John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards 2023-24, Maynooth University, Ireland

by Samrach · January 11, 2023

Established in honour of John Hume, an alumnus of Maynooth University, and in recognition of his important contribution to Ireland, the John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards are offered across all disciplines at Maynooth University. There is one type of award this year offering €18,500 stipend, €2,000 for research expenses plus fees for four years.

The call for John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards opens at 2pm, Wednesday, 30th November 2022 and closes at 12 midnight on Monday, 30th January 2023

Applications should be made online via a private PAC portal – John & Pat Hume PAC Application Portal

Maynooth University has established an international reputation for excellence in research and research-led teaching across the arts, humanities, social sciences and science and engineering. In support of our mission to promote research and teaching, a range of postgraduate research awards are available for suitably qualified prospective doctoral students across all disciplines. Maynooth University aims to reflect the diversity of the community we serve, and welcomes applications from all individuals, in particular, from people who are significantly under-represented in postgraduate higher education.

DESCRIPTION OF JOHN & PAT HUME DOCTORAL AWARDS

John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards

John & Pat Hume doctoral awards will be offered to successful doctoral applicants with demonstrated excellence in academic course work and research. Consideration will be given to the relevance of the proposed doctoral research to departmental and university research priorities. Applicants will also be expected to have some prior non-academic engagement such as volunteering, outreach activities or similar, in line with the university’s strategic plan.
Each award offered is a four year scholarship, below is the value for each year of study.

Hume Fellow Scholarship

Award Stipend: €18,500
Research expenses: €2,000
Fees*: Full fees paid
Open to Full-time students

*Successful applicants must pay the student levy in accordance with Maynooth University regulations

John & Pat Hume: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Doctoral Awards

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), Maynooth University funds three Hume EDI Doctoral awards annually in areas where there is significant under-representation, including women in STEM, and the Maynooth Access Programme (MAP) target groups highlighted in our Strategic Plan 2018- 2022.

Women in STEM (WISH) Hume Fellow Scholarship

As part of the Athena SWAN initiative, Maynooth University funds two Women in STEM Hume (WISH) Fellow scholarships annually. The WISH Fellow Scholarship aim to encourage women to take up a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics through research.
Awards will be offered to the top two ranked female doctoral applicants with demonstrated excellence in academic course work and research. All applicants are subject to the eligibility requirements as stated in the John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards Scheme Terms and Conditions.
The WISH Fellow Scholarship are available for STEM research projects, with particular priority given to departments in which female students are underrepresented. These include: Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Experimental Physics and Theoretical Physics.
All eligible applications for WISH Fellow Scholarship will also be considered automatically for the John &

Pat Hume doctoral awards. Only one award may be held by each successful applicant. The value of the WISH Fellow Scholarship is €20,500 (€18,500 stipend and €2,000 expenses) plus full fees for four years.

Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP) Hume Scholarship

The Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP) Hume scholarship aims to encourage people from communities and groups underrepresented in higher education, and who often face barriers to participation and success in higher education, to take up a career in research.
The award will be offered to successful doctoral applicants with demonstrated excellence in academic course work and research. This award is available to applicants who are underrepresented in higher education including;
• Entrants to higher education from socio-economic groups that have low participation inhigher education (entered through Higher Education Access Route – HEAR and/or supported by a Higher Education Institution Access Office/Programme);
• First time, mature students;
• Students with disabilities (entered through Disability Access Route to Education – DARE and/or
supported by a Higher Education Institution Disability Office/Service);
• Other widening participating entry routes.
For the MAP awards, priority may be given to applicants from target groups that are particularly under-represented in higher education, and/or who have faced additional challenges in accessing opportunities in education (e.g.socio-economic disadvantage; applicants with a physical/sensory disability; Irish Travellers; lone parents; refugee/asylum seekers; or where an applicant is member of more than one target group under- represented in higher education). Priority may be given to applicants from target groups who face multiple challenges.
All applicants are subject to the eligibility requirements as stated in the John & Pat Hume Doctoral Awards Scheme Terms and Conditions. All eligible applications for this award will also be considered automatically for the John & Pat Hume doctoral awards. The value of the MAP Fellow Scholarship is €20,500 (€18,500 stipend and €2,000 expenses) plus full fees for four years.

DURATION OF AWARDS

The maximum duration of Hume Scholarships is four years. Continuation of funding is subject to satisfactory annual progress and continued compliance with the terms and conditions of the award. If the progress of the awardee is recorded as unsatisfactory during the departmental annual review, the Vice President for Research or the President’s nominee may revoke the funding.

MODE OF STUDY & ELIGIBILITY

a. Mode of study

Only full-time students are eligible for the Hume Scholarships.
All Hume Doctoral Award holders will register with Maynooth University. Students in joint PhD programmes cannot use
the Hume award for fees payments in other universities.
If applicants intend to pursue a joint supervision programme at Maynooth University, they must choose a lead department
and supervisor in the online application system and they will be ranked in the lead department and faculty. They will not be
evaluated in the second supervisor’s department; their file will be distributed only for assessment in the department and
faculty of the primary supervisor.

b. Eligibility

The minimum standards for eligibility for MU John & Pat Hume doctoral awards of any type are:
• All applicants must have a first class or upper second-class honours bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, in the discipline of the department of application, or in a cognate discipline approved by the proposed supervisor.
• If undergraduate examination results are not known at the time of application, Maynooth University may make a provisional offer of a scholarship on condition that the scholar’s bachelor’s (equivalent) degree result is a first class or upper second-class honours.
• If a scholar does not have a first class or upper second-class honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), they must possess a first class or upper second-class master’s degree in the discipline of the department of application or cognate discipline as approved by proposed supervisor.
Degrees may be from Ireland, the EU or from any recognised international university. Equivalency of degrees awarded and results obtained outside of Ireland will be determined by the Vice President for Research or President’s nominee.
In certain cases, where a higher diploma operates as a master’s qualifier, the higher diploma result can be considered equivalent to a primary degree.
Applicants in the final year of the qualifying degree apply on the basis of expected results. Should results be unavailable at the time of award offers, applicants with the highest ranking will be made conditional offers, (subject to confirmation of actual results). If the required qualification is not achieved, the university shall deem the applicant ineligible and rescind the conditional offer.
For international students, from a country where English is not the primary language, an English proficiency test is mandatory. An international applicant may apply for the Hume Scholarship without the English proficiency test, but, if the applicant is deemed successful, only a conditional offer can be made, pending proof of English language proficiency ie. an original certificate is submitted through PAC within 30-60 days. For international students the minimum English language requirement for an MU PhD programme is as follows: IELTS: 6.5 minimum overall score; TOEFL (Paper based test): 585; TOEFL (Internet based test) 95; and PTE (Pearson): 62.

c. Nationality

Applicants of any nationality are eligible to apply.

d. Exclusions

• Those who have commenced a postgraduate research degree at Maynooth University prior to application are not eligible for an award for that degree.
• Those who hold only a pass degree qualification and who do not meet the required standard of qualification as stated under Term 3b. Eligibility are not eligible to apply.
• Those who have received a Maynooth University John & Pat Hume doctoral award are not eligible to apply for funding for a second postgraduate degree under the Maynooth University John & Pat Hume doctoral awards scheme.
Address any enquiries regarding eligibility to humephdscholarship@mu.ie

More information / Official Website HERE.