Assessment Process

  • Assessment Process is based on the quality and excellence of the applicant. 

  • Applications will not be assessed if they are incomplete i.e. an incomplete application form, a completed supervisor form and/or two academic reference forms are not supplied, or received after the advertised closing date.
  • Applicants with a Disability, who are applying for a Hardiman PhD Scholarship and who also tick in Q10 of the application form that they wish to be considered for “at least one Hardiman PhD Scholarship will be awarded to a candidate with a disability who meets the determining criterion” are required to provide verification of their disability as part of the Hardiman application process, by the advertised closing date.

  • Completed applications will be assessed by a panel of assessors.
  • The panel will consist of a number of assessors with experience of similar review processes.
  • All applications will be assessed by at least three assessors from different backgrounds.
  • The applications will be assessed under four main headings which reflect the main sections of the application process.
  • Assessors will consider all four elements of the application and allocate scores as follows:
  1. Personal Research Statement (max. 50 points)
  2. Academic Qualifications (max. 30 points)
  3. Referees’ reports (max. 10 points)
  4. Prior Research Experience (max. 10 points)
  • Shortlisting of applicants will be undertaken by the panel of assessors.
  • All shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.