The Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme is one of the most prestigious national initiatives for early-career researchers, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and managed by Research Ireland. The 2026 call, opening on 11th September 2025, invites exceptional scholars from around the world to apply for one- or two-year fellowships at higher education institutions across Ireland.
This highly competitive programme offers individual awards that recognize excellence, support bottom-up, non-directed research, and encourage pioneering, interdisciplinary projects that push the boundaries of knowledge.
Irish Government Fellowship Offers Following Package
Fellows will receive a generous support package including:
- Stipend: €47,273 in the first year and €47,880 in the second year.
- Employer’s PRSI contribution (social insurance).
- Research Expenses: €5,000 per annum for eligible direct research costs.
This funding structure ensures that researchers can focus entirely on advancing their work in an environment that fosters innovation, collaboration, and impact.
Eligibility Criteria
Beginning with the 2026 call, applicants must meet revised eligibility standards:
- Must have authored or co-authored at least one peer-reviewed publication in an international journal or conference proceedings (accepted or published; submissions in preparation are not eligible), or provide demonstrable equivalent intellectual property output.
- Academic mentors are limited to supporting only one applicant per call.
This ensures applicants demonstrate tangible research output and mentors can provide focused support.
Apply: https://www.researchireland.ie/funding/government-ireland-postdoctoral/
Application Timeline
The application process for the Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme begins on 11th September 2025 at 12:00 Irish local time. Interested applicants must submit any queries before the FAQ deadline on 16th October 2025 at 16:00.
The official application deadline is 23rd October 2025 at 16:00, followed by the mentor submission deadline on 6th November 2025 at 16:00. Research offices must endorse applications by the final deadline of 13th November 2025 at 16:00.
The outcome of the call will be announced by the end of April 2026, with successful fellows expected to commence their awards on 1st September 2026. Applicants are strongly advised to prepare well in advance, as the programme enforces strict timelines and does not accommodate late submissions.