SPHeRE Programme Scholar Applications 2026

The SPHeRE PhD Programme in Population Health, Policy and Health-services Research (PHPHSR) aspires to cultivate world-class researchers through a four-year structured PhD Programme. SPHeRE means ‘Structured Population health, Policy and Health-services Research Education.

Please fill out the application form below. You will need details of 2 referees to support your application. At the end, you will be asked to attach your 1-page cover letter and 2-page CV in either PDF or Word format.

Please do not refresh the page while completing your application, as this may result in your information being lost. 

For more information about the Programme, our research priorities and the application process, please visit our website: www.sphereprogramme.ie

Please note your application may also be reviewed by Supervisors/PI's with alternative sources of funding who wish to fund a scholar in the 2026 cohort. 

The closing date for applications for a HRB funded SPHeRE Scholarship applications is Monday 20th April at 12 noon.

Incomplete applications or late applications will not be considered.

Interviews for successfully shortlisted candidates will take place on Wednesday 13th May and Monday 18th May online. We will not be able to facilitate requests for alternative dates.

Please note that scholarships cannot be deferred to the next academic year.

Due to the high volume of applications expected individual feedback on applications that are not accepted will not be possible.

Personal Details

Professional and Academic Background

Experience and Leadership in PHPHSR

Project Application

Please rank the projects you wish to apply for in order of preference. Applicants may apply for a maximum of three projects only.

Please note that the first choice is the project that you would most like to work on. Please select at least one project. 

Futher details on the projects can be found at https://www.sphereprogramme.ie/scholar-applications/

Projects fall under one of the following areas below:

Health policy and systems research

Health policy and systems research (HPSR) is an emerging field that seeks to understand and improve how societies organize themselves in achieving collective health goals, and how different actors interact in the policy and implementation processes to contribute to policy outcomes. It focuses primarily upon the more upstream aspects of health, organizations and policies, rather than clinical or preventive services or basic scientific research (for example into cell or molecular structures). It covers a wide range of questions − from financing to governance − and issues surrounding implementation of services and delivery of care in both the public and private sectors.

 

Health service and technology evaluation

Health service evaluation seeks to assess how well a service is achieving its intended aims. It is undertaken to benefit the people using a particular healthcare service and is designed and conducted with the sole purpose of defining or judging the current service. Health technology assessment is the systematic evaluation of properties, effects, and/or impacts of health care technologies.

 

Population health research

Population health research describes the health outcomes of groups of people and analyses the determinants of those health outcomes.

Referees

Please provide contact details for two referees

Attachements

Please attach a 1-page cover letter and a 2-page CV below. Additional documents such as academic transcripts or publications are not necessary. Additional documents will not be reviewed by the shortlisting panel.

Before You Submit

It would be very helpful for us if you could answer the following question