Are you an ambitious international student looking to advance your education in Ireland? The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) offers a unique opportunity for high-calibre students to pursue a master’s, postgraduate diploma, or PhD programme at leading Irish higher education institutions. This scholarship supports your academic ambitions while allowing you to gain international exposure in a vibrant, world-class educational environment.

The GOI-IES programme is funded by the Government of Ireland and managed in partnership with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and participating Irish higher education institutions (HEIs). Each year, 60 scholarships are awarded, enabling students to study full-time at NFQ levels 9 or 10 while receiving both financial and tuition support.

Scholarship Benefits

Recipients of the GOI-IES scholarship will receive:

• A stipend of €10,000 for one year of full-time study.
• A full tuition fee waiver from the host higher education institution for the year of the scholarship.

This scholarship is an excellent way to reduce financial burdens while pursuing world-class education in Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Be domiciled outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
• Have a conditional or final offer of admission to a master’s, postgraduate diploma, or PhD programme at a participating Irish higher education institution.
• Not have previously held a GOI-IES scholarship.
• Not be nationals of Russia or Belarus.

Applicants are advised to confirm with their chosen institution that their programme is eligible for GOI-IES before applying.

Available Programs

The scholarship supports full-time study at NFQ levels 9 and 10, which includes:

• Master’s degrees
• Postgraduate diplomas
• PhD programmes

Eligible programmes are offered by Irish higher education institutions participating in the GOI-IES programme.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following:

• Proof of conditional or final admission to an eligible programme.
• Two references uploaded via the online application portal.
• Additional documents as specified by the chosen institution, if required.

Application Procedures

1. Confirm your eligibility and programme eligibility with the host institution.
2. Submit your application online via the 2026 GOI-IES portal (link available when the call opens in late January 2026).
3. Upload required documents and references.
4. Ensure your application is submitted before the deadline, as late submissions are not accepted.

Assessment Criteria:

• Academic excellence
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Participation in extracurricular activities (e.g., humanitarian work, arts, sports)
• A strong rationale for studying in Ireland and alignment with long-term goals

Applications are assessed by the HEIs and an independent panel of experts.

Additional Information

For detailed guidance, applicants can consult the 2026 GOI-IES Call document, FAQs, and sample application forms available on the official website. Questions about the scholarship can be sent to goi-ies@hea.ie, while queries specific to programmes should be directed to the relevant institution.

Application Deadline

12 March 2026 at 5pm Irish time