University College Dublin (UCD) has opened the 2027 Iseult Honohan Doctoral Scholarship for a PhD in its School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe). The award covers full tuition fees for both EU and non-EU students and pays a living stipend of €25,000 a year for up to four years. Nigerian and other African candidates can apply, as the scholarship is open to non-EU applicants.
Deadline: Friday, 15 January 2027 at 5:00 pm Dublin time (6:00 pm WAT, 7:00 pm CAT/SAST, 8:00 pm EAT). The PhD starts in September 2027. Late applications will not be considered.
Key Details
- Host: UCD School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe), Dublin, Ireland
- Level: PhD (full-time, September 2027 start)
- Eligible programmes: PhD Politics and International Relations, or PhD Quantitative and Computational Social Science (only if the supervisor is based in SPIRe)
- Funding: full fees plus €25,000 per year for up to four years
- Open to: EU and non-EU applicants
- Application method: online Google application form linked from the official UCD page
- Deadline: 15 January 2027, 5:00 pm Irish time
Benefits of the Iseult Honohan Scholarship
- Full tuition fees paid, at either the EU or the non-EU rate
- A tax-free-style living stipend of €25,000 per year (check your own tax position with UCD) for up to four years
- Doctoral training and mentoring in a politics school that UCD says is ranked in the world top 100 in the QS subject rankings for 2026
- The chance to work with SPIRe academics in political science, political theory, international relations, European governance, computational social science, development and international political economy
The scholarship is named after Dr Iseult Honohan, one of the first women to earn a PhD from UCD’s former Department of Ethics and Politics and a long-serving scholar of political theory.
Eligibility
- Applicants of any nationality (EU and non-EU) may apply
- You need a relevant Master’s degree with at least a 2.1 (GPA 3.6). If you are still finishing your Master’s, you can apply, but any offer will depend on your final grade reaching 2.1
- You must be applying for a September 2027 start in one of the two eligible PhD programmes; you may apply to only one of them
- Not eligible: continuing UCD PhD students, people wanting a non-September start, applicants whose supervisor is outside SPIRe, and students transferring only part of their PhD to UCD
- Non-native English speakers must show an English certificate from a UCD-approved test body (not older than two years), unless they studied in a native English-speaking country or can provide official proof that their degree was taught entirely in English
How to Apply
- Read the full rules and the 2027 terms and conditions on the official UCD Iseult Honohan Scholarship page.
- Prepare a cover letter explaining why you want to join the SPIRe PhD programme.
- Write a thesis proposal of 1,500–2,000 words (excluding bibliography) with a provisional title, research question, short literature review showing gaps, theoretical approach and proposed methodology.
- Gather undergraduate and postgraduate transcripts, a CV of no more than two pages, and your English language evidence (or proof of exemption).
- Get two academic referees to agree in advance; you only list their contact details on the form, and UCD may contact them at short notice in February.
- Complete and submit the UCD Iseult Honohan Doctoral Scholarship application form before 5:00 pm Dublin time on 15 January 2027.
You do not need to find a supervisor before applying. After an eligibility check, SPIRe academics express interest in longlisted candidates, a committee shortlists applicants for online interviews, and unsuccessful applicants are usually told by mid-March. Questions can go to [email protected].
Tips for African Applicants
- The research proposal carries the most weight, especially if you do not yet hold a Master’s. Frame a clear question, for example on elections, governance, migration or political economy in West Africa, and show which data or methods you will use.
- Do not attach unrequested documents such as passport pages or birth certificates; UCD says incomplete or padded applications will not be considered.
- If your degree was taught in English at a Nigerian or Ghanaian university, request an official letter from your registrar confirming English as the medium of instruction well before January.
- Brief your referees early, as many universities in Africa slow down over the December holidays.
- Look at SPIRe staff profiles and mention the research areas that match yours, even though naming a supervisor is not required.
