Welfare supports for PhD candidates
Becoming a PhD candidate in Ireland can be an incredibly exciting opportunity, however it often entails working in high-intensity research environments, which can create undue stress. As such, it’s important to know that there are national and local supports available to you as a PhD candidate to make the most out of your research career.
Generally, you can expect your first port of call for support to be your supervisory team, but outside of that you can also contact your local students’ union, or the national students’ union, AMLÉ (postgrad@amle.ie) for additional advice and guidance.
Below is a list of some support for various aspects of your welfare as a PhD candidate.
PhD candidates come from many diverse backgrounds, from coming straight from a Masters degree to entering through industrial pathways, but regardless for many candidates it may be your first time engaging in academic research. As such, there are a range of resources available.
International supports
The Thesis Whisperer
Blog/community about PhD life, academic burnout, supervisor relationships, and writing a thesis.
Vitae – Researcher Development
UK-based but widely used in Irish universities; covers researcher wellbeing, resilience, career development and supervision.
Student Minds – Postgraduate Mental Health
Resources specifically for postgraduate and doctoral students dealing with isolation, stress, and uncertainty.
Local supports
University skills centre/academic learning centre
Many HEIs operate academic learning centre-style units that provide support on academic writing, academic integrity, thesis writing, referencing and avoiding academic misconduct.
Managing your mental health is crucial to a fulfilling research career; it’s a marathon, not a sprint!
Doing a PhD can entail numerous stress factors, from workload to having multiple responsibilities including teaching and research. As such, it is important to be aware of what support is available to you throughout your degree.
National supports
AMLÉ Mental Health
Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ) operate a mental health programme, funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) that compiles resources and supports for student mental health in Ireland. AMLÉ also has a comprehensive Welfare Resource Pack that outlines resources and organisations that are available to students.
SpunOut
SpunOut is Ireland’s largest youth mental health and wellbeing platform. They provide strong practical content on anxiety, burnout, loneliness, academic pressure, and accessing support. Also includes free text support services, by texting HELLO to 50808 (“Text About It”). Notably, SpunOut is primarily designed for 16-25 year olds.
Mental Health Ireland
Mental Health Ireland is the is the longest established national mental health charity in Ireland. They provide resources for mental wellbeing, stress management, workplace wellbeing, and community programmes.
Aware
Aware provides support and education for depression, anxiety, mood, and stress. They also support groups and free programmes to support mental health.
Pieta
Pieta provides support and therapy services for suicidal distress, self-harm, and overwhelming mental health difficulties.
Samaritans Ireland
Samaritans provide 24/7 confidential listening service if you need to talk through stress, isolation or crisis.
Jigsaw – The National Centre for Youth Mental Health
Jigsaw is a youth mental health charity in Ireland that provides free therapy and support to young people aged 12-25.
Digital resources
SilverCloud Health
SilverCloud provides an online cognitive behavior therapy-style mental health programmes used by several Irish universities.
Togetherall
Togetherall is an anonymous peer-support mental health community available through many universities.
Local supports
University student counselling
Most HEIs in Ireland provide free counselling services to all registered students, however, be aware that these services can often be under high demand and entail long waiting lists to be seen.
Students’ Union mental health supports
If your HEI has a students’ union Welfare Officer, they will be able to provide you with one-to-one mental support and often possess resources signposting to available supports. However, please note that these officers are themselves not trained mental health professionals, and should not be treated as such.
As well as supporting your mental wellbeing, it is important for you to stay physically active during a PhD, as a research degree can often involve multiple hours a day in sedentary positions. As well as this, it is important for you to support yourself with a well-balanced, nutritious diet. Should illness or injury occur during the course of your degree, it is also important to know how to access medical professionals.
National supports
HSE Exercise
Ireland’s Health Service Executive provides advice on incorporating exercise into healthy lifestyles.
Olio
Olio is an app that allows people to sell and pick up excess food from other users and local businesses.
Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is another app that works directly with local businesses to help them sell excess food items for a discounted price.
Local supports
Student health centres
Many HEIs now operate student health services which can provide first aid, routine medical examinations and vaccinations, often at heavily subsidised rates or for free.
University gym
Many HEIs provide free or subsidised access to a gym, which can entail exercise machines, a swimming pool and free fitness classes. These facilities are also often used by student-ran clubs performing numerous different sports.
Food banks/pantries
Many students’ unions operate food banks/pantries, often in partnership with FoodCloud, which provide free/heavily subsidised access to bulk food items, helping to save food waste and provide students with food and drink items.
You will meet many new people in the course of undertaking a PhD, and as such it is important you are aware of supports available to you should you become involved in relationships during your time.
National supports
Too Into You
Too Into You provide confidential messaging and support regarding relationship counselling and advice for maintaining healthy relationships.
Sexualwellbeing.ie
Sexualwellbeing.ie is the HSEs free sexual health service that provides confidential, at-home STI testing and free contraceptives.
Local supports
Student health centres
If your HEI has a student health centre, they may provide free STI testing and contraceptive supports.
Student’s Union sexual health supports
Many students’ unions will provide free sexual health support and guidance, ranging from contraceptives to resource packs and signposting to external organisations.
Being a PhD candidate can be financially stressful, as you will typically be earning below a minimum wage, with the current leading stipends being a maximum of €25,000 (non-taxable income). It is also worth noting that due to your untaxable nature, you are not eligible for tax relief services, nor do you contribute to Pay Related Social Insurance, Ireland’s social security system.
As well as this, some PhD candidates work multiple jobs, either inside their HEI or externally, as such it is important for you to manage your work-life balance – your PhD research project should always be your primary responsibility!
National supports
HEA Student Finance
A convenient and user-friendly source of information about the financial assistance schemes available in Ireland to help you progress through further and higher education.
Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)
The MABS offers free, confidential support to help people in Ireland manage money, tackle debt, and improve budgeting skills.
Irish Revenue
Information on tax rules for PhD stipends.
Citizens Information
Information on tax relief for third-level (higher education) fees.
Local supports
University budgeting service
Many HEIs operate financial supports and advice departments that provide free budgeting advice, budget templates and guidance to students on managing their finances.
Ireland’s housing market is currently in flux and it can be difficult to find affordable accommodation during your time as a PhD candidate, as such it is important to know the major resources for finding accommodation and dealing with issues that may arise during your time here.
National supports
Daft.ie and Rent.ie
Daft and Rent are the two largest databases of currently available rental properties and allow you to contact landlords/letting agencies to express interest and arrange viewings of current rental properties.
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB)
The RTB is an independent statutory body that regulates and resolves disputes in the private rented residential sector in Ireland. If you are renting a room that is registered with the RTB, you should be added to their database and be able to avail of the associated rights.
Threshold
Threshold is an Irish housing charity that helps renters and tenants with housing problems and disputes.
Community Action Tenants Union (CATU)
CATU are a tenant's union active in Ireland that directly assist tenants with issues relating to rental properties and landlords.
Local supports
University accommodation office
Most HEIs operate accommodation offices or services such as StudentPad to assist students in finding accommodation. HEIs also have their own on-campus accommodation, typically operated on a lottery basis, so early application is advised.
Students’ Union accommodation support
Most Students’ Union Welfare Officers provide support to students in finding accommodation, through platforms such as StudentPad, internal databases of landlords and rental properties, or through operating “rent-a-room" schemes, whereby local property owners rent a room in their house to students, typically known as “digs” or “owner-occupied tenancies”. It is worth noting that you do not have typical tenancy rights in these types of accommodation, and instead will have a licence agreement, with different terms and conditions.
Private student accommodation
Most major university cities operate a number of private student accommodation complexes, often listed on HEI websites, however these complexes can be prohibitively expensive and may not be affordable on a PhD stipend, so external financial support may be required.