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Meta title: Scholarships in Ireland for International Students 2026
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Last modified: 2026-09-28

# Scholarships in Ireland for International Students: Who Is Eligible, Amounts and 2026/27 Deadlines

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Ireland's main government award for international students is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES): a $11,380 (€10,000) stipend plus a full fee waiver for one year of a master's or PhD. Russian and Belarusian nationals may not apply; applicants from Kazakhstan and other CIS countries can. For Russian citizens the realistic sources are university awards, such as UCD Global Excellence (50% or 100% of tuition) and UCC's automatic €2,000-a-year reduction for science and engineering undergraduates, and funded PhD positions. Most awards are partial and do not remove the visa requirement to show €10,000 for living costs.

This guide lists the main schemes with amounts, 2026/27 dates and conditions, a table of what is open to which nationality, how to prepare an application and the mistakes that cost applicants their chance. Conditions come from official HEA, Research Ireland and university pages checked on 28 September 2026; USD conversions use the ECB rate of that date (€1 = $1.1378). Institutions are compared in [universities in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-ireland), and the country overview is [studying in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-ireland).

Historic stone buildings on the Grangegorman campus of Technological University Dublin, Ireland. Photo: William Murphy / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TUD_Campus_Grangegorman.jpg), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0).

## What is open to whom {#section-1}

| Scheme | Funder | Level | Value | Russian citizens | Kazakh and other CIS citizens |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| GOI-IES | Government, via HEA | master's, PhD (one year) | €10,000 plus full fee waiver | not eligible | eligible |
| UCD Global Excellence Scholarships | UCD | undergraduate, taught master's | 50% or 100% of tuition | see UCD's rules for the intake year | same |
| UCC SEFS International Undergraduate Scholarship | UCC | undergraduate, College of Science, Engineering and Food Science | €2,000 a year, up to 4 years | automatic with an accepted non-EU offer | same |
| UCC SEFS Merit Based Scholarship | UCC | taught master's in the same college | 20% of tuition with a First Class Honours equivalent | automatic | same |
| University of Galway Global Scholarships | University of Galway | undergraduate, postgraduate | varies by college | per college conditions | same |
| Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship | Research Ireland | research master's, PhD | €25,000 a year plus a fee contribution | technically eligible, but "category 2" competition is very tough | same |

The university rows do not mean a guaranteed entitlement: the university decides, and rules change from year to year. Check the conditions on the scheme page in the year you apply.

## GOI-IES: the Irish government scholarship {#section-2}

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) runs the programme. For the 2026 cycle:

- 60 scholarships a year for one year of full-time study at NFQ level 9 or 10: master's, postgraduate diploma or PhD;
- a $11,380 (€10,000) stipend and a mandatory full fee waiver from the host institution for that year;
- applicants must have a domiciliary of origin outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK;
- a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish institution is required at the time of applying;
- two references uploaded through the portal, one application per cycle, no changes after submission;
- previous GOI-IES holders cannot apply again;
- Russian and Belarusian nationals are not eligible.

The 2026 deadline was 12 March at 5pm Irish time, with results in early June. HEA looks at academic achievement, communication skills, extracurricular activity (humanitarian work, politics, arts or sport) and a strong rationale linking study in Ireland to long-term goals. Institutions first check eligibility and shortlist applications that match their strategic objectives; an independent panel then assesses the shortlist.

For applicants from Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan this is the main chance of a fully funded master's year. Because you need an offer by March, apply to the university in autumn or early winter.

## UCD Global Excellence Scholarships {#section-3}

Each year UCD offers a limited number of 100% and 50% tuition scholarships to outstanding international students on non-EU fees starting in September.

| Item | 2026/27 conditions |
| --- | --- |
| Levels | undergraduate and taught master's; research programmes excluded |
| Value | 100% or 50% of tuition |
| Condition | an offer or conditional offer on an eligible programme |
| Deadlines | 1 February for North American undergraduates; 28 February for the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and South Asian graduate applicants; 31 March for all other regions |
| Results | about seven weeks after each regional deadline, via SISWeb |
| Renewal | not automatic: continuing students are reviewed against the terms of the original award after each year |

A 100% award on a BSc in Computer Science at €29,500 saves $33,570 in the first year. UCD warns that programme applications take longer to process during peak weeks, so apply for your place early or the offer may not arrive before the scholarship deadline.

