Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships 2026

Applications are now open for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (GOI-IES) 2026, a prestigious fully funded opportunity for outstanding international students to study in Ireland at master’s, postgraduate diploma, or PhD levels.

The GOI-IES programme is funded by the Government of Ireland, in partnership with Irish higher education institutions (HEIs), and is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Each year, 60 scholarships are awarded for one year of full-time study at NFQ Levels 9 and 10.

Scholarship Benefits

Each Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship includes:

• €10,000 stipend for one year of study
• Full tuition fee waiver provided by the host Irish higher education institution
• Opportunity to study at top-ranked universities in Ireland

Eligible Level of Study

The scholarship supports full-time study at:

• Master’s degree
• Postgraduate diploma
• PhD(All at NFQ Levels 9 or 10)

British Council Women in STEM Scholarships 2026-2027 (£40,000 Fully Funded UK Scholarship)

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the GOI-IES 2026, applicants must:

• Be domiciled outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
• Have applied for admission to an eligible Irish higher education institution
• Hold a conditional or final offer of admission at the time of scholarship application
• Submit proof of admission with the scholarship application
• Not be a previous recipient of the GOI-IES scholarship

Note: Russian and Belarusian nationals are not eligible to apply.

Applicants are strongly advised to confirm that their chosen programme is eligible by contacting the relevant institution listed in Appendix 1 of the 2026 GOI-IES Call Document.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should:

1. Carefully review the 2026 GOI-IES Call Document and FAQs
2. Apply through the official 2026 GOI-IES online application portal
3. Submit only one application per applicant
4. Upload two references via the online portal
5. Ensure all documents are submitted before the deadline

Applications cannot be edited or submitted after the deadline.

Assessment Criteria

Applicants will be assessed based on:

• Outstanding academic achievement
• Strong communication skills
• Participation in extracurricular activities (volunteering, arts, sports, leadership, etc.)
• A compelling statement explaining why they wish to study in Ireland and how the scholarship aligns with their long-term goals

Shortlisted applications will first be reviewed by the relevant Irish HEIs before final evaluation by an independent assessment panel.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: 12 March 2026 (5:00pm Irish time)
• Outcome Announcement: Early June 2026

Apply for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships

For More Information

• Download the 2026 GOI-IES Call Document and FAQs from the official website
• For general enquiries: goi-ies@hea.ie
• Institution-specific enquiries should be directed to the relevant HEI listed in Appendix 1