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Ireland Check current round

RCSI StAR PhD Programme

RCSI's Strategic Academic Recruitment (StAR) PhD is a structured four-year doctorate in medicine and health sciences with a feature that sets it apart from most European PhDs: you split your time roughly equally between RCSI in Dublin and a partner institution abroad, so you build two research networks rather than one. It is fully funded — PhD fees, an annual stipend, and a research consumables budget are all covered — and RCSI also helps with securing accommodation and with travel between the two institutes. For Sri Lankan applicants with a health sciences, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy or biomedical background, this is one of the more accessible fully funded routes into an Irish research degree, because the funding is institutional rather than restricted to EU nationals. Some StAR candidates are additionally eligible for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, worth up to EUR 34,000 a year in total: a EUR 25,000 stipend, a fee contribution of up to EUR 5,750 a year which explicitly includes non-EU fees, and EUR 3,250 a year of eligible direct research expenses. Be clear about what this is and is not. StAR positions are advertised as specific projects with named supervisors, so you apply to a project rather than proposing your own; there is no rolling open call. The competition is international and the cohort each year is small. And while accommodation help is offered, Dublin housing remains genuinely difficult and expensive — factor that into your decision even with funding in place. Enquiries go to StARphd@rcsi.com.

StAR PhD positions are advertised as named projects with their own closing dates rather than as a single annual call — monitor the RCSI research careers pages and contact StARphd@rcsi.com for the current round

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

University-funded

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Fees

Fully covered

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Stipend

Annual stipend + consumables

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Structure

Dual location: Ireland + abroad

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

Fully Funded 4-Year PhD with Fees, Stipend and Consumables. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Open Internationally

RCSI recruits StAR PhD scholars internationally and the funding is institutional, so Sri Lankan nationals can apply. Where the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship applies, its fee contribution of up to EUR 5,750 a year explicitly includes non-EU fees.

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Health Sciences and Biomedical Fields

Projects sit across medicine, biomedical science, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, population health and related disciplines. A relevant honours degree and usually a Master's or strong research experience is expected.

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Willing to Split Time Between Two Countries

The dual-location model means spending roughly equal time in Ireland and at the international partner institution. Check the visa implications for both countries before applying — this is not a single-visa arrangement.

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Apply to a Named Project

StAR positions are advertised as specific projects with named supervisors and partner institutions. You cannot submit an open proposal; you apply to a live advertised post.

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Monitor the advertised StAR PhD projects

Watch the RCSI research careers pages for open StAR PhD calls. Each project carries its own supervisor, partner institution, closing date and requirements.

Prepare a targeted application

CV highlighting laboratory, clinical or data research experience
Motivation statement addressing the specific project and the dual-location model
Academic transcripts and degree certificates
Two academic or research referees

Interview and selection

Shortlisted candidates interview with the RCSI supervisor and often the international partner. Expect questions on your technical skills and on how you would handle two research environments.

Check Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship eligibility

Ask your supervisor whether your project route makes you eligible for the GOI Postgraduate Scholarship, worth up to EUR 34,000 a year including a non-EU fee contribution.

Arrange visas and accommodation

Apply for the Irish long-stay (D) study visa and, separately, whatever permission the partner country requires. RCSI provides support with accommodation, but start looking early — Dublin housing is tight.

Why RCSI?

RCSI is Ireland's specialist university of medicine and health sciences, founded in 1784 and consistently ranked among the world's leading institutions for health research impact. Its student body is heavily international, so an overseas researcher is the norm on campus rather than the exception.

4 yrs

Structured PhD

2

Institutions per Scholar

1784

Founded

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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