## University awards at UCC, Galway and TCD {#section-4}

UCC. The College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS) gives international undergraduates an automatic $2,280 (€2,000) reduction in each year of study. It is applied at the offer stage and renewed for up to four years provided the student progresses each year. On the college's taught master's, graduates with the equivalent of UCC First Class Honours automatically receive 20% off tuition. You cannot hold two UCC scholarships; the higher one applies.

Example: UCC's BSc in Computer Science costs €27,000 a year, or €25,000 with the SEFS award. Over four years that saves $9,100, assuming the fee stays the same.

University of Galway. Its Global Scholarships programme targets high-achieving non-EU students, with conditions published separately by the colleges of business and law, science and engineering, arts, medicine and health, and Shannon College of Hotel Management. The university reports awarding more than 280 scholarships last year.

TCD. Trinity publishes Global Excellence Scholarships for undergraduates and postgraduates, E3 scholarships and a scholarship for its International Foundation Programme. Values, deadlines and criteria differ by scheme and are listed on each description on the TCD website, so check them in the year you apply.

## Research Ireland: scholarships for researchers {#section-5}

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship funds research master's and PhD study in every discipline.

| Item | 2026 call |
| --- | --- |
| Stipend | $28,440 (€25,000) a year |
| Fee contribution | up to $6,540 (€5,750) a year; non-EU nationals may request an extra $4,550 (€4,000) |
| Direct costs | $3,700 (€3,250) a year |
| Maximum | $38,690 (€34,000) a year, for 1–4 years |
| Who can apply | new entrants to a master's or PhD, or students registered in the first year |
| 2026 timeline | opened 11 September 2025; applicant deadline 23 October 2025; outcome end of April 2026; awards start 1 September 2026 |

Applicants from any country may hold the award, but Research Ireland divides them into two categories. Category 1 covers nationals of the EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland or Ukraine who have lived there for three of the previous five years; category 2 covers everyone else. Most awards go to category 1: in 2025, category 2 success rates were 2% in STEM and 3% in arts, humanities and social sciences, against overall rates of 12% and 16%.

A more realistic route is a PhD position that is already funded through a supervisor's research grant; universities and research groups advertise these vacancies themselves.

## Scholarships and the visa {#section-6}

- Living funds are still needed. If an award covers only tuition, you still show €10,000 a year for the visa in the usual way.
- Proof of the award. Keep the award letter: the discount should be reflected in your letter of acceptance, and ISD asks for proof of scholarship funding when you register in Ireland.
- Prepayment. The rule of paying the full fee for courses under €6,000, or at least €6,000, applies to what you owe after the reduction. How it works with a 100% award should be clear from your letter of acceptance, which must state the fee payable and the amount paid.
- Timing. UCD scholarship results arrive weeks after the deadline and visa decisions take about eight weeks. If your budget works without the award, do not hold the visa back waiting for the last answer.

## Building a strong application {#section-7}

1. Get the offer early. Almost every scheme needs an offer first: GOI-IES a conditional or final one, UCD at least a conditional one.
2. Show academic strength. For a master's, aim for a 2:1 or better; University of Galway equates it with 4.2 on the Russian five-point scale. The UCC SEFS master's award needs a First Class Honours equivalent.
3. Connect the study to your goals. GOI-IES explicitly assesses why Ireland and how the award fits your long-term plans.
4. Line up references. GOI-IES needs two, uploaded through the portal.
5. Check the rules for your intake year. Conditions and deadlines change annually; rely on the scheme page, not third-party summaries.

## Common mistakes {#section-8}

- Counting on GOI-IES with a Russian passport. HEA rules exclude it.
- Applying for a scholarship without an offer. Both GOI-IES and UCD require one.
- Treating a tuition award as full funding. A 50% UCD award covers half the fee, not rent or living costs.
- Using outdated information. Third-party lists often carry past deadlines or undated amounts; GOI-IES 2026 closed on 12 March.
- Assuming automatic renewal. UCD states that its scholarships are not renewed automatically.

## Next step {#section-9}

First work out what your nationality and level allow: for Russian citizens, university awards and funded PhDs; for Kazakh citizens, GOI-IES as well. Then build a calendar: an offer by February or March, scholarship deadlines, and the visa three months before travel. Budget without a scholarship first; see [the cost of studying in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-ireland), [applying to Irish universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-irish-universities) and [master's degrees in Ireland](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-ireland).

