Ireland Scholarships for International Students 2027: Full List, Deadlines and How to Apply

Last updated: 27 October 2026 | Covers the September 2027 intake

Finding Ireland scholarships for international students is easier once you know which awards are funded, which are fee reductions, and which need an offer of admission before you can even apply. This hub covers the main options for the September 2027 intake, from the €10,000 Government of Ireland scholarship to fee reductions at UCD, Trinity, Galway, UCC, Maynooth, DCU and Limerick.

Most 2027 calls have not published exact dates yet. Where a date is unconfirmed, we say so and show the last confirmed cycle, so you can plan without guessing.

Quick answer: The most valuable general-entry award is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES): €10,000 plus a full tuition waiver for one year of master’s or PhD study. Most other Ireland scholarships for international students are partial fee reductions, plus a limited number of 50% and 100% tuition awards at UCD. Almost every award needs an offer of admission first, and Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, so you need an Irish visa.

Ireland Scholarships for International Students at a Glance

Why Study in Ireland as an International Student?

Ireland is an English-speaking EU country, so you can study without a language switch, and its universities, including Trinity College Dublin, UCD, Galway and UCC, are well established in international rankings.

Work rights help with living costs. On Stamp 2 permission you can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours a week during the main holiday periods. After a master’s or PhD, the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) lets you stay to look for work for up to 24 months, issued as 12 months plus a 12-month renewal if you show you are seeking graduate-level work.

Plan for proof of funds too. Current guidance for courses longer than eight months is €10,000 per year, so confirm the figure on irishimmigration.ie before you apply for your visa.

Types of Scholarships in Ireland for International Students

• Government-funded awards: GOI-IES and the Irish Aid Ireland Fellows Programme. Highest value and most competitive.
• University fee reductions: UCD, Trinity, Galway, UCC, Maynooth, DCU and UL. Some are automatic at offer, others need a separate form.
• Research and agency funding: Teagasc Walsh Scholars for agri-food and environment research degrees.
• Country-specific awards: for example Claddagh scholarships for Chinese students, Trinity’s India and US schemes and India-specific awards at Limerick.

Government of Ireland Scholarships for International Students

1. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)

• Value: €10,000 stipend plus a full tuition and registration fee waiver for one academic year
• Level: full-time, in-person master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD (NFQ level 9 or 10)
• Who can apply: students whose domicile of origin is outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK
• Not eligible: previous GOI-IES holders, and Russian and Belarusian nationals
• Awards: about 60 a year across all Irish institutions
• Apply: online through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), after you hold a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish institution as an international fee-paying student
• Not covered: bench fees, where a programme charges them
• Last cycle: opened 29 January 2026 and closed 12 March 2026 at 5pm Irish time; results usually arrive in June
• 2027 entry: not announced yet; expect a late January opening and a mid-March deadline

This is the award to build your plan around. Apply to your universities in autumn so your offer is in hand by February, and read the HEA call document before you start. Questions go to goi-ies@hea.ie. The waiver covers one academic year, so budget separately for the second year of a two-year programme and for living costs.

2. Ireland Fellows Programme (Irish Aid)

Funded by the Irish government, this programme offers fully funded master’s scholarships in Ireland to early- and mid-career professionals from eligible countries. Support covers course fees, flights, accommodation and living costs.

• Who: applicants from eligible countries with relevant work experience. The country list changes by call, and the 2027-28 listings I found named specific regions such as Latin America and Namibia, so check whether your country is included before you spend time on it.
• Catch: in some countries you need an invitation through an Irish Aid partner or embassy first.
• Timing: Stage 1 normally closes in late July, about a year before the course starts. The 2027-28 round closed on 26 July 2026.
• Apply: through the official Ireland Fellows Programme page or your local Irish embassy.

3. Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (Research Ireland)

This research scheme paid a stipend of about €25,000 a year plus a contribution to fees and research costs, and it was open to applicants from any country with a supervisor’s endorsement. The success rate has averaged about 18% over five years.

Important for 2027: Research Ireland’s 2026 programme plan says the programme is not planned to launch in its current form for 2027 awards, with a new model to be finalised. Check researchireland.ie for the replacement before you build a plan around it. Any blog still showing a 2026 or 2027 deadline is out of date.

4. Teagasc Walsh Scholars Programme

Walsh Scholars are fully funded research degrees in agriculture, food, environment, climate and rural development. The stipend is reported at €25,000 a year, plus fees at the EU rate; higher non-EU fees may apply, so ask the project contact before applying.

You apply to a named project, not a general pool. The 2026 round was reported at 20 opportunities, and most closed in March 2026. Watch the Teagasc Walsh opportunities page from February.

University Scholarships in Ireland for International Students

UCD Global Excellence Scholarship

UCD offers a limited number of 100% and 50% tuition scholarships to non-EU, self-funding students entering a new programme in September.

• You need an offer or conditional offer before you apply.
• Scholars agree to contribute to UCD’s promotion and events.
• Reported exclusions: online, January-start, part-time, clinical and off-shore programmes.
• Judged on academic merit plus a holistic review.
• 2026/27 deadlines depended on your region: 1 February 2026 for North American undergraduates, 28 February 2026 for Middle East, Africa and Pakistan applicants and for South Asia graduate taught applicants, and 31 March 2026 for all other regions.
• 2027 dates: UCD says details will be published by early November 2026. Some listings show 1 February 2027 as a priority date, so treat it as a target and confirm on UCD’s scholarships page.

