A fully funded Ad Astra PhD Scholarship in Global Health Systems and Policy is available at University College Dublin (UCD), starting September 2026. The scholarship offers four years of funding, advanced training, and international research opportunities for motivated early-career researchers. This blog breaks down the opportunity, explains who should apply, and guides you through the requirements and application process to help you submit a strong, competitive application before the 16 April 2026 deadline.
Overview of the Ad Astra PhD Scholarship in Global Health
The UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Systems offers an Ad Astra PhD Scholarship in global health systems, policy, and community engagement, starting September 2026. The position sits within UCD’s IRIS Centre and public health network, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex health inequities across countries.
The scholarship is aimed at candidates who want to investigate how meaningful community engagement can strengthen health systems and improve equity, especially in low‑resource or marginalized settings. Projects that adopt innovative methodologies such as realist evaluation, participatory and visual approaches, or mixed‑methods designs are particularly encouraged.
Funding, Benefits, and Timeline
The Ad Astra PhD Scholarship provides a comprehensive funding package that allows the scholar to focus fully on research and training.
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Full tuition fees covered for four years of full‑time PhD study at UCD.
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Annual tax-free stipend of €25,000 to support living costs in Dublin for the duration of the program.
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Dedicated research budget of €31,000 over four years to support fieldwork, data collection, community engagement activities, conference travel, and other research expenses.
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Access to UCD’s research infrastructure, training workshops, doctoral skills development, and international networks in global health.
Key dates include an online application deadline of 16 April 2026 and a program start in September 2026, subject to successful admission and, where required, visa arrangements.
Research Focus and Academic Environment
The core of this PhD scholarship is to explore how community engagement operates within health systems worldwide and to identify strategies that make this engagement more meaningful, inclusive, and equitable. Research may analyze how communities participate in service design, monitoring, and accountability, or how engagement mechanisms influence access, quality of care, and health outcomes across diverse contexts.
The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Sara Dada, Ad Astra Fellow and Assistant Professor in Global Public Health and Policy, together with a multidisciplinary supervisory team spanning nursing, public health, and allied disciplines. The scholar will also be part of the UCD IRIS Centre, an interdisciplinary hub for health systems research that promotes collaboration with partners across countries and sectors.
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Eligibility and Academic Requirements
This scholarship is open to applicants from any country who can meet UCD’s entry requirements for doctoral studies by the time of registration in September 2026. Candidates should have a strong academic background and a clear interest in global health, health systems, or related social policy issues.
Typical eligibility and background expectations include the following.
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An academic degree in health, social science, education, or a closely related field (for example, public health, nursing, sociology, anthropology, psychology, health economics, or development studies).
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Evidence of research experience using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches, such as a research thesis, published work, or project participation.
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A minimum upper‑second‑class honors degree (or international equivalent) at the undergraduate level, and preferably a relevant master’s degree, although strong bachelor’s graduates with exceptional research potential may also be considered.
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Demonstrated interest in community engagement, health equity, and policy-relevant research, reflected in previous studies, professional experience, or volunteering.
Applicants must also be able to commence and maintain full‑time study in Dublin for the full four‑year duration of the program. For international students, meeting UCD’s English language requirements and securing appropriate immigration permissions will be essential.
Requirements for the Global PhD Application
The selection committee uses a structured set of materials to assess applicants’ academic readiness, research potential, and fit with the global health theme. You will need to prepare the following components for the online form, ideally in PDF format.
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Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting academic background, research experience, publications (if any), relevant employment, and skills.
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One‑page personal statement explaining your motivation for pursuing a doctoral degree in global health, your interest in community engagement and equity, and why UCD is the right environment for your goals.
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A two‑page research proposal describing your proposed topic, aims, research questions, theoretical framing, and methodological approach, with a clear link to global health systems and community engagement.
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A generative AI and reflexivity statement outlining if and how you use AI tools in your academic work, your approach to research integrity, and your reflections on positionality in global health research.
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Academic transcripts and, where relevant, evidence of English language proficiency that meet UCD’s PhD admission criteria.
Applications are assessed on criteria such as motivation, alignment with the scholarship theme, research training and experience, clarity and feasibility of the research proposal, and evidence of transferable skills such as communication, organization, and self-direction.
Ideal Candidate Profile
While the scholarship remains open to diverse fields and backgrounds, successful applicants are likely to share several characteristics.
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Strong commitment to advancing health equity and improving outcomes for marginalized populations.
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Experience working with communities, NGOs, health services, or policy environments, particularly in low‑ and middle‑income settings or underserved communities.
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Familiarity with participatory, community‑based, or implementation science approaches, or a willingness to develop these skills during the PhD.
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Capacity to work across disciplines and cultures, including collaborating with partners in other countries and sectors.
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Excellent written and oral communication skills, critical thinking, and the ability to manage complex projects independently.
For example, a candidate who has contributed to a community health worker project, conducted a mixed‑methods evaluation of a primary care program, and is eager to apply realist evaluation or participatory action research would be highly aligned with the program’s aims.
How to Apply for the Global Head PhD: Step‑by‑Step
The application process is entirely online, and you should assemble your documents before accessing the form to avoid delays.
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Review the official information booklet and eligibility criteria on UCD’s website or the associated PDF to ensure you meet academic and language requirements.
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Develop a coherent research idea that fits within global health systems and community engagement, and draft your two‑page proposal with clear objectives and methods.
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Prepare your one‑page personal statement, emphasizing your motivation, prior experience, and long‑term career goals in global health.
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Update your CV to highlight research skills, methods training, publications, conference presentations, and relevant professional activities.
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Write your generative AI and reflexivity statement, reflecting on the ethical use of AI in research and your positionality when working with communities across different contexts.
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Convert all documents to PDF and complete the online application form, uploading each file in the specified sections before final submission.
Shortlisted candidates will later be contacted for interviews, during which they may be asked to discuss their proposed project, methodological approach, and fit with the supervisory team.
Apply for the Global Health PhD Here
You can submit your application for the Ad Astra PhD Scholarship in Global Health using the official UCD online form.
For more information 📰: https://lnkd.in/d3ggdAWm
Submit all materials through this link by 16 April 2026. We will not consider late or incomplete applications. For informal inquiries about the position, please contact Dr Sara Dada using the email address provided in the official brochure.
Why This Opportunity Matters for Global Health
This scholarship offers more than funding and places the PhD researcher within a global network advancing community engagement and policy. It connects rigorous academic training with meaningful partnerships and real-world impact across diverse global health contexts. The program equips graduates to lead research and practice that address structural drivers of health inequities worldwide.
For global health scholars passionate about evidence-informed policy, the Ad Astra PhD at UCD offers long-term research leadership.
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