PhD scholarships at University College Cork for commencement September 2027

The Department of French at UCC welcomes expressions of interest from potential applicants to the first ever round of the UCC Futures Scholars Programme (GoI), supported through Research Ireland Empower. 

We have research and supervisory expertise in the following areas:

• Modern and contemporary French philosophy, theory and thought (including radical political theory, psychoanalysis and postcolonial theory)
• Francophone colonial and postcolonial studies (Africa and the Caribbean)
• Second language acquisition and Sociolinguistics
• Translation Studies (including audiovisual translation)
• Queer theory and Queer Studies
• The Medical and Psychedelic Humanities
• Disability Studies
• The digital public sphere
• The impact of generative AI on education and society.

These studentships are for full-time PhD study over 4 years. They include tuition fees (at either EU/UK or International levels), a maintenance allowance and generous funding of research expenses.

This scheme will be extremely competitive and each colleague may only support one applicant as Main Supervisor. Given how competitive the scheme is likely to be, the Department will only be able to consider supporting applicants with:

• a First-class Undergraduate degree
• and a Distinction at Master’s (taught or by research)
• and one or more other significant accolades such as a publication in a peer-reviewed journal or significant prizes or other awards for academic achievement.

It is imperative that you get in touch with us quickly if you are considering applying so that we can work with you to develop the best possible application. While the final application deadline is 11^th December, we would expect to hear from you by 15^th November if you wish to be considered.

• More information about this new scheme of awards can be found here.
• This is the full Call document.
• The Application Form may be downloaded here.

To express your interest in PhD study in the Department of French under this scheme please:

• email Professor Oliver Davis, Head of Department, at odavis@ucc.ie as soon as possible;
• attach an academic CV; and a research proposal (2pp maximum).

The new UCC postdoctoral awards process will launch in January 2027.