Scholarships in Ireland
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Scholarships
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Ireland is one of a relatively small number of European destinations where international students can realistically secure a fully funded, or near-fully-funded, degree at a globally ranked university. Through a combination of government scholarships and university-level merit awards, meeting Ireland’s scholarship criteria is genuinely achievable if you plan early, prepare strong documentation, and apply well ahead of each deadline.
Key Facts: Funding Your Education in Ireland
● A Flagship Government Award: The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) provides a €10,000 stipend plus a full tuition fee waiver for one year of Master’s or PhD study, with around 60 scholarships awarded each year. (Higher Education Authority)
● University-Level Merit Funding: Universities including UCD run their own Global Excellence Scholarships, covering 50% to 100% of tuition for outstanding applicants at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. (UCD Global)
● Early, Region-Specific Deadlines: Scholarship application windows open and close well before the academic year begins, and some universities run different deadlines for applicants from different regions of the world — early preparation of a complete application is essential.
Principal Scholarship Channels in Ireland
1. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)
Funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Irish higher education institutions and administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the GOI-IES is the country’s flagship funding channel for high-achieving international students.
● What it covers: A €10,000 stipend to contribute toward living costs, plus a full tuition-fee waiver for the scholarship year, provided by the host institution. (Higher Education Authority)
● Eligibility: Open to applicants domiciled outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK, applying for full-time, in-person study at NFQ Level 9 or 10 (Master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD) at an eligible Irish institution. (University College Cork)
● Scale: Approximately 60 scholarships are awarded each year across all eligible fields of study, making this a genuinely competitive but achievable award for strong applicants.
2. University Global Excellence and Merit Scholarships
Beyond the government scheme, individual universities run their own merit-based awards to attract outstanding international students.
● UCD Global Excellence Scholarships: Limited 100% and 50% tuition-fee scholarships are available to outstanding non-EU applicants at both undergraduate and graduate taught level, with regional application deadlines running from February to March each year. (UCD Global)
● Department- and School-Level Stipends: Some academic departments run additional funding on top of central university scholarships — for example, UCD’s School of Earth Sciences offers stipends of up to €20,000 as a contribution to living costs for non-EU applicants to specific MSc programmes. (UCD Global)
● Trinity, UCC and other institutions run comparable entrance and merit scholarship schemes; always check each university’s own scholarships page for the current year’s eligible programmes and deadlines.
2026/27 Scholarship Quick Reference
| Scholarship | Primary Focus & Audience | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) | Master's, PG Diploma & PhD students, all non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss nationalities | €10,000 stipend + full tuition-fee waiver for one year |
| UCD Global Excellence Scholarship | Outstanding undergraduate & graduate-taught non-EU applicants | 50% to 100% tuition-fee waiver |
| University departmental stipends | Applicants to specific eligible programmes (varies by school) | Living-cost stipends, up to €20,000 in some cases |
| University-specific merit awards | High-achieving applicants (varies by institution) | Partial to full tuition-fee reductions |
The Eleevate Advantage: Flawless Scholarship Applications
Securing funding in Ireland rewards precision — from correctly matching your profile to GOI-IES eligibility criteria, to building a compelling application for a university’s Global Excellence Scholarship before its regional deadline closes. At Eleevate Overseas, our admissions and scholarship specialists manage the details of your portfolio, review your essays and references against each scheme’s evaluation criteria, and track deadlines across multiple Irish institutions to position your application for maximum funding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can international students apply for both a government and a university scholarship in Ireland?
In most cases, yes — you can apply to multiple funding schemes to maximise your chances. Where scholarship rules restrict combining a full government award with a separate university tuition waiver, you will typically be asked to choose one primary source of funding.
2. What documents are required for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship?
You need a conditional or final offer of admission from an eligible Irish institution, two references submitted through the official HEA online portal, and evidence that you meet the GOI-IES eligibility criteria — including being domiciled outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK. (Higher Education Authority)
3. Is there an age limit for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship?
The GOI-IES call document sets out the current cycle's specific eligibility criteria each year, including domicile, admission-offer and course-level requirements — always check the latest official call document before applying, as full eligibility conditions can change year to year.
4. Does the GOI-IES cover the entire duration of a Master's or PhD?
No. The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship covers one academic year only, even where the programme itself runs longer, so you should budget for tuition and living costs in any subsequent years of a multi-year programme. (Higher Education Authority)
5. Can I apply for a university scholarship for any course?
No. University merit scholarships such as UCD's Global Excellence Scholarship are typically restricted to a defined list of eligible undergraduate and graduate-taught programmes — always confirm your specific programme's eligibility before applying. (UCD Global)
6. What happens if I do not receive a scholarship?
Even without a scholarship, Ireland's non-EU tuition fees are often comparable to or lower than equivalent UK or US programmes, and students may work part-time (up to 20 hours per week in term time) to help offset living costs. (Immigration Service Delivery)
