Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2025–26

If you’re a highly skilled researcher aiming to advance your career with prestigious, independent funding in Ireland, the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2025–26 is your chance. This government-backed fellowship enables researchers from any discipline to pursue one- or two-year postdoctoral projects at leading Irish institutions—supported by competitive salaries, research expenses, and merit-based peer review. Details in this article.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Eligible higher education institutions across Ireland

• Host Institution: Any institution that is eligible under the Research Ireland framework, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and managed by Research Ireland

• Level: Postdoctoral research (1- or 2-year fellowship)

• Target Group: Postdoctoral researchers with at least one peer-reviewed publication or equivalent intellectual property output

• Fields of Focus: All disciplines—from archaeology to zoology—with strong encouragement for pioneering, interdisciplinary, and bottom-up research

• Value & Coverage:

  • Salary: €47,273 for Year 1; €47,880 for Year 2

  • Employer’s PRSI (social insurance) contribution

  • Research expenses: €5,000 annually for direct research costs

• Duration: 1 or 2 years, depending on fellowship design

• Application Deadlines (2025–26 Call):

  • Call Opens: 11 September 2025, 12:00 Irish time

  • FAQ Deadline: 16 October 2025, 16:00

  • Applicant Deadline: 23 October 2025, 16:00

  • Mentor Deadline: 6 November 2025, 16:00

  • Research Office Endorsement Deadline: 13 November 2025, 16:00

  • Expected Outcome: End of April 2026

  • Award Start Date: 1 September 2026

📚 Fellowship Overview

The Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship is a prestigious, merit-based award designed to support excellent individual research across all fields. Unlike directed funding, this fellowship supports bottom-up, creative, and interdisciplinary approaches to pioneering research. The programme stands out for its rigorous peer-review selection process and its prestige as a national fellowship award in the name of the applicant.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

• Competitive Salary: Provides stable and transparent remuneration aligned with national researcher scales.

• Direct Research Funding: €5,000 annually allows you to fund essential research needs—from lab supplies to fieldwork expenses.

• Health and Social Benefits: Employer covers PRSI contributions.

• Interdisciplinary Freedom: You set your own trajectory—not limited to specific themes.

• Career Recognition: Designated for researchers with high-caliber peer-reviewed output, affirming your potential as a research leader.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

1. Publications or Equivalent Research Output: You must have authored or co-authored at least one peer-reviewed journal article or conference proceeding (accepted or published), or demonstrate equivalent research output (e.g., patents) .

2. Mentor Limitation: Each academic mentor may only support one applicant per call .

3. Institutional Affiliation: Must propose to conduct your research at an eligible Irish higher education institution.

4. Full-time Commitment: If awarded, you must commit to full-time research for the duration of the fellowship.

📝 Application Procedure

While full application guidance should be consulted in the official call documentation, key steps include:

1. Review Call Documents: Carefully read the official call guidelines and FAQs to confirm eligibility and application requirements.

2. Draft Application Components: Likely include your research proposal, CV, publication evidence, and research plan.

3. Secure Mentor & Institutional Endorsement: Your academic mentor must agree to support only your application, and your institution must endorse your submission.

4. Submit via Official Platform: Applications are typically submitted online via Research Ireland’s system before the applicant, mentor, and research office deadlines. For 2026 intake, Applications will open on September 11, 2025

5. Wait for Outcome: Decisions are expected by end of April 2026.

6. Commence Fellowship: Start date is targeted for 1 September 2026.

💡 Additional Considerations

• Interdisciplinary & Innovative Research Encouraged: The programme welcomes groundbreaking approaches that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries .

• Highly Competitive: Previous success rate was approximately 13% .

• Contact for Queries: Research offices or applicants may contact postdoc@researchireland.ie for programme-related questions .

🔗 Official Link

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