Eligible Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Research-Performing Organisations (RPOs)

The current policy of the Council is that in order to be considered an eligible Higher Education Institution for the purpose of applying to our funding programmes (postgraduate, postdoctoral and project) an institution must be:

1. A third-level institution within the meaning of Section One of the Higher Education Authority Act, 1971 and/or in receipt of public funding as approved by the Minister for Education and Skills for the purposes of the Free Fees Initiative.
2. In receipt of public funding from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the purpose of higher education and research.
3. In compliance with the HEA Statement on Athena SWAN Charter in Ireland (July 2019).

These institutions are:

• Athlone Institute of Technology
• Coláiste Mhuire Marino
• Dublin City University
• Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
• Dublin Dental Hospital
• Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology
• Galway–Mayo Institute of Technology
• Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Institute of Technology, Sligo
• Letterkenny Institute of Technology
• Limerick Institute of Technology
• Marine Institute
• Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
• Maynooth University
• Munster Technological University
• National College of Ireland
• National University of Ireland, Galway
• RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Royal Irish Academy
• Royal Irish Academy of Music
• Technological University Dublin
• University College Cork
• University College Dublin
• University of Dublin, Trinity College
• University of Limerick
• Waterford Institute of Technology

In recognition of the contribution of non-HEI publicly funded research performers to Ireland’s research base, other Research Performing Organisations (RPOs) may also be eligible, subject to a qualification process, to apply to the Council’s postdoctorate and project schemes. Eligible RPOs possess an existing in-house capacity to carry out research that materially extends and enhances the Irish research base and are in a position to demonstrate an independent capability to undertake and lead research projects/programmes. For further information, see our Policies page.

Currently, these organisations are:

• Economic & Social Research Institute
• Teagasc
• The Discovery Programme