2,000, if they pass the SUSI fee contribution means test or have all their all their tuition fees paid and essential field trips (up to €6,270), if they meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant for disadvantaged students.
To qualify for assistance under the Student Grant Scheme you must also meet the criteria for nationality and immigration status, and residency.
Trinity Trust Travel Grant
The Executive Committee of the Trinity Trust makes funds available to the Graduate Studies Committee for allocation to graduate research students for attendance at conferences related to their research or for students who wish to carry out research abroad to supplement research already undertaken in Dublin. It is up to the student to submit their supporting documentation completed to the Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies.
To be eligible for the Trinity Trust Travel Grant Scheme a student must be registered under one of the following Research degrees: M.Litt, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Trinity Research Doctorate (Sanctuary) Award (PhD)
The Trinity Research Doctorate (Sanctuary) Award is open to applicants in the Irish international protection system, including those seeking asylum, with temporary protection, with refugee status or permission to remain in Ireland on humanitarian grounds. Applicants must have received an unconditional offer for admission to a full-time PhD in Trinity College Dublin with the support of a Principal Supervisor.