Kemmy Business School – PhD Scholarships 2026/27

Kemmy Business School – PhD Scholarship 2026/27

Entry Requirements This scholarship is open to new full‑time PhD candidates who intend to register and enrol for the first time during the Autumn semester of the 2026/27 academic year.

Applicants will normally hold a Master’s degree or a First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in a discipline aligned with their proposed research. Evidence of project management, scientific writing, and familiarity with research methodologies is advantageous. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to work independently, engage effectively with their supervisory team, and contribute to the research environment of the Graduate Centre of Business, home to approximately 70 PhD candidates.

Fees & Stipend The scholarship covers annual postgraduate research EU fees (currently €5,800) and provides a stipend of €25,000 per annum for three years.

Closing Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026. We reserve the right not to make an award.

How to Apply

PhD applications are evaluated under three criteria:

Quality of Proposal (50%) — Clarity and coherence of the research idea; critique of relevant literature; alignment with the research topic; appropriateness of research design and methodologies; justification and contribution of the study; feasibility of the research plan; ethical considerations and sex/gender dimension; plans for skill acquisition; dissemination strategy; and potential impact beyond academia.
Quality of Scholar (40%) — Academic performance; relevance of qualifications to the proposed research; and quality of references (two required, including at least one academic reference).
Quality of Supervisory Team (10%) — Alignment of supervisory expertise with the thesis topic; research output; evidence of joint supervision; and complementarity of supervisory experience.

Research Proposal Structure (Approx. 3,000 words)

Candidates must submit:

Cover Letter & Personal Statement — Outlining how previous studies, research, or professional experience have prepared the candidate for doctoral study, including motivations for pursuing a PhD at KBS.
Two Written References — At least one academic.
Research Proposal — Following the required template:

Description of proposed research, including literature critique and topic alignment (1,000 words)
Research design and methodologies (500 words)
Justification and contribution of the study (500 words)
Feasibility of research plan (200 words)
Ethical considerations (100 words)
Plans for acquiring new knowledge/skills (200 words)
Dissemination and knowledge‑exchange plans (200 words)
Potential impact beyond academia (200 words)
Plans to apply for funding during the PhD (100 words)

Additional Information

Conditions of the Scholarship

Scholarships are awarded for up to three years. Failure to successfully complete the Annual Research Student Progression Process or, where relevant, the Research Confirmation Process within the academic year will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.

Successful applicants will be required to formally present their research annually, with particular emphasis on sustainability and interdisciplinary relevance.

Submission Process

Completed applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by close of business on Wednesday,30 September 2026 to KBSResearch@ul.ie. We reserve the right not to make an award.

You can view the full scholarship information here: https://www.ul.ie/research/doctoral-college/postgraduate-research-scholarships

Kemmy Business School - PhD Scholarship Social Acceptability of Agrivoltaics

Kemmy Business School – PhD Scholarship Social Acceptability of Agrivoltaics — Integrating Solar Generation with Animal Grazing Systems

Project Overview

The University of Limerick is seeking a doctoral candidate to join OviVoltaics, a multidisciplinary project examining how utility‑scale solar generation can be integrated with agricultural production to create resilient and sustainable land‑use systems.

This PhD will focus on the social acceptability of agrivoltaics, assessing societal readiness and generating evidence to inform policy and planning. The candidate will work within a team spanning animal production, behaviour and health, biodiversity, water quality and carbon emissions, supervised by Professor John Garvey, Kemmy Business School.

Applicants must demonstrate alignment with UL’s Research Strategy 2022–2027: Wisdom for Action and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

Entry Requirements

Candidates should have:

A strong Master’s‑level background in a relevant social science discipline (e.g., rural sociology, human geography, STS, environmental policy, agricultural/environmental economics).
Experience with qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups, stakeholder analysis).
Ability to drive unaccompanied on Irish roads.
On‑site presence at UL.

Scholarship Package

Full coverage of annual EU postgraduate research fees
€25,000 tax‑free stipend per annum for three years
Additional support for travel and conferences
Membership of an interdisciplinary research team
Access to the BiOrbic National Research Centre

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted as a single document (CV, Cover Letter, Qualifications) with the subject line “OviVoltaics PhD Application” to: KBSResearch@ul.ie

Evaluation Criteria

1. Quality of Proposal (50%)

Clarity and coherence; critique of relevant literature; alignment to topic; appropriateness of research design; feasibility; ethical considerations; skills acquisition plans; dissemination strategy; potential impact beyond academia.

2. Quality of Scholar (40%)

Academic track record; relevance of qualifications; two references (one academic).

3. Quality of Supervisory Team (10%)

Alignment of topic with supervisory expertise; research output; evidence of joint supervision and complementary skills.

Research Proposal Structure (~3,000 words)

Proposed research, literature critique & alignment (1000 words)
Research design & methodologies (500 words)
Justification & contribution (500 words)
Feasibility (200 words)
Ethical considerations (100 words)
Skills acquisition plan (200 words)
Dissemination & knowledge‑exchange plans (200 words)
Impact beyond academia (200 words)
Funding plans during PhD (100 words)

Additional Information

Scholarship Conditions

Scholarship holders may hold the award for up to three years. Failure to complete Annual Progression or Research Confirmation requirements may result in forfeiture. Successful applicants will present their research annually, with emphasis on sustainability and interdisciplinary contribution.

Closing Date

Wednesday, 30 September 2026 We reserve the right not to make an award.

Submission

Completed applications and supporting documentation must be submitted to: KBSResearch@ul.ie