DAERA studentships
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (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 (UK) or Republic of Ireland (ROI). The competition for 2021 studentships is now closed.
The value of a DAERA postgraduate studentship
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.
DAERA pay fees directly to your university. Other expenses which may be covered are:
- conference expenses if you are presenting your research
- Research Training Support Grant – paid by DAERA to your study centre
- overseas fieldwork – DAERA may contribute to costs where it is essential to your research programme
Research topic and terms and conditions
Your research proposal must address one of DAERA's research needs for 2021.
Before you apply for a 2021 Postgraduate Studentship, you must read the terms and conditions 2021/22.
The research needs 2021 and terms and conditions are available at:
Eligibility criteria
Residency and citizenship
To be eligible for a full DAERA postgraduate studentship award, you must have been 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 (RoI) nationals meeting the three year NI 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 residence must be settled in the UK by the closing date of the application. The main purpose of residence in NI must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of that three year period.
For further information on residency and citizenship see terms and conditions.
Academic qualifications
The required academic qualification is a first or upper second class honours degree from a university in the United Kingdom or Ireland or qualifications and experience considered by the University as equivalent to this standard.
You must provide official, final results of qualifications used to meet the academic requirements before the start of the studentship.
Previous study
If you already hold a doctoral degree or you have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year or equivalent part-time basis, funded from any source, including self-financing, you are not eligible for a studentship.
How to apply for a DAERA postgraduate studentship
When applying for a DAERA postgraduate studentship, you must include a unique research proposal supported by at least one supervisor from the proposed study centre.
You must also send an academic reference from the institution of your primary degree and the offer of a place at the proposed university, supporting your research proposal.
No interviews will be held in 2021 and application forms will be scored using information supplied in sections G and H.
Offers will be issued in May and studentships will start on 1 October. Funding is provided for three years ending on 30 September 2024.
For queries about the DAERA postgraduate studentships email postgraduate@daera-ni.gov.uk.