Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)

Partially FundedMasterPhD12 monthsClosed · opens Jan 2027

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) awards 60 scholarships per year to non-EU/EEA students for one year of postgraduate study in Ireland. It covers full tuition (by the host institution) and a EUR 10,000 stipend. The application requires a university admission offer first — you cannot apply to the HEA without one. Personal statements carry 45% of the evaluation weight, more than academic record (40%).

Popular Participating Universities

Trinity College Dublin

University College Dublin

University College Cork

Quick info

Application status

Closed · opens Jan 2027

Ireland

Master, PhD

12 months

Open to: Non-EU/EEA citizens only (excludes Russia, Belarus, Switzerland, UK)

Apply on official site

Opens the provider's official website

Info sourced from official providers. Always verify deadlines, requirements, and eligibility directly before applying.

What you get

Full tuition fee waiver (absorbed by host institution)
Stipend of EUR 10,000 for one academic year (paid in two instalments)

Monthly: EUR 10,000/year stipend (approx. EUR 833/month) / Full tuition fee waiver at host institution

Requirements

First degree: Required

Professional experience: not specified

Country restriction: Non-EU/EEA citizens only (excludes Russia, Belarus, Switzerland, UK)

Detailed requirements

- Citizen of a non-EU/EEA country (not Russia, Belarus, Switzerland, or UK)
- Must have a conditional or final offer of admission from an eligible Irish university BEFORE applying
- Apply through the HEA online portal after securing admission offer
- Covers Master's (NFQ Level 9), Postgraduate Diploma, and PhD (NFQ Level 10)
- Personal statement (3 essays) weighted at 45/100 marks — more than academic record (40 marks)
- Maximum 5 scholarships per institution; top 12 ranked automatically funded on excellence alone

Who can apply

Non-EU/EEA students with admission offers from Irish universities seeking funding for one year of Master's or PhD study. Covers 60 scholarships per year across all eligible institutions. Note: EUR 10,000 stipend does not fully cover living costs in Dublin (~EUR 1,400/month).

Fields of study

All disciplines at eligible Irish higher education institutions

Application window

Closed · opens Jan 2027

Dates are based on data sourced from official providers (2025-2026 cycle). Deadlines may shift between intake years. Always verify on the official website before applying.

Important dates

Call opens: late January each year

Application deadline: mid-March (~6 week window)

Institutional shortlisting: March – April

HEA national assessment: April – May

Results announced: May – June

Studies commence: September

How to apply

1Step 1: Apply to an eligible Irish university and receive a conditional or final admission offer
2Step 2: Wait for the GOI-IES call to open (late January)
3Step 3: Submit your application through the HEA online portal, including 3 personal statement essays (15 marks each)
4Step 4: The university shortlists candidates from its own pool
5Step 5: HEA runs a national assessment across all shortlisted candidates
6Step 6: Results announced May–June; studies commence September