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. 

These scholarships cover:

• Tuition fees for a four year (full-time) structured PhD programme/research doctorate.
• An annual tax-free stipend of €25,000.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have received an unconditional offer for admission by May 1st, 2024 to the full-time PhD research register in Trinity College Dublin with the support of a Principal Supervisor. This implies that applicants will have met all academic requirements including English language requirements.
• Applicants must be residing in the Republic of Ireland.
• Applicants must be in the international protection system, temporary protection, seeking asylum, or have refugee status or permission to remain in Ireland on humanitarian grounds.
• Applicants must be able to commence studies in the academic year 2024-25 (September 2024, and no later than March 2025).

Application Process

Applicants for the Trinity Research Doctorate Sanctuary Award must first have an offer of admission to the full-time PhD register in Trinity. Applicants should liaise directly with the potential Primary Supervisor for guidance through the PhD formal application process.

Once applicants have an offer for admission to the full-time PhD register, they should complete the separate application process for the Trinity Research Doctorate (Sanctuary) Award. Applications should be made through the online form accessible below:

TRINITY RESEARCH DOCTORATE (SANCTUARY) AWARD APPLICATION

For reference only, the application form is downloadable below:

REFERNCE ONLY: AWARD APPLICATION FORM

Please note that only applications submitted via the online form will be accepted. Applicants are advised to complete the application form in one in one sitting.

Evaluation Criteria

The applications will be scored out of a total of 100 marks and allocated across four categories as follows:

• 30 marks for the quality of research design and methodology.
• 25 marks for research impact including overall significance and degree of innovation of the project. Note: It will be a requirement to evidence consideration has been given to the project’s contribution towards enhancing our local and global social and sustainability ambitions. This element will not be weighted but is a mandatory requirement in each application.
• 20 marks for evidence related to the impact of an award on the student’s research trajectory.
• 25 marks for evidence of the personal impact of the award on the student.

Evaluation Process

Each completed application will be evaluated by a panel to include the Chair of the University of Sanctuary Steering Committee, an academic representative from each Faculty, a representative of the Irish Refugee Council (or similar) and chaired by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the basis of the full evaluation criteria.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview. The decision as to which application will receive the Trinity Research Doctorate (Sanctuary) Award is at the sole discretion of the evaluation panel whose decision on the matter is final.

All applicants will be contacted by the Dean of Graduate Studies at the end of the evaluation process. Note: unsuccessful applicants to the Trinity Research Doctorate (Sanctuary) Award, who are in receipt of an unconditional offer, will remain eligible for admission to the PhD register and may be considered for other available awards (as appropriate).

Timeline

• Application for admission in 2024-25 opens: November 1, 2023.
• Application to TRD Sanctuary Award opens: February 1, 2024.
• Application to TRD Sanctuary Award closes: May 1, 2024.
• Outcome of evaluation process expected: June 14, 2024.

Contact

Please email any queries to pgrenewal@tcd.ie.  

University of Sanctuary

For more information about Trinity’s University of Sanctuary work, please see here.

Trinity Research Doctorate Awards

For more information about Trinity Research Doctorate Awards please see here.

Trinity College Dublin is the ideal university for anyone interested in pursuing their postgraduate studies in Ireland.

As Ireland’s leading university, prospective students can find a wide range of postgraduate courses at Master’s, Ph.D., Diploma, or Certificate levels. Situated right in the heart of Dublin city, the Trinity campus is easily accessible via public transport and is only a few minutes’ walk from everything the city has to offer.

Why should you do your postgrad at Trinity?

• One of the world’s leading research-intensive institutes
• A supportive learning environment with globally recognised experts
• State-of-the-art research and learning facilities
• Employability and graduate opportunities for Trinity students are among the best in the world.