Overview: Cork University Business School (CUBS), University College Cork invites motivated and talented graduates with outstanding academic records to apply for this funded PhD Scholarship on Women. Entrepreneurship and Technology. We are looking to recruit 1 full-time PhD student who desires to earn a PhD that will attain the highest standards of academic excellence and positively influence their discipline in addition to being able to demonstrate the impact of their research to society. CUBS is one of Ireland’s largest business schools with almost 4,000 students and over 180 staff. Double accredited by AMBA and AACSB, a member of PRME and an Athena SWAN bronze awardee, CUBS is in the top 5% of business schools globally. As a research-intensive school, the ambition of CUBS is to focus on quality research and education, gain additional accreditations and internationalise further while continuing our drive to further embed sustainability and responsible leadership into our programmes and research activities.
PhD Learning Environment: CUBS is committed to providing a dynamic and supportive learning and research environment, which recognises the diverse backgrounds and interests of both students and staff. The successful applicant will be provided with learning and networking opportunities to attain the highest standards of academic excellence.
Funding: This scholarship provides up to four years funding, covering doctoral programme tuition fees and an annual stipend of €25,000 per year (subject to satisfactory progress in studies each year).
Research Area: Applicants are invited to submit a PhD proposal on Women, Entrepreneurship and Technology which aligns with one of the projects listed below:
- Project Title: "I'm so sick of running as fast as I can, wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man": an exploratory study of women founders in technology entrepreneurship
Supervisory Team: Dr Gillian Barrett, Dr Ciara Fitzgerald, Dr Fiona Edwards Murphy
- Project Title: Women Technopreneurs in the Agri-food Industry: Cross-country Case Studies of Lived Experiences, Economic Practices, Entrepreneurship Ecosystems and the Future Outlook
Supervisory Team: Dr Lana Repar, Dr Tracy Bradfield, Professor Joe Bogue
- Project Title: Breaking the Digital Ceiling: Identity Work and Power Dynamics in Women's Tech Entrepreneurship - A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Ireland's Innovation Ecosystem
Supervisory Team: Dr Marie Ryan, Dr Huanhuan Xiong, Prof. Eleanor Doyle
- Project Title: Impact of technology on economic and non-economic outcomes of women entrepreneurs: Evidence from Ireland
Supervisory Team: Dr Stephen Onakuse, Dr Wendy Rowan, Dr Emma Beacom.
A detailed description of each project is available here and prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out to the project's supervisory team to discuss their application.
Essential criteria: To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have obtained a standard of at least Second Class Honours, Grade I in a relevant Masters degree. If English is not the applicant’s first language, they must meet the minimum English language entry requirements for Postgraduate Students at UCC. PG English Language Entry Requirements | UCC | University College Cork | Ireland
Application Process: Applicants are required to submit the following:
- An outline of the proposed research to include (a) aims, objectives and central research questions (and, if appropriate, research hypotheses) of the project; (b) how existing literature on the topic has been used to inform the proposal and the theoretical frameworks you propose to use; and (c) how the project will advance/make a contribution to existing knowledge (max 1000 words).
- A description of the proposed research design and methodologies in sufficient detail to demonstrate your understanding of the research topic. Please include: (a) details on the proposed sample and how access will be sought, (b) details on the proposed methodology (qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods) and its suitability for the proposed research, and (c) proposed analysis to be conducted (max 500 words):
- CV (max. 2 pages)
- Sample of recent academic writing/work that you authored (e.g. published paper, essay, section of thesis)
- Evidence of satisfying the English language requirements (if English not first language).
Applications must be submitted through this link. Candidates who do not submit all documents will not be considered.
Closing Date: The closing date for applications is 17:00 (local time) May 2nd, 2025. Applications received after this time will not be considered. Presentations and interviews will take place online the week of May 19th 2025. Informal enquiries can be sent to [email protected]
Successful Applicant: The successful scholarship awardee will then have to submit a formal application through the University application system with an anticipated start date in October 2025 and no later than January 2026.
Applicants who have not been successful but who have received a positive evaluation will be put on a waiting list to cover possible withdrawals and future positions.