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can a Russian citizen get a scholarship in Ireland?

Not the government GOI-IES, which HEA explicitly closes to Russian and Belarusian nationals. University reductions such as UCC SEFS depend on non-EU status and grades, and the conditions of UCD Global Excellence and other schemes should be checked in each year's rules.

### Which scholarship covers tuition in full?

A 100% UCD Global Excellence award covers the whole fee; GOI-IES covers the fee plus €10,000 for living costs, but for a single year of a master's or PhD. University reductions do not cover living costs; the Research Ireland award includes €25,000 a year, and funded PhD positions follow the terms of the grant.

### When should I apply?

From the autumn before you start. In the 2026 cycle, GOI-IES closed on 12 March, UCD Global Excellence on 31 March for most regions, and Research Ireland back on 23 October 2025.

### Are there scholarships for undergraduates?

Yes, though fewer than for master's study. UCD Global Excellence is open to undergraduates, UCC SEFS gives €2,000 a year, University of Galway runs Global Scholarships and TCD offers Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships.

### Do I need to apply separately for UCC's reduction?

No. UCC's College of Science, Engineering and Food Science applies its SEFS awards automatically: the undergraduate reduction of $2,280 (€2,000) a year comes with an accepted non-EU offer, and the 20% taught master's award goes to graduates with the equivalent of UCC First Class Honours. The undergraduate reduction is renewed for up to four years as long as you progress each year. You cannot hold two UCC scholarships at once; the higher one applies.

### Does the scholarship continue in later years?

It depends on the scheme. The UCC SEFS undergraduate award lasts up to four years if you progress each year, while UCD reviews its awards annually against the original terms.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [HEA: Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships](https://hea.ie/policy/internationalisation/goi-ies/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [UCD: Global Excellence Scholarships](https://www.ucd.ie/global/study-at-ucd/scholarshipsfinances/scholarships/globalexcellencescholarships/) and [undergraduate fees 2026/27](https://www.ucd.ie/students/fees/noneucoursefees/internationalnon-euundergraduatefees202627/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [UCC: international scholarships](https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/internationaltable/), [SEFS undergraduate](https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/internationaltable/sefsinternatugsch/), [SEFS taught master's](https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/internationaltable/sefsinterntschismbs/) and [fees 2026/27](https://www.ucc.ie/en/financeoffice/fees/schedules/internationalundergraduatefees202627/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [University of Galway: scholarships for international students](https://www.universityofgalway.ie/internationalscholarships/), [Global Scholarships](https://www.universityofgalway.ie/global-galway/globalscholarships/) and [requirements for Russia](https://www.universityofgalway.ie/global-galway/studyinireland/yourcountry/russia/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [TCD: scholarships for international undergraduates](https://www.tcd.ie/study/international/scholarships/undergraduate/) and [postgraduates](https://www.tcd.ie/study/international/scholarships/postgraduate/) — checked September 28, 2026
- [Research Ireland: Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship](https://www.researchireland.ie/funding/government-of-ireland-postgraduate-scholarship-programme/) and [2026 call document (PDF)](https://media.researchireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Government-of-Ireland-Postgraduate-Scholarship-2026_Call-Document.pdf) — checked September 28, 2026
- [ISD: student FAQs](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/frequently-asked-questions-for-students/) and [study visa](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-visa-options/how-to-apply-for-long-term-study-visa/) — checked September 28, 2026
- USD conversions use the ECB reference rate of September 28, 2026: €1 = $1.1378.

StudyU identifies programmes with scholarship options, checks conditions for your year and nationality, and prepares statements and applications under a service agreement. Scholarship decisions are made by the university, HEA or Research Ireland, and we do not guarantee an award.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Universities in Ireland for International Students: Types, 2026/27 Fees and Entry Routes](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-ireland)
- [Cost of Studying in Ireland in 2026/27: University Fees, Dublin Living Costs and Visa Funds](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-ireland)
- [Applying to Irish Universities After School: Entry Routes, Exam Thresholds, Documents and Deadlines](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-irish-universities)
- [Master's Degrees in Ireland: One-Year Programmes, Degree Requirements, 2026/27 Fees and Post-Study Work](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-ireland)
- [Studying in Ireland for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-ireland)
- [Working While Studying in Ireland and Stamp 1G: Hours, Pay and Staying After Graduation](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-working-while-studying-and-stamp-1g-ireland)

Updated: September 2026