Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships 2026
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) programme presents a prestigious opportunity for high-calibre international students seeking to pursue postgraduate studies in Ireland. With preparations for the 2026 application cycle now underway, prospective applicants should begin planning their submissions well in advance.
Scholarship Overview
The GOI-IES programme is funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) and managed by the Higher Education Authority. This initiative awards 60 scholarships annually for one year of full-time study at National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) levels 9 or 10, which include master's degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and PhD programmes.
Scholarship Benefits
Each Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship provides:
A €10,000 stipend for one year of full-time study
A full fee waiver from the host higher education institution for the scholarship year
Successful scholars will be expected to commence their studies in either September or October 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship, applicants must:
Have a domiciliary of origin outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom
Have applied for admission to a relevant master's, postgraduate diploma, or PhD programme at an eligible Irish higher education institution
Hold a conditional or final offer of admission at the time of applying for the scholarship
Please note that previous GOI-IES scholarship holders are not eligible to apply. Additionally, due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Russian and Belarussian nationals are currently ineligible for this scholarship programme.
Application Process
The application process for the 2026 cycle will involve the following steps:
Apply for admission to a relevant postgraduate programme at an eligible Irish higher education institution
Secure a conditional or final offer of admission
Submit your scholarship application through the online portal (which will open closer to the application period)
Upload two references as part of your application
It is strongly recommended to submit your application well before the deadline to avoid technical issues due to server traffic. Once the deadline passes, no applications can be submitted, and no alterations can be made to submitted applications.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be assessed based on:
A record of outstanding academic achievement
Excellent communication skills
Participation in extracurricular activities (e.g., humanitarian work, politics, arts, or sports)
A strong rationale for pursuing studies in Ireland that aligns with long-term goals
The assessment process involves initial eligibility checks and shortlisting by the relevant higher education institutions based on alignment with their strategic objectives. Shortlisted applications are then evaluated by an independent panel of assessors.
Key Dates for 2026 Cycle
Based on previous cycles, the anticipated timeline for the 2026 scholarship is:
Application deadline: 5pm (Irish time) on March 5, 2026
Results announcement: Early June 2026
Strategic Importance
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship programme was established under the Government's International Education Strategy 2010–2015: Investing in Global Relationships and expanded under the successor strategy Irish Educated, Globally Connected (2016-2020). It is also linked to Ireland's National Skills Strategy 2025 and Global Ireland: Ireland's Global Footprint to 2025, highlighting its strategic importance to Ireland's international education goals.
Preparing for Your Application
While the 2026 application cycle is still some time away, prospective applicants should:
Research eligible Irish higher education institutions and their postgraduate programmes
Begin preparing academic documents and references
Consider how your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and career goals align with the scholarship's objectives
Monitor the Higher Education Authority website for updates on the 2026 application cycle
For more information and updates about the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship programme, you can email goi-ies@hea.ie.
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