Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Dublin City University for 2026 Intake: DCU Announces €25,000 Per Year Funded PhD Opportunity in Law, Governance and Energy Justice
Dublin City University (DCU) has announced a fully funded PhD scholarship opportunity within its School of Law and Government for the September 2026 academic intake.
The doctoral position is part of the innovative SHINE research project, an interdisciplinary initiative examining the relationship between social housing, clean energy transitions, and citizen engagement.
The application deadline for the scholarship is 08 July 2026 at 17:00, and the successful candidate will receive a yearly stipend of €25,000 alongside full tuition fee coverage, including non-EU fees, for up to four years.
Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Dublin City University for 2026: Scholarship Details
The fully funded doctoral scholarship offers:
- Annual stipend of €25,000
- Full tuition fee coverage for four years
- Open eligibility for Irish, EU, and international applicants
- Full-time PhD study beginning in September 2026
- Opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary research environment in Dublin
The selected researcher will be based in Dublin throughout the duration of the programme and will join a collaborative academic community at DCU.
About the SHINE Research Project
The PhD position forms part of the SEAI-funded research project titled SHINE, led by Dr Valesca Lima from the School of Law and Government and Professor Stephen Daniels from the School of Electronic Engineering.
SHINE is a four-year interdisciplinary initiative focused on understanding how residents in social housing engage with clean energy transitions and climate policies. The project aims to explore how citizen science approaches and emerging technologies can support vulnerable households while addressing energy poverty and climate resilience.
Researchers involved in the project will investigate how national decarbonisation targets intersect with social housing policy and behavioural change strategies.
Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Dublin City University for 2026: Research Focus and Themes
Applicants are encouraged to design their own doctoral research project within the broader SHINE framework. The university is particularly interested in proposals that embrace interdisciplinarity and address social justice challenges connected to energy and housing.
Indicative research areas include:
- Public policy and governance in climate transitions
- Citizen engagement and citizen science methodologies
- Energy poverty and social housing
- Human-technology and human-data interaction
- Housing regulations and climate action plans
- Policy innovation for a just transition
Potential projects may examine how citizen-generated data can influence national housing strategies or how real-time technological feedback systems impact household energy literacy and sustainable behaviours.
Supportive Research Environment at DCU
DCU stated that successful candidates will benefit from a supportive and collaborative research environment. Doctoral researchers will receive academic supervision, professional development opportunities, and support in shaping their independent research direction.
The scholarship is expected to attract candidates with interests in public policy, governance, sustainability, social justice, environmental systems, and technological innovation.
Fully Funded PhD Scholarship at Dublin City University for 2026: Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should hold:
- A Level 8 Bachelor’s Degree in fields such as:
- Political Science
- Public Policy
- Sociology
- Human Geography
- Education
- Data Science
- Environmental Science
- Sustainable Systems
- Related disciplines with a strong interest in social justice
Additionally, a Level 9 Master’s Degree in a relevant field is considered desirable.
Application Process
Interested applicants are required to submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum three pages)
- Motivation Letter (maximum two pages)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for online interviews scheduled for mid-July 2026. International applicants may also be asked to provide proof of English language proficiency.
Applications should be submitted via email to tracymae [dot] ildefonso [at] dcu.ie.
For informal inquiries regarding the scholarship or research project, applicants may contact Dr Valesca Lima at valesca [dot] lima [at] dcu.ie.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding
