Scholarships in Ireland

Studying in Ireland with a scholarship

Ireland has a relatively small higher education system, but it includes well-known universities and technological universities with a strong international student population.

International students can apply to institutions such as:

• Trinity College Dublin
• University College Dublin
• University College Cork
• University of Galway
• Dublin City University
• University of Limerick
• Technological University Dublin
• other public and private institutions

Entry requirements are set by the individual institution, so there is no single admission standard for the entire country. Education in Ireland states that universities and colleges assess applicants based on their previous qualifications and English-language ability.

Funding can come from:

• Government of Ireland scholarships
• university merit scholarships
• tuition discounts
• research funding
• doctoral scholarships
• external organisations

The most important thing is to check whether the award actually makes the programme affordable after tuition and living costs are considered.

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship

One of Ireland’s main national scholarship programmes for international students is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship, commonly called GOI-IES.

The programme is funded by the Irish Government together with participating higher education institutions and managed by the Higher Education Authority.

It is designed for high-performing international students studying at:

• master’s level
• postgraduate diploma level
• PhD level

The scholarship applies to NFQ Levels 9 and 10 and is awarded for one year of full-time study in Ireland.

How many GOI-IES scholarships are available?

For the 2026 cycle, the Higher Education Authority stated that 60 scholarships would be awarded.

Each award provides:

• a €10,000 stipend
• a full tuition-fee waiver for one year

The fee waiver is provided by the host institution, while the stipend is funded under the scholarship programme.

This makes GOI-IES a substantial award, but students should still calculate whether €10,000 is enough to cover their living costs for the year.

GOI-IES eligibility

For the 2026 cycle, applicants needed to have their domicile of origin outside:

• the EU
• EEA
• Switzerland
• the United Kingdom

Applicants also needed to hold either a conditional or final admission offer from an eligible Irish higher education institution at the time they submitted the scholarship application.

That means students cannot normally apply to GOI-IES first and decide on a university later.

University admission comes first.

2026 GOI-IES deadline

The 2026 application deadline was:

12 March 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Irish time

The 2026 call is now closed. Results were scheduled for early June 2026.

Students planning for a later intake should not assume that the same deadline will apply again.

Wait for the next official Higher Education Authority announcement.

GOI-IES is highly competitive

The scholarship is designed for strong applicants.

The Higher Education Authority says applications are assessed on areas including:

• academic achievement
• communication skills
• extracurricular involvement
• the strength of the applicant’s reasons for studying in Ireland
• how the programme fits long-term goals

This means a high GPA helps, but grades alone may not be enough.

Applicants should clearly explain why their chosen Irish programme matters for their academic or professional development.

References are important

For the 2026 GOI-IES application, candidates had to upload two references through the online portal.

Applicants should choose referees who actually know their work.

Suitable referees may include:

• lecturers
• thesis supervisors
• employers
• research supervisors
• academic advisers

A specific recommendation from someone who knows you well is usually more useful than a generic letter from a senior person who barely knows your work.

University admission comes before the scholarship

GOI-IES applicants need an eligible admission offer before submitting the scholarship application.

That means students should work backwards from the scholarship deadline.

For example:

1. identify an eligible university programme
2. check the university admission deadline
3. apply early enough to receive an offer
4. prepare references
5. complete the GOI-IES application before the scholarship deadline

Waiting until the scholarship opens before starting university research may leave too little time.

University scholarships

GOI-IES is not the only source of funding in Ireland.

Irish universities also provide their own international scholarships.

These may include:

• merit scholarships
• partial tuition reductions
• full tuition awards
• faculty scholarships
• research funding
• graduate assistantships
• doctoral scholarships

Some are automatic when students apply for admission.

Others require a separate application.

Always check the university’s own scholarship page rather than assuming one process applies everywhere.

Undergraduate students should focus heavily on university funding

GOI-IES does not fund regular undergraduate study.

Bachelor’s applicants should therefore look more closely at scholarships offered directly by universities.

Possible funding can include:

• academic merit awards
• entrance scholarships
• international student discounts
• faculty-specific awards
• sports or talent scholarships

The amount can vary widely.

Some scholarships reduce tuition modestly, while others provide much larger support.

Tuition fees in Ireland

Tuition for non-EU students varies substantially depending on subject and institution.

