Scholarships in Ireland

Scholarships in Ireland

General situation in terms of scholarships

Ireland has a very wide range of scholarships available to students who wish to study there. Some are aimed at local students from low-income backgrounds who would not otherwise be able to afford university. Others exist to attract some of the brightest and best students from across the world, so that academic excellence is rewarded.

Type of scholarships and granting institution

There is a great variety of scholarships available for studying in Ireland. Unlike other countries, there is no central granting institution, and each individual scholarship organisation grants its own awards. The criteria for eligibility are set independently by the granting organisation and may cover a number of areas. The most common eligibility criteria relate to income and financial background, although this is solely for local students, and to excellence within a research field, which may also be combined with having a particular nationality. There are also scholarships available within specific research disciplines that both national and international students may apply for.

Many of the scholarships available are provided by the universities themselves, but there are also national government scholarships as well as some funded by research bodies. In many cases, you can apply for a scholarship only after accepting an offer from a specific university. The differences between the various scholarship schemes are well explained on a number of websites related to studying in Ireland.

Availability and conditions for getting a scholarship

The majority of scholarships available are merit scholarships based on past academic performance. The Irish academic community actively encourages international students to come and study in Ireland, and scholarships are available both from Irish universities and through Government schemes. The main conditions for getting one are proof of academic excellence, a personal statement setting out your future plans, and a prior offer of a place at an Irish university.

The Free Fees Initiative

The Free Fees Initiative pays the core tuition fees of eligible undergraduate students through the Irish State and the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It does not make studying completely free: for the 2026/2027 academic year the Student Contribution Charge is capped at €2,500, which you still pay towards registration, examinations and student services.

There is no central application portal for the scheme. Your eligibility is checked directly by the university’s registry or fees office when you register. To qualify you must first be eligible for the EU fee rate. The main conditions are:

• Residence: you must have been resident in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before your course starts (for tax purposes).
• Nationality or immigration status.
• Course conditions: the scheme applies only to a first full-time undergraduate course at an eligible institution, and courses generally must last at least 2 years. Part-time and postgraduate programmes are not covered.

To qualify for the EU fee rate at Trinity College Dublin, for example, you must meet either the nationality rule or the residence rule, but you cannot combine the two. The residence rule requires your main residence (for tax purposes) to have been in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before your studies begin.

Local scholarships for foreign students

There are a large number of local scholarships available for foreign students to study in Ireland. These are a mixture of Government and private scholarships, as well as the EU Free Fees scheme for EU students. Each scholarship is administered by the awarding institution, so there is no central awarding body, which means that using online resources is key to finding all relevant sources and the information on eligibility criteria and application processes.

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) is open to international students of any non-EU nationality taking a full-time course at NFQ Level 9 or 10 (master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD) in Ireland. It is funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Irish higher education institutions and administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

A scholarship is worth €10,000 for one year of full-time study, plus a full tuition fee waiver from the host institution. Around 60 scholarships are expected for the 2026/2027 academic year. Applications for 2026/2027 open on 29 January 2026, and the deadline is 12 March 2026 at 17:00 Irish time.

Typical scholarships in Ireland

Typical scholarships in Ireland pay for undergraduate fees, through the Free Fees scheme for EU students and also through annual awards of varying amounts from Government, universities or research bodies. There are also schemes for postgraduate students, including studentships that fund a student throughout a PhD on the basis of academic merit. A number of the larger university and research awards are:

• UCD Global Excellence and Global Scholarships: undergraduate and postgraduate, 50 % or 100 % fee reduction, as a partial tuition award.
• Trinity College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarship: undergraduate and postgraduate, €2,000 to €5,000, with several application rounds.
• UCC SEFS International Student Merit-Based Scholarship: postgraduate, €10,000 partial tuition.
• University of Galway International Merit Scholarships: undergraduate and postgraduate, €2,000 to €5,000, plus a €2,000 merit award for first-year students in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies.
• NCI 75th Anniversary International Student Scholarship: for international master’s students entering in 2026/2027, worth €7,500, with a deadline of 15 May 2026 and results by 31 May 2026. The National College of Ireland also offers Higher Diploma scholarships in Computing and Data Analytics worth €4,000 each.
• University of Galway Hardiman PhD Scholarship 2026: a four-year, fully funded award worth €25,000 a year.
• University of Limerick PhD Scholarship 2026 in Applied Language Studies or Climate Journalism: fully funded, with a deadline of 14 September 2026 at 17:00 Irish time and shortlist interviews online in September 2026.
• Irish Research Council (IRC) postgraduate funding: for PhD and research students, covering a stipend plus fees, with a typical deadline in October or November.

How to apply

Almost all Irish scholarships require you to hold a conditional or firm offer from an Irish higher education institution before you can apply. The scholarship application is usually separate from the course application, with its own portal and timetable. Some university merit scholarships, such as those at Trinity College Dublin and DCU, are awarded automatically, while national programmes require a separate application.

