Dublin City University - DCU Theology, Philosophy and Music PhD Scholarships

DCU Theology, Philosophy and Music PhD Scholarships

You receive 25,000 EUR per year for up to 4 years. Your full-time tuition fees are also paid for the same period. The scholarship is renewed each year as long as your research makes satisfactory progress. The School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music at Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland awards these scholarships. On top of the money, you can take on paid teaching and join research training. You also get mentoring, meaning personal guidance from experienced researchers, on publishing and on applying for research funding.

Who can apply

• Level: You want to do a PhD at DCU.
• Previous degree: You have a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject with a first or at least an upper second-class grade (2.1, the second-highest grade band in the UK and Ireland). You can also apply if you are just finishing a master's.
• Field of study: Your research is in theology or religious studies, philosophy or ethics, or music. Examples include biblical studies, interreligious dialogue, phenomenology, AI or environmental ethics, musicology, choral studies and jazz.
• Research plan: You have a research proposal of about 2,000 words. It covers your research question, method, key texts and why you chose your supervisor.
• Admission: You meet DCU's general entry requirements for a PhD.

How to apply

Before the deadline, contact one suitable staff member informally and ask whether they would supervise you. Contact only one person, not several at once. Then send a cover letter and your research proposal. The call opens every spring. The last round closed at 17:00 Irish time on 23 March 2026. Shortlisted applicants have an online interview in April.

If you are planning a PhD with the DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music, our guide Scholarships in Ireland shows further funding options in Ireland.