The Summer Scholarship scheme offers undergraduate students enrolled in a Level 8 degree course an opportunity to undertake a health or social care research project during the summer. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage an interest in research and give students an opportunity to work with researchers in high-quality research environments and to gain research experience at an early stage in their career.
Details of this scheme
In line with the HRB strategy, the research project must be conducted in one of the three research areas supported by the HRB: patient-oriented research, health services research or population health research (see Appendix II of the guidance notes for definitions). Applications outside those remits will be deemed ineligible and will not be funded.
The HRB will make an award to the host institution nominated in the application. Summer Scholars will be paid €400 per week for a minimum of six and a maximum of eight weeks by the host institution.
The scholarship must undertaken on a full-time basis during the summer of 2027.
Who can apply?
The lead applicant must:
- be an undergraduate student, full-time or part-time, enrolled in an NFQ Level 8 degree course at a third level institute located on the island of Ireland;
- have the support of a suitably qualified supervisor affiliated with a HRB-approved host institution;
- have the support of the supervisor’s HRB-approved host institution to administer the scholarship;
- be able to undertake the scholarship on a full-time basis for a minimum of six and a maximum of eight weeks during the summer of 2027;
- not be in the first or final year of their NFQ Level 8 degree course;
- not be in the final year of the undergraduate component of a degree course which includes an optional, additional or integrated year or more for further Level 9 or 10 qualification such as MSc, MPharm or PhD;
- not have previously conducted a PhD and/or MSc by research;
- not have previously completed 8 or more weeks (full-time equivalent) of research experience outside undergraduate degree requirements, for example research roles/jobs, summer scholarships or similar awards, including the HRB Summer Student Scholarship;
- not have already completed a HRB Summer Scholarship;
- not hold a summer studentship/internship/scholarship from another organisation at the same time during the summer of 2027;
- not submit more than one application to this scheme per round. Where two applications are received from the same applicant, both will be deemed ineligible.
How to apply
All applications must be made using the HRB Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS) https://grants.hrb.ie. GEMS will close automatically at the deadline.
The application must have been reviewed and approved by the signatory approver at the research office (or equivalent) in the host institution before it is submitted to the HRB. Therefore, applicants should ensure that they give the signatory approver sufficient time before the scheme closing date to review the application and approve it on GEMS. Please note that many host institutions specify internal deadlines for this procedure.
Contact us
Email: summerstudents@hrb.ie
Apply for this award
https://grants.hrb.ie