This partnership award joins the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in Ireland with RCSI, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Two grants are expected for 2027–28; RCSI has offered two such scholarships since 2019.
Grantees spend four years at RCSI’s Dublin campus on a PhD project in one of its research strengths, such as cancer, neurological and psychiatric disorders, population health, biomaterials and medical devices, surgical science, or vascular biology.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly stipend of €2,083.33; the award is worth at most €170,400 over four years.
- Fulbright funds the first 12 months, with tuition covered; RCSI provides fee waivers and funding for the other three years.
- International travel, accident and sickness cover, and a 24/7 mental-health line.
- 12 months of U.S. federal non-competitive hiring eligibility.
- No support for dependents.
Eligibility
- U.S. citizens or nationals who are resident in the U.S.; permanent residents are not eligible. Dual Irish citizens may apply.
- An honours bachelor’s degree at 2.1 or above (or a 3.63 GPA), unless it comes with a completed master’s in a relevant discipline; the degree must be conferred before the grant starts.
- Not eligible if you hold a Ph.D. by the deadline, or lived abroad five or more of the six years before it.
- No residence in Ireland in the year before the grant.
- Fulbright cannot fund research involving clinical training or patient contact.
- No language requirement.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Must be holders of an honours bachelor degree, grade 2.1 or above (or 3.63 GPA), unless it is accompanied by a completed master’s degree from a Recognised College in a relevant discipline. … Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant … Applicants must have a conferred bachelor's degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period. … Applicants who currently hold or will hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) by the national application deadline. … Anyone who has resided abroad for five or more years in the six-year period preceding the national application deadline.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
USA
Residence required
USA
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Find an RCSI supervisor willing to back your project; they send your CV, GPA and letter of support to RCSI’s postgraduate school, which issues your affiliation letter.
- 2Apply to the PhD programme separately, as all graduate-degree applicants must.
- 3Submit the Fulbright application with the affiliation letter and three recommendation letters by the national deadline: 6 October 2026 for 2027–28.
- 4Recommended applicants go on to review in Ireland, which may include an interview.
Program timeline
6 October 2026
2027–28 application deadline (closed)
Initial notification
End of January 2027
Final selections, on a rolling basis
Spring 2027
Grant begins
1 September 2027