Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

About Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS – Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath), established in 1940 under the Institute for Advanced Studies Act, is Ireland’s statutory national research institute dedicated to fundamental discovery and advanced scholarship. Conceived by Taoiseach Éamon de Valera and modelled upon the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, DIAS was created to provide a sanctuary for pure academic research free from undergraduate teaching demands. Nobel Laureate Erwin Schrödinger was invited to Ireland as the inaugural Director of the School of Theoretical Physics, where he composed his seminal 1943 lectures "What is Life?". Today, DIAS comprises three world-leading constituent schools: the School of Theoretical Physics (quantum information, relativity, string theory), the School of Cosmic Physics (incorporating the Astronomy & Astrophysics Section at historic Dunsink Observatory, founded in 1785, and the Geophysics Section at 5 Merrion Square), and the School of Celtic Studies (palaeography, early Irish language, Brehon laws). DIAS conducts collaborative doctoral training in joint partnership with Ireland’s universities (Trinity College Dublin, UCD, DCU, UCC), where PhD researchers conduct groundbreaking research at DIAS while degrees are conferred by the partner universities. Fully funded PhD scholars and postdoctoral fellows receive prestigious stipends, high-performance computing resources, and active engagement with international facilities including CERN, ESA, ESO, and the Irish National Seismic Network (INSN). Non-EU doctoral and postdoctoral researchers qualify directly for Ireland’s Third Level Graduate Scheme (Stamp 1G post-study work visa for 2 years) and Hosting Agreements for researchers.