The usual eligibility markers for international scholarships are academic excellence (at least a 2:1 or a GPA of 3.0/4.0), a valid offer of a place, proof of English (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo, with competitive scholarships often asking for IELTS 7.0 or higher), and the right residency status, which is often restricted to non-EU/EEA students. A common piece of advice is to apply to three or four universities to maximise your chances. Standard documents include a CV, a motivation letter and at least two letters of recommendation.

Need-based schemes

Alongside merit and international awards, Ireland runs schemes for students from low-income households. The All-Ireland Scholarship Scheme, funded by JP McManus, supports high-achieving students from low-income families. The 1916 Bursary Fund, part of the PATH programme, offers up to €5,000 a year (Tier 1) for economically disadvantaged students, with a Tier 2 award of €2,000 a year.

Five unusual scholarships in Ireland

Beyond the mainstream merit and need-based awards, Ireland has a number of unusual scholarships tied to a particular sport, art or field.

1. The Michael Osborne Equine Business Scholarship, Maynooth University

This scholarship offers financial support for students taking the Equine Business degree programme MH405 (Level 8) at Maynooth University, formerly the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. It is awarded automatically, in honour of Michael Osborne, and is jointly sponsored by the university and Horse Racing Ireland to promote interest in Irish and international horse racing. Note that the MH405 programme is currently closed for applications.

2. Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship, University of Limerick

The Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship is worth €2,500 and is awarded on rowing potential. It is open to full-time undergraduate students in any year and is awarded annually, with the option to reapply in later years if your academic progress is satisfactory. The recipient must represent the University of Limerick in rowing competitions, meet performance targets set by the University of Limerick Rowing Club (ULRC) and contribute to the development of rowing. Candidates must be Irish citizens or permanent residents in Ireland. The award was endowed by the Dooley family in memory of their father, who led the Irish Olympic eight at the 1948 London Games.

3. An Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Scholarships, University College Cork

Two scholarships worth €381 each are available every year for first-year students on the BA (Hons) Arts-Music degree at University College Cork. To be eligible you need a high level of practical ability in traditional music on one or more main instruments, and you must meet the Music Department’s regular requirements. The awards are made by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the Head of Department.

4. Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship, Maynooth University

Named after the father of Irish golfer Padraig Harrington, this scholarship is offered to amateur golfers at Maynooth University in partnership with Carton House, the Oceanico Group, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the R&A. It includes up to 10 hours of training per week and up to 12 hours of coaching per month, with access to training facilities and specialists in technical development, fitness, mental fitness, performance analysis, nutrition, lifestyle management and physiotherapy. Full scholars also get warm-weather training. The programme is sponsored by Killeen Castle in County Meath.

5. The Dermot Keogh Prize in Irish History, University College Cork

The Dermot Keogh Prize is worth €100 and is awarded each year to the best undergraduate dissertation or long essay on either Irish diplomatic history or the history of Church-State relations in Ireland (Third Arts) at University College Cork. It honours Professor Dermot Keogh of the School of History and is paid from the annual income of an endowment. Recent recipients are Fiona Hyde in 2025 and Lena Power in 2026.

Four scholarships not awarded on merit or need

Some Irish scholarships turn on something other than academic excellence or financial hardship, such as the language you speak, your field or your gender.

1. UCD Irish Language Student Residence Scheme (Teach na Gaeilge)

University College Dublin offers the Irish Language Student Residence Scheme to students who are fluent in Irish and want to promote the language. Twenty-four places are available, twelve of them reserved for first-year students, in the Merville Student Residences on the Belfield campus. The scheme has run since 2000. For 2024/2025 it was worth €1,500 per student, paid monthly. First-year applications close in April, with interviews in May. The 2026/2027 competition is closed.

2. FISITA Student Travel Bursary

The International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA) offers a travel bursary of up to €2,000, paid as a single sum, towards travel and living costs for organised placements abroad such as internships, exchange programmes and work placements in the automotive and mobility sector. The criterion is an organised placement abroad plus membership of a FISITA member society, rather than pure merit or need. It is open to bachelor’s and master’s students at recognised institutions and is run by the FISITA Foundation, a UK-registered charity.

3. Intel Women in Technology Scholarship, Maynooth University

This programme supports the presence and participation of women in technology-related courses at undergraduate level. It is worth €3,000 a year and comes with internship opportunities at Intel in Leixlip or Shannon and an Intel mentor. To qualify you must be a woman taking a Level 8 degree in Physics, Computer Science or Electronic/Electrical Engineering, and be in your third or final year. The award is also made at the University of Limerick, DCU and Waterford IT, where it is sometimes worth €2,000. Intel Shannon has invested a total of €800,000 in the programme.

4. UCC Keliher Scholarship

To be eligible for the Keliher Scholarship at University College Cork you must have been born, or be the child of a parent who was born, in the county or city of Cork or Limerick, be Roman Catholic, and show financial need. It is awarded on the results of the Leaving Certificate Examination, ranked by UCC’s scoring, and can be worth up to €1,710. The scholarship is currently suspended. Because it carries a need component, it sits only partly in this group.