Funding Opportunities
A range of funding opportunities are available to postgraduate students, and the Department of Philosophy makes every effort to secure funding for students accepted into the programme. Some of these opportunities are identified below, and further details are available from the websites listed.
Irish Research Council
The Irish Research Council (IRC) provides funding for students from the EU to pursue postgraduate work. The closing date for the receipt of applications for postgraduate funding through the IRC is usually October of the year before the student intends to begin their PhD studies (please consult the IRC's website for the most up-to-date submission deadlines). Students do not need to have been offered a place in the Ph.D. programme before they can apply for funding through the IRC, but they do need the support of their proposed supervisor.
Trinity Research Doctorate Award
The Trinity Research Doctorate Award (PI-Based) provides funding for incoming PhD students. Each award will cover tuition fees (either EU or non-EU) for the recruited student for four years (full-time), as well as providing an annual stipend of €25,000. Applicants to the PhD program may, with the support of a proposed supervisor, apply for the Category 2 - Joint Student-PI award (due date 24 January). There may also be a Category 1 - PI-Led award available to apply for, which will be advertised here and on Philos_L. See the Trinity Research Doctorate Award website for further details of both these awards.
Departmental Scholarship
The Departmental Scholarship will cover EU/non-EU fees plus a basic stipend of €19,000 per year. The stipend will be increased to a total of €25,000 per year for those willing to take on Teaching Assistant duties and we would prefer applicants who apply on that basis. Applicants to the PhD program will automatically be considered for this fellowship. The application deadline to be considered for funding is Monday 1st April 2024.
John Dillon Fellowship in Ancient Philosophy
The fellowship is a one-year PhD studentship that covers EU/non-EU fees and a stipend of €13,500. The holder may be required to teach, but will be entitled to extra pay for any teaching. To be eligible for the fellowship, your thesis must be in the area of Ancient Philosophy and you must not be in receipt of other funding for that year. Applicants to the PhD program will automatically be considered for this fellowship. The application deadline to be considered for funding is Monday 1st April 2024.
Trinity College Postgraduate Research Studentships
Studentships are open to new entrants to the full-time PhD register as well as continuing students in a given academic year. Their aim is to support and develop gifted research students. They are competitive and are awarded on the basis of academic merit.
The fellowship fully covers EU and non-EU fees and provides annual maintenance of €25,000 per year for three years.
This studentship is typically only available to Philosophy students once every four years. If available, the award is awarded by the Departmental PhD Admissions Committee.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Teaching Assistantships
Each year the Department offers a number of Teaching Assistantships to postgraduate students. These entail providing weekly tutorials for undergraduate students and marking undergraduate essays. Rates of payment are set each year by the Head of Department.
Students who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship may apply to the Head of Department, Professor John Divers. The Head of the Department may also directly request postgraduate students to serve as Teaching Assistants, especially if such duties are required as a condition of financial award.
Funding for Conference Travel
Graduate students may apply to the Department for a grant for conference travel or books. The amount of the grant varies and grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, students may apply for funding for conference travel through the Trinity Trust Travel Grant administered by the Graduate Studies Office.
External Funding Opportunities
The Graduate Studies office provides a list of sources for external funding.