For 2025/26, Education in Ireland listed typical undergraduate tuition ranges of approximately:

• Business: €10,300 to €29,000
• Engineering: €14,500 to €28,500
• Science and Technology: €14,500 to €28,500
• Arts and Humanities: €13,500 to €28,200
• Medicine and Health Sciences: €50,135 to €62,500

These are broad national ranges, not guaranteed prices.

Always check the current university fee for the actual programme.

Postgraduate tuition

For 2025/26, Education in Ireland listed typical postgraduate fees for non-EU students at approximately:

• Business: €14,000 to €40,000
• Engineering: €15,000 to €30,000
• Science and Technology: €15,000 to €31,000
• Arts and Humanities: €12,000 to €23,000
• Medicine and Health Sciences: €11,000 to €30,000

Again, the range is wide.

A scholarship worth €5,000 can have a very different impact depending on whether the programme costs €15,000 or €35,000.

Always calculate the remaining amount

Do not compare scholarships only by headline value.

For example:

Tuition: €25,000
Scholarship: €10,000
Remaining tuition: €15,000

Then add:

• accommodation
• food
• transport
• health insurance
• books
• visa fees
• residence registration
• flights
• personal expenses

That gives a much more realistic picture of affordability.

Living costs are a major consideration

Ireland can be expensive, particularly in Dublin.

Accommodation is usually the largest expense.

Education in Ireland advises students to arrange housing early because demand is high and places can fill quickly.

Students may live in:

• university residences
• private rented accommodation
• shared houses
• homestays

The cost can differ significantly depending on the city and housing type.

Students should research accommodation at the same time as university admission.

The first scholarship payment may come after arrival

GOI-IES applicants should pay attention to one very practical detail.

The 2026 FAQ stated that successful recipients could expect their first stipend payment toward the end of October 2026.

That means students need enough personal money to cover their first weeks in Ireland.

Possible early expenses include:

• temporary accommodation
• housing deposit
• first month’s rent
• groceries
• transport
• residence registration
• phone
• household items

A fully funded or highly funded scholarship does not necessarily mean you can arrive with no money.

Student visa

Students from visa-required countries need to apply for an Irish study visa before travelling.

For long-term study, applicants generally need evidence of:

• university acceptance
• academic ability
• English-language ability
• tuition payment
• sufficient finances
• private medical insurance

Visa approval is separate from university admission and scholarship selection.

Receiving a scholarship does not automatically guarantee a visa.

Tuition payment before visa application

Ireland has specific tuition-payment requirements for many study visa applicants.

Current immigration guidance states that if course fees are below €6,000, the full amount generally needs to be paid before applying for the visa.

If tuition is above €6,000, students generally need to have paid at least €6,000 before submitting the visa application, although the university may require more.

Scholarship students should ask how their award affects this requirement.

If the scholarship provides a fee waiver, the university should provide appropriate documentation.

Financial evidence

Ireland also requires students to demonstrate that they can support themselves financially.

Current immigration guidance requires access to at least:

€10,000 for a course lasting more than eight months

For shorter study periods, the requirement is:

€833 per month, up to the applicable maximum.

For students who require visas, this financial evidence is normally assessed during the visa application.

For non-visa-required students, it can be checked when they register their immigration permission after arrival.

Bank statements need to be genuine and clear

Irish immigration guidance asks students to provide proper evidence of their finances.

Current requirements can include bank statements showing transactions over the previous six months.

Large or unusual deposits may need to be explained.

Students should avoid creating artificial temporary balances just to make an application look stronger.

The documents should make sense together.

If a parent or sponsor is financing the student, the relationship and source of funds should also be clear.

Scholarships can support financial evidence

If the university or scholarship provider is covering costs, students can provide official documentation confirming this.

Irish immigration guidance specifically recognises scholarship support as relevant financial evidence.

However, if the scholarship covers only part of the total cost, additional funds may still be necessary.

Always compare:

scholarship value + personal/sponsor funds

against:

tuition + required living funds + travel + other costs

Private medical insurance

Non-EEA students are required to have private medical insurance while studying in Ireland.

Some universities arrange group insurance schemes.

Others expect students to purchase insurance separately.

Do not assume that a scholarship automatically includes health insurance unless it is specifically listed as a benefit.

Immigration registration after arrival

Non-EEA students staying in Ireland for more than 90 days must register their immigration permission.

The current registration fee is €300.

This should be included in the arrival budget.

Students should follow the current Immigration Service Delivery procedure because registration systems can change.

Part-time work

Eligible international students holding a valid Stamp 2 permission can currently work:

• up to 20 hours per week during term
• up to 40 hours per week from 1 June to 30 September
• up to 40 hours per week from 15 December to 15 January

Students should not treat part-time employment as their primary funding plan.

Ireland’s immigration rules require students to demonstrate sufficient funds without relying on casual employment.

A job can help with expenses, but it should be supplementary.

Post-study work

Ireland’s Third Level Graduate Programme can allow eligible graduates to remain in Ireland after completing certain recognised qualifications.

Education in Ireland states that students on Stamp 1G graduate permission can work full-time, and eligible graduates may receive up to two years depending on the qualification and applicable rules.

This is separate from scholarship eligibility.

Students should not choose a programme only because someone promises an automatic two-year work visa.

Immigration rules should be verified at the time of graduation.

English-language requirements

Ireland is attractive to many international students because most higher education programmes are taught in English.

However, universities still set their own English requirements.

Education in Ireland notes that providers may impose requirements beyond the minimum immigration standard.

Depending on the institution, accepted evidence may include:

• IELTS
• TOEFL
• Duolingo English Test
• Cambridge English
• previous English-medium education

Do not assume that a Medium of Instruction letter will be accepted everywhere.

Check the actual course.

Graduate and PhD funding

Research applicants should search beyond ordinary scholarship pages.

Funding can appear as:

• PhD scholarships
• research assistantships
• funded doctoral positions
• university fellowships
• research council funding
• project-based research positions

Some doctoral students are funded through a research project or supervisor rather than through a general scholarship competition.

Applicants should investigate:

• department research areas
• supervisors
• current projects
• funding duration
• stipend
• tuition coverage

A funded PhD offer should clearly explain both the academic and financial conditions.

Admission applications are usually direct

Education in Ireland states that most institutions require international students to apply directly through the university’s official website.

Applicants should research:

• course requirements
• application fee
• document requirements
• scholarship deadlines
• deposit requirements

After receiving an offer, students may need to pay a deposit to secure their place.

Do not pay through an unofficial account.

Use the university’s recognised payment system.

Accommodation should be arranged early

Housing pressure is a serious practical issue.

Education in Ireland explicitly recommends applying for accommodation early because availability can be limited.

Once you receive an offer, start researching:

• university accommodation
• shared housing
• private rooms
• commute times
• deposits
• utility costs

Do not wait until shortly before travel.

Scholarship applications should be specific

For GOI-IES, applicants are expected to explain why studying in Ireland fits their longer-term goals.

Avoid vague statements such as:

“Ireland has world-class universities and I want international exposure.”

A stronger answer explains:

• what you have already studied or done
• the problem or field you care about
• why the chosen programme fits
• what you hope to learn
• how the degree connects with your future plans

Specific personal evidence is much stronger than generic praise of Ireland.

What applicants should check before applying

Before applying for an Irish scholarship, confirm:

• whether international students are eligible
• degree level
• university admission requirements
• scholarship deadline
• tuition amount
• tuition waiver percentage
• stipend
• scholarship duration
• accommodation
• health insurance
• visa requirements
• proof-of-funds requirement
• residence registration costs
• renewal conditions

For GOI-IES, also confirm that you already hold the required admission offer before applying.

Avoid scholarship scams

Be cautious if someone promises:

• guaranteed GOI-IES selection
• guaranteed Irish university admission
• guaranteed visa approval
• scholarship places in exchange for unofficial payments

The Higher Education Authority runs GOI-IES through an official competitive process.

Irish universities also have their own official admissions and funding systems.

Use The Scholarship Circle to discover opportunities, then verify and submit through the official scholarship provider or university.

Final advice

Ireland can be a strong option for international students, especially at master’s, PhD and research level.

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship is particularly valuable because it combines a €10,000 stipend with a full tuition waiver for one year. However, only 60 awards were available in the 2026 cycle, so competition is significant.

Students should apply to the university early, prepare strong references and make sure the programme genuinely fits their academic and professional plans.

Also pay close attention to living costs and accommodation. Scholarship funding can be generous while Ireland itself remains expensive, especially in Dublin.

The scholarship listings below can help students discover opportunities in Ireland, but current deadlines, funding amounts and eligibility should always be confirmed with the university, the Higher Education Authority or Irish Immigration Service Delivery.