Hope for a Better Future: Reflections of a Non-EU PhD Researcher in Ireland

A Leap into the Unknown

I came to Ireland with a clear aspiration: to contribute to new knowledge and, in doing so, help shape a better and more sustainable future. Like many early-career researchers, I arrived with hope, ambition, and a belief in the transformative power of education. Receiving a fully funded PhD offer felt like a milestone, an opportunity many aspire to. Yet behind the excitement came uncertainty. Accepting the offer meant leaving behind family, stability, and a familiar support system for a future filled with unknowns. Questions surfaced quickly: What if this does not go as planned? What if I do not find a community that shares my values? What if I fail? For many non-EU researchers, these questions are not hypothetical. They shape the decision to pursue academic opportunities abroad and linger long after arrival. The uncertainty does not end with accepting an offer; it continues through visa renewals, financial planning, and long-term career prospects. Unlike their EU counterparts, non-EU researchers must constantly navigate immigration requirements alongside academic expectations, often with limited institutional guidance or security. This ongoing precarity affects not only wellbeing and productivity, but also who is able to access and remain in academic spaces in the first place.

Leaving Home for a Purpose

Saying yes to a PhD abroad often means saying no to comfort. It means leaving loved ones behind, carrying guilt alongside ambition, and trusting that the sacrifices made, both personal and familial, will lead to something meaningful. I left a stable job and the security of home driven by the desire to contribute to the broader community. Like many international researchers, my decision was rooted not only in personal growth, but also in a sense of responsibility, to give back to those who supported me and to work toward positive societal change. Despite previous experience studying abroad, arriving in Ireland still brought unexpected challenges. Over time, settling in revealed the complex realities faced by non-EU PhD researchers, realities that are often absent from institutional narratives of academic excellence. Working as an engineer back home I always imagined ways in which I could conduct more research. Then I decided to apply for a PhD scholarship as I would not be able to apply for a self-funded PhD program. Back home it was and still is really hard to find a fully funded PhD opportunity due to country’s economic situation and lack of clear research landscape. Thus I applied for PhD scholarships in different countries.  Now here I am pursuing my dream in Ireland to carry out research. 

Navigating Structural Barriers

The administrative and bureaucratic hurdles faced by non-EU PhD researchers in Ireland are extensive. Visa restrictions, financial insecurity related to stipends, and persistent accommodation challenges add layers of stress to an already demanding academic journey. PhD researchers in Ireland exist in a grey area, classified as students while often being treated as staff. This ambiguity creates uncertainty around rights, access to supports, and recognition of labour. For non-EU researchers in particular, this structural positioning amplifies vulnerability. Opportunities often taken for granted, such as attending conferences within Europe, accessing mobility funding, or being reunited with family, are frequently inaccessible due to visa constraints. These silent losses accumulate and raise difficult questions about whether the pursuit of a doctoral degree should come at such personal and emotional cost.

Finding Collective Strength

Despite these challenges, there is space for hope. One year into my PhD, I became involved in the Students’ Union as a representative for postgraduate researchers. This role allowed me to better understand the systemic nature of the issues we face and reinforced the importance of collective advocacy. Through this involvement, I found the STAND community, a space grounded in social, environmental, and economic justice. Being part of this community provided not only support, but also a renewed sense of purpose. It reminded me that change is driven by people working together, across disciplines, backgrounds, and borders, to challenge inequitable systems.

Beyond Academic Titles

A PhD is often viewed as the highest academic qualification one can attain. Yet its value should not be measured solely by titles or credentials. For me, its significance lies equally in the relationships built, the advocacy undertaken, and the impact created beyond the laboratory or library. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, I have gained more than I anticipated: resilience, clarity, and a deeper commitment to justice. These experiences have shaped me not just as a researcher, but as a more conscious and engaged member of society. Saying yes to this opportunity was not easy. But through solidarity, action, and community, it has reaffirmed my belief that meaningful change is possible, and that together, students can work towards a future rooted in dignity, equity, and hope.

Buddila Wijeyesekera is a second-year STEM PhD researcher at the University of Galway and currently serves as the Postgraduate Research Officer of the University Students’ Union. Their work and advocacy focus on improving the lived experiences of postgraduate and international researchers, with particular attention to equity, representation, and systemic barriers within higher education. Through student leadership and community engagement, Buddila is committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and advancing education as a tool for social and global justice.