Trinity takes key steps to improve funding for PhD researchers

Posted on: 22 February 2023

The Board of Trinity College Dublin today approved a proposal to consolidate the University’s three internal postgraduate research schemes and increase their associated stipends to €25,000, with effect from September 2023.

The change, brought forward as part of the Postgraduate Renewal Programme, will apply to all new students recruited to a new, consolidated award, as well as to those students who are continuing on the register on any of three existing schemes - the Ussher, 1252 Postgraduate Research Studentships and the Provost PhD award -  for the remaining years of their award entitlement. 

None of the Trinity award schemes had to date offered a stipend that kept pace with the cost of living in Dublin and,as a result, many PhD researchers have faced enormous financial pressures.

In addition, the Board today approved a proposal to waive the fee differential charged to Schools for postgraduate students recruited through Science Foundation Ireland, Irish Research Council and Health Research Board awards. This fee waiver will be introduced on a pilot basis from September 2023 for all new entrants.

Dean of Graduate Studies Martine Smith said: “Both of these initiatives are important steps in a much bigger ambition, which is to transform the funding landscape for PhD researchers and to fundamentally review the supports for PhD researchers and supervisors alike.

“We are acutely aware that the researchers who will benefit from this stipend uplift represent only a small proportion (<15%) of our overall cohort.  A national review of the funding supports for PhD researchers is underway and we will continue to advocate through this forum as well as through the Irish Universities Association for living stipends for all PhD researchers as an essential policy move.”

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