StAR International PhD Programme

The Strategic Academic Recruitment (StAR) International PhD programme aims to attract high-achieving international students to an efficient four-year structured PhD training programme at RCSI.

The programme aims to encourage scientists to develop innovative research projects in one of RCSI’s areas of research strength, including but not limited to:

• Cancer
• Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
• Population Health and Health Services
• Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Science and Practice
• Vascular Biology
• Infection, Immunity and Inflammation

This structured training programme will include compulsory core modules in ethics, science communication, biostatistics and intellectual property.

Core modules are complemented by many additional optional modules delivering skill sets including innovation and entrepreneurship, data management and programming.

The structured training is designed to suit bench scientists, informatics based research, clinical researchers, and population heath researchers.

Benefits

• Opportunity for an international research training experience in a world-class institution
• Four-year structured PhD training programme with the opportunity to gain an additional Professional Certificate in Research Practice
• Funded four-year PhD Scholarship, covering student fees, research costs and student stipend
• Relocation package: up to €5,000 per student
• Annual home travel allowance

Eligibility

The PhD programme is oriented towards high-achieving overseas international students with a strong profile and a background in biomedical research, clinical research, population health research, or health services research coming from primary degree courses focusing on: Cell and molecular biology; clinical and translational sciences; medical sciences (biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, anatomy etc); bioengineering; pharmacy; physiotherapy; nursing and midwifery; medicinal chemistry; genetics and neurosciences; population health; social sciences; health services research; education in health sciences.

• Students will have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First Class Honours degree or equivalent (i.e. top 10% of primary degree or equivalent) and should provide a grade point average (GPA) for each completed year of undergraduate degree.
• English requirements: IETLS>6.5 or must have completed primary degree through the medium of English. Please check the other English language certificates that are accepted.
• Preference will be given to applicants coming directly from their undergraduate degree into this PhD programme.
• Applicants have to use the GPA calculator we recommend.
• Applicants who do not submit all supporting documents will be deemed ineligible.

Application process

RCSI's Strategic Academic Recruitment (StAR) International PhD programme is now recruiting prestigious, fully funded PhD scholarships to start in October 2020. The programme is now open for application with a deadline of 2 December 2019.

To apply, you will need to select your top three preferred projects from the list of available projects.

You will then need to upload a completed application form and recent transcripts by online submission.