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New and Returning Student Guides

Message from the Dean of Graduate Studies

Dónal Leech, Dean of Graduate Studies

‌I would like to welcome you to NUI, Galway. For some of you, entry into a graduate programme represents a continuation of your undergraduate studies here, for others you are at NUI Galway for the first time. Regardless of the path that brought you here, we hope that you will learn more about our University and the supports that are available to you in this guide.  I wish you a successful and enjoyable chapter of your life as a graduate student at NUI, Galway.

Dónal Leech

Guides for New and Returning Postgraduate Research Students

1. Before you arrive  

2. Your first days here 

  1. If in receipt of a scholarship, you much complete the online form and arrange for the budget holder to complete their section. Scholarship forms much be submitted by the budget holder to the Research Accounts about the 7th of the month in order to receive stipend payments at the end of the month and going forward.
  2. There is a student guide available on the Research Accounts website. You should read prior to starting your online form.
  3. For queries regarding Scholarship Payments, contact your College Office or your Supervisor regarding the Scholarship form

3. During your studies

Please go to Current Student webpage http://www.nuigalway.ie/students/ for additional links.

On Campus Facilities

Registration >
Fees >
Scholarship payments (if applicable)
Please go to http://www.nuigalway.ie/research-accounting/scholarships/importantscholarshipinformation/ for important information. Please also go to https://www.nuigalway.ie/research-accounting/policies_procedures.html to view 

FRC.21.A2.14(c) Procedures for Managing PhD Scholarships for approval 


  • If you are in receipt of a scholarship/grant from the first year of your research programme, you will have completed online scholarship form for the years covered.
  • If you receive/change a scholarship/grant after year one or take a leave of absence, you will need to submit a new online scholarship form for remaining years.
    The budget holder will be able to advise you further on this.
  • There is a student guide available on the Research Accounts website. You should read prior to starting your online form.
  • Scholarship forms much be submitted by the budget holder to the Research Accounts about the 7th of the month in order to receive stipend payments at the end of the month and going forward.
  • Irish Research Council Scholarships - Are available for new/current research students on an annual basis to apply for. You should ask your supervisor if they are aware of any other external funding which you can apply for if you commence your research programme as a self-funded student.

Research Funding

The Research Office at NUI Galway provide updates to the research community on available research funding opportunities through their SharePoint site:Fund your research - Home (sharepoint.com). As new opportunities become available they will be added to this site and can be browsed by funder, by deadline or by career stage. For a more detailed search you can also access *Research Professional, an online database of global funding opportunities across all disciplines – a link to this database is available on the SharePoint site.

Researcher Development Centre
  • The RDC is an initiative of the offices of the VPR and Graduate Studies to support the continuing professional development of all our researchers, from Postgraduate to Senior Fellows, at NUI Galway.
Postgraduate Research Mentoring Programme
LinkedIn Learning

Student ID Card

  •  Click here if you require information on Term of Use, How to Protect your card, or What to do if you lose your student card.
James Hardiman Library >
Research Ethics
Academic Writing Centre
Information Solutions and Services (ISS) 

Go to Services for Students for full list of services provided by ISS.
Examples below

Student Services
Student Life
International Students
Postgraduate Student Representation 
  •  Academic Council is the chief academic authority and, subject to review by Údarás na hOllscoile, controls the academic affairs of the University, including the curriculum, instruction and education provided by the University.  Each September, two PG students are elected for this committee. The term is for one year. 
  • Údarás na hOllscoile the University's governing authority, is responsible for managing and controlling all of the affairs of the University (Governing Authority).  Each January each year, elections take place for Postgraduate student representation on this committee. The term is one year from the 1st February.  
  •  Graduate Studies Board
    Details on the Graduate Studies Board is covered in section2.2 of the University Guidelines for Research Degree Programmes. The Students’ Union Postgraduate Officer is on this Board and if required, another graduate student nominated by the Students’ Union (on an annual basis).
  • Students Union - Details on the Students Union Postgraduate Research Officer can be found under Representation. The officer changes on an annual basis.
  • Postgraduate Research Society - Please check out link NUI Galway Postgrad Facebook and also Postgraduate Research Society webpage

  • Postgraduate Research Student Representatives.  Find the details of your rep here

  • Academic Supports and Contacts           
    Vice Deans of Graduate Studies. 
    Each College has a Vice Dean of Graduate Studies.

   Postgraduate Academic Coordinators 

   Find the details of your PG Academic Co-ordinators here.

University Policies and Regulations

University Procedures, Code of Conduct and other Policies
Standards and Policies for your Research
Health and Safety >

If there is any information that you would find useful as a new or returning student here which is not included in the guides, please let us know by emailing us at graduatestudies@nuigalway.ie.