Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MU is offering the following supports to research students:

    COVID-19 Research Student Semester Completion Fee

    All students are eligible to register for one semester without a tuition fee being payable for that semester subject to the criteria below:

    • Students must have been registered for the semester January -September 2020 and or January - September 2021.
    • Students are only eligible for the COVID-19: Research Student Semester Completion Fee directly after completion of the normal duration of the research programme. For example when registering as full-time PhD and Professional Doctoral students in year 5; full-time Research Masters students in year 3; part-time PhD students in year 7; and part-time Research Masters students in year 4;
    • A student must be registered for the year prior to availing of the COVID-19: Research Student Semester Completion Fee. 

    The COVID-19 Research Student Semester Completion Fee is automatically applied to students who meet the criteria.  No application is required.

    HEA COVID-19 Costed Extensions Fund

    The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, through the Higher Education Authority, has provided funding to higher education institutions to cover costed extensions for certain research activities that are at risk because of interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The HEA cost extension budget provides funding for additional payments (stipend) to be made in exceptional cases to research projects that were active on 12th March 2020, and where activity was interrupted due to the COVID-19 crisis. Research students (who have completed their normal duration) whose research has been interrupted by the pandemic may apply for an extension of their contract/stipend period of up to a maximum of 4 months under this programme. Research students who are not in receipt of a stipend and whose work has been disrupted may also apply for a once-off exceptional stipend support. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis from March.
     

    Scenarios

    There are several scenarios under which students may wish to apply for extensions and/or funding. 

     

     

    COVID-19 Semester Completion Fee

    HEA Cost Extensions for Research
    Normal Duration Complete  Applied automatically by GS Eligible to apply 
    Normal Duration Complete: Received COVID-19 Semester Completion Fee   Eligible to apply: If approved  Once off Covid 19 Thesis Submission Waiver automatically applies
    Normal Duration Complete: Received HEA Cost Extensions for Research for 4 months and COVID-19 Semester Completion Fee   Eligible to apply for extention: If approved  Once off Covid 19 Thesis Submission Waiver automatically applies