IrelandResearch Ireland Empower is an institutional research funding initiative that provides competitive grants to eligible Irish Higher Education Institutions to support PhD studentships, postdoctoral fellowships, and institutional research development. Research Ireland Empower funding is awarded to institutions rather than to individual applicants.
The programme is managed under the Government of Ireland’s Research Ireland framework and invites applications from eligible Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Ireland to implement strategic research priorities and create studentships and fellowships advertised by participating universities.
Research Ireland Empower Benefits
- Support for doctoral students
- Support for postdoctoral researchers
- Enhance institutional research development
- Flexible, recurring funding mechanisms to advance research strategies, expand talent pools, and enhance research environments
- Funding packages (stipends/salaries and research expenses) tied to specific studentships or fellowships
- Expected grant awards start in March 2027
- Programme duration of 72 months
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Research Ireland Empower Eligibility Criteria
- Institutional funding restricted to the 18 eligible Irish Higher Education Institutions invited by Research Ireland
- Institutional applications must be submitted exclusively via authorised senior research officers such as Vice Presidents or Deans of Research
- Individual candidates cannot apply directly to Research Ireland for studentships or fellowships
- Prospective individual PhD students and postdoctoral researchers must apply to participating institutions for specific advertised positions
- All academic disciplines and research fields are eligible
- International students and researchers may be eligible for individual positions subject to specific institutional rules
How to Apply for Research Ireland Empower
- For Institutions: Authorized senior research representatives must submit institutional applications through the Research Ireland portal before 6 November 2026 at 13:00 Irish time
- Review the list of 18 eligible Irish higher education institutions for Empower-funded opportunities
- Regularly check the official recruitment, doctoral funding, and postgraduate vacancy pages of target Irish institutions
- Apply directly to the institution for specific Empower-supported PhD or postdoctoral positions as they are posted
Don’t miss this deadline
Applications close on Friday, 6 November 2026. We’ll email you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Research Ireland Empower programme. These answers cover eligibility, benefits, deadlines, where the programme operates, and how to apply.
What is the Research Ireland Empower programme?
The Research Ireland Empower programme is an institutional research funding initiative that provides competitive grants to eligible Irish HEIs to support PhD studentships, postdoctoral fellowships, and institutional research development.
Who can apply for institutional funding?
Institutional funding applications are restricted to the 18 eligible Irish Higher Education Institutions invited by Research Ireland and must be submitted by authorised senior research officers such as Vice Presidents or Deans of Research.
Can individual PhD students or postdocs apply directly to Research Ireland?
No. Individual candidates cannot apply directly to Research Ireland; prospective scholars must apply to participating institutions for specific Empower-supported positions as they are advertised.
Which academic fields are eligible?
All academic disciplines and research fields are eligible, including cross-disciplinary support aligned with institutional research strategies.
What is the programme duration?
The institutional grant framework runs for 72 months, while individual studentship and fellowship durations vary by project.
When is the institutional application deadline?
The institutional funding deadline is 6 November 2026 at 13:00 (Irish Local Time).
When will grant awards start?
Expected grant awards start in March 2027.
Where will Empower-funded studentships and fellowships be based?
Empower-funded studentships and fellowships will be based at eligible Higher Education Institutions across Ireland, including named universities and technological universities/institutes.
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