PhD and Professional Doctorate Scholarship

The professional doctorate facilitates scholars to develop advanced research skills and practices, and apply them to their own specialist area of professional practice. The professional doctorate is practitioner-led research that incorporates academic and professional knowledge. 

Candidates complete four mandatory structured modules delivered in a blended format during the first year of the programme, encompassing clinical research methods; systematic review for evidence appraisal and synthesis; research ethics and integrity; and leadership. 

This is then followed by data synthesis and thesis completion over the final three years. Scholars have one contact hour per month on campus and the research work is performed at the candidate's workplace. To be eligible to apply for a professional doctorate, candidates must have a minimum of five years' professional experience at a senior level as a nurse or midwife.

• Applicants complete an online application form and email it to the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery by the quarterly closing date.
• The application form will undergo initial screening to ensure it is completed in accordance with the submission criteria. Applications found to not adhere to the submission criteria will be rejected without review.
• Applications that meet the submission criteria will be reviewed by the PhD and Professional Doctorate Scholarship Award Committee and a decision made as to the awarding of scholarships. In some instances, further information or clarification may be sought from the applicant before a decision is made.
• Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review. The decision of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery as to the eligibility of any application, or the awarding or withholding of a PhD and Professional Doctorate Scholarship Award, shall be final and conclusive.
• Successful applicants can then apply to register for a PhD or professional doctorate programme within RCSI and submit their research plans to the Academic Review Committee. Note that the successful awarding of a scholarship does not automatically result in enrolment within a PhD or professional doctorate programme. It is the responsibility of the successful applicant to gain admission to their chosen school within RCSI.

The PhD and Professional Doctorate Scholarship Award is open to all Fellows and Members of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery. Fellows and Members must be in good standing at the time of their application and, if successful, must remain in good standing for the duration of their scholarship. 

Only one application per Fellow/Member is permitted per award cycle and applicants who are unsuccessful in one award cycle can reapply if desired during subsequent award cycles.

Each application must provide evidence of an actual or potential research study that demonstrates:

• An evidence-informed and needs-based rationale for the research
• Relevance and alignment of the initiative with Ireland’s current health policy and policies for nursing and midwifery, the faculty’s strategic goals, WHO health priorities and/or the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• How the research is being/will be conducted
• Potential impact of the research and contribution to knowledge/practice
• Information and preliminary costings on how the scholarship will be spent in the development/implementation of the research and dissemination of the findings
• Agreement to be supervised or co-supervised by the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery executive team in addition to an academic supervisor from the chosen RCSI school
• Achievement of the RCSI English language requirements, where the applicant's first language is not English
• A publishing strategy to include information on target conferences and target journals to publish and disseminate findings.

• Continual funding will be dependent upon successful progression each year
• Supervisory arrangements must comply with the RCSI Research Code of Practice and Postgraduate Regulations.
• A member of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery executive will form part of the supervisory panel for each award made in addition to an academic supervisor from the chosen RCSI school
• The Board of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery will review and consider offering the PhD and Professional Doctorate Scholarship Award on an annual basis depending on uptake, finances, and strategic priorities
• Successful applicants will be invited to display a poster outlining their proposed research at the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery Annual International Education and Research Conference in Year 1 and present findings from their PhD or professional doctorate in Years 2 and 3 of registration
• It is the responsibility of successful applicants to gain admission to their chosen programme of study within RCSI commencing in the following academic year
• PhD and Professional Doctorate scholarships are awarded on the veracity of the information provided.  The Faculty reserves the right to withhold payment of the award and to seek compensation for any funds provided if it is subsequently discovered that the information provided in the application form was false or misleading. The Faculty also reserves the right to withdraw funding in the event of a scholar securing a national scholarship.