DAERA Postgraduate Studentships Open to Applications
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has responsibility for food, farming, environment, fisheries, forestry, sustainability policy and the development of the rural sector in Northern Ireland.
Each year, DAERA funds a small number of postgraduate studentships for a three-year period of research leading to a PhD qualification at a university in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.
The research proposal must be in line with one of DAERA’s postgraduate studentship research needs under the following themes:
Production systems which are profitable, productive in international terms, resilient to external shocks and environmentally sustainable.
Supply chain functionality.
Novel and innovative NI agri-food products and processes.
Factors which can lead to low income or low uptake of services within agriculture and rural families.
Rural policy.
Animal health and welfare.
Plant health.
Rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal areas.
Marine and fisheries.
Developing the circular economy and sustainable waste management.
Terrestrial ecosystems and natural capital.
Agri-environment schemes.
Climate change adaptation and mitigation.
When applying for a studentship, applicants must include a unique research proposal supported by at least one supervisor from the proposed study centre.
Applicants must be ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland for the full three-year period before the first day of the first academic year of the course.
Republic of Ireland nationals meeting the three-year Northern Ireland residency are eligible for a full award under the Common Travel Area arrangement. EU, EEA or Swiss nationals meeting the three-year residency must have settled or pre-settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme. Non-EU nationals meeting the three-year residency must be settled in the UK by the application deadline. The main purpose of residence in Northern Ireland must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of that three-year period.
The required academic qualification is a first or upper second class honours degree from a university in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland; alternatively, the applicant may have qualifications and experience considered by the university as equivalent to this standard.
A full DAERA award includes the cost of approved fees as well as maintenance support. In academic year 2021/22, the maintenance allowance for a research studentship is £15,609. Conference expenses (if presenting own research), research training support and overseas fieldwork costs may also be covered. Funding is provided for three years.
Applications must be submitted by the deadline of 30 March 2021 (24:00).
More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.