The GOI, IES programme is a fully funded Government of Ireland initiative made in partnership with Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) and is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The programme is targeted at top international students who intend to pursue NFQ Levels 9 or 10 studies, that is, masters degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and PhD programmes.
Only 60 students are granted scholarships each year under the scheme. Scholarships are full tuition fee waivers for the duration of the award plus one year of full, time study that is supported by an annual stipend of 10, 000. The host institution, i.e. the Irish university receiving the scholarship holder, is obliged to give the student a full tuition fee waiver for the entire duration of the award period.
The application deadline is 5 pm (Irish time) on March 12, 2026, with results expected to be announced in early June 2026.
Eligibility criteria
Those who wish to be considered for this programme should be originally from a location outside EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In the first instance, candidates should submit an application for admission to an eligible programme at an Irish HEI and hold a conditional or final offer of admission when applying for the scholarship. Admission confirmation should be included in the GOI, IES application.
If an applicant has previously been awarded a Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship, they are not permitted to apply again. Nationals from Russia and Belarus are similarly disqualified under the 2026 call.
It is generally advisable to double, check directly with the institution whether or not your chosen course is eligible. A list of eligible HEIs with their contact details can be found in Appendix 1 of the 2026 GOI, IES call document, which might be updated from time to time.
Application process
Applications have to be filled and submitted through the online portal of GOI, IES, which will be functional for receiving applications from the opening of the 2026 call. One applicant can only submit a single application in the 2026 cycle. Two references should be part of the application and must be uploaded via the portal.
Applicants should be aware that they can make changes to the applications even after submission.
Applications that demonstrate a high level of academic performance, good communication skills, active participation in extracurricular activities, and a well thought, out reason to choose Ireland for education compatible with one's career in the long run will be given priority. Shortlisted applications will be examined by an independent assessment panel after institutional screening.
