Are you an aspiring international student looking for scholarship abroad? Here is Government of Ireland Scholarship program currently open and accepting applications from interested postgraduate students who are passionate about forming a pooling of global researchers.
The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is unique in the Irish research landscape and complements other channels for funded postgraduate education in the Irish ecosystem.
In this post, we will offer you the key things you need to know about the scholarship program and guide through the steps in application. Read on!
Table of Contents
2026 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, applicants must note the following:
- There is no age limit for applicants to be eligible for either programme type.
- All applicants must be affiliated with or admitted to an eligible Irish higher education institution or research-performing organization.
- Applications will only be accepted in either the Irish or English language.
- Applicants must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to the relevant programme, including strategic partner themes. This applies regardless of whether the applicant has changed their host institution or research topic since a previous submission.
Key coverages
Among its features are:
- individual, prestigious awards for excellent research in the name of the applicant;
- an objective selection process using international, independent expert peer review;
- funding across all disciplines, from archaeology to zoology; and
- awards for bottom-up, non-directed research, with the exception of those funded by our strategic funding partners.
Benefits of the Government of Ireland Scholarship
The value of the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship will be up to a maximum of €34,000 per annum in any approved year and will consist of the following:
- a stipend of €25,000 per annum
- a contribution to fees, including non-EU fees, up to a maximum of €5,750 per annum [In cases where the grant recipient is a non-EU national, they may request an additional €4,000 per annum over-and-above the standard fee contribution. Any remaining differential in fees must be paid by the grant recipient and/or the Research Body.]
- eligible direct costs of €3,250 per annum
Required Documents for the Government of Ireland Scholarship
To apply for the Government of Ireland Scholarship, candidates must submit the following documents;
- Educational documents
- Study Plan/Statement of Purpose
- Research Proposal
- Copy of Passport
- Supervision details (if any)
- Recommendation forms
- Language proof (if any)
- Additional documents if any
Application deadline:
October 23, 2025 is the final day for submission of application for the Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026. If you are qualified to apply, ensure that you send in your application early and also follow up on other demands of the application process.
How to apply for the 2026 Government of Ireland Scholarship (Step by Step)
Interested and qualified applicants for the Government of Ireland Scholarship should read the call documentation carefully to ascertain whether they are eligible to apply.
- You are to first apply to an eligible Higher Education Institution or Research Programmes
- Then proceed to submit your application via the online portal.
- All applications require two references to be uploaded via the online portal. It is recommended that candidates submit their applications well before the deadline, to avoid technical issues due to heavy server traffic on the respective day.
- Applications cannot be submitted once the deadline has passed. No alterations can be made to an application once it has been submitted.
Assessment process
Applicants are expected to demonstrate:
- a record of outstanding academic achievement;
- excellent communication skills;
- evidence of participation in extracurricular activities, for example humanitarian work, politics, arts or sport; and
- a strong rationale for pursuing their study in Ireland that indicates how a Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship would align with their longer-term goals.
Applications will first be shared with the relevant higher education institutions, who will check them for eligibility and shortlist them based on alignment with institutional strategic objectives.
The shortlisted applications will then be assessed by an independent panel of international assessors. Full details of the assessment process are available in the call document.
Conclusion
Government of Ireland Scholarship is a scholarship fund provided to attract international students passionate in their studies and have demonstrated excellence in their academics. If you have gone through the requirement and you have what it takes to apply for this opportunity, we encourage you to do so. If you need other scholarship opportunities, check our scholarship category.