UCD cannot guarantee that your admission decision will arrive before the scholarship deadline, so apply for your course early.

UCD MBA Scholarships

Business applicants should read our full guide to the UCD MBA scholarships. They give up to 50% off tuition by region, with a few 100% awards, and you are considered automatically when you apply for the MBA.

Trinity College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarships

Trinity awards Global Excellence Scholarships to exceptional international students who hold an offer for a full-time undergraduate degree or a taught postgraduate programme. Undergraduate awards are worth up to €5,000 off first-year tuition, and awards are applied to your tuition bill.

• Selection is based on academic achievement and your potential to contribute to the Trinity community.
• Applicants are asked for basic information and a statement about how they will contribute.
• Students from China apply for the Claddagh scholarship instead, and India and the US have their own undergraduate schemes.
• Some faculties and business programmes have separate scholarships, so check the eligible list for your course.
• Each region has its own final deadline. Last cycle, most regions closed in mid-June 2026 and some regions in July, but confirm yours with the Trinity regional adviser for your country.

University of Galway Scholarships

Galway runs several non-EU scholarships, and many awards are made automatically once you hold an offer. Separate excellence awards sit on the college lists and need their own form. One reported scheme gives €10,000 a year in the College of Science and Engineering, and recipients must pay part of the fee before registration. Start at the Galway international scholarships page and check which college your course belongs to.

UCC International Scholarships

UCC publishes a table of college-level awards. For taught master’s students, some colleges reduce tuition by roughly 10 to 20% depending on your result, and most are automatic after you accept an offer. Read the status column on the UCC international scholarships page.

Maynooth University International Scholarships

A correction many guides get wrong: the Maynooth Taught Master’s Scholarships are reported as being for Irish and EU students only. Non-EU students apply through the Maynooth International Office, which has offered fee reductions of roughly €1,000 to €5,000, including a €5,000 MBA excellence discount in 2026.

• You need non-EU fee status and an offer for a full-time master’s.
• You submit the International Scholarship Form; the window has been in March in recent rounds.
• Only one Maynooth scholarship can be held.

DCU International Scholarships

DCU considers non-EU applicants automatically when they apply, and only winners are emailed. Values depend on the faculty and programme, ranging from about €1,100 to €5,000, and awards do not stack. Details are on the DCU Global scholarships page.

University of Limerick International Scholarships

UL offers merit-based non-EU awards of about €2,000 to €2,500 a year across several faculties, plus Kemmy Business School awards and some India-specific scholarships. UL graduates on non-EU fees can use the UL Progression Scholarship for a master’s. UL expects tuition minus your scholarship to be paid before enrolment. Start from the UL international scholarships page.

Other Irish Institutions to Check

TU Dublin, Munster Technological University, Atlantic Technological University, TU Shannon, South-East Technological University and RCSI also run international awards. Search each institution’s international scholarships page once you have a shortlist, and compare them on Education in Ireland.

Ireland Scholarships for Students From South Asia, Africa and the Middle East

• GOI-IES is open to all non-EU nationalities, so it is the main target for Pakistani, Indian, Nigerian, Egyptian and Gulf applicants with strong grades.
• UCD Global Excellence has a separate deadline for Pakistan, Middle East and Africa applicants (28 February in 2026).
• Ireland Fellows Programme targets professionals from eligible countries only, so check your country first.
• Trinity and UL list India-specific awards for Indian applicants; confirm current values and terms.
• Automatic university awards (DCU, UCC, UL) need no separate form, so they suit applicants who miss early deadlines.

How to Apply for Ireland Scholarships for International Students (Step by Step)

1. Shortlist programmes and funding. Pick two or three courses, then check whether each has an automatic award, a form-based award or none.
2. Check the English requirement. Each university sets its own accepted tests and exemptions. See our guide to the English proficiency certificate.
3. Collect documents. Transcripts, degree certificate, passport copy, CV, statement of purpose and two referee contacts.
4. Apply for admission. Some master’s courses use PAC; others use the university portal.
5. Get your offer. Most scholarships, including GOI-IES, need a conditional or final offer first.
6. Submit the scholarship application. Use the separate form (GOI-IES, UCD, Trinity, Galway excellence awards, Maynooth) or confirm the award is automatic (DCU, UCC).
7. Accept your offer and pay any deposit on time. Missing the deposit date can cancel a scholarship.
8. Apply for your Irish study visa and register for Stamp 2 after you arrive.

Need referees? See our guide to a recommendation letter for a scholarship.

Application Timeline for the September 2027 Intake

Dates marked expected follow the last confirmed cycle.

See our scholarship deadlines hub for more dates.

Eligibility Requirements Most Ireland Scholarships Share

• Non-EU fee status for university awards, and non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK domicile for GOI-IES
• A strong academic record, usually a first-class or upper-second equivalent
• A conditional or final offer from the institution
• Full-time study on an eligible programme
• No stacking: most schemes bar a second tuition award at the same university

Visa, Work and Staying On After Graduation

Visa. Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa does not cover it, and you apply for an Irish study visa where your nationality requires one. Our Schengen guide explains how the two systems differ.

Work. On Stamp 2 you can work part-time during term and full-time during the main holiday periods, within the limits set by Irish immigration.

After your degree. Master’s and PhD graduates can apply for Stamp 1G within six months of their results, usually for 12 months and then a further 12 months if they show active graduate-level job seeking. Bachelor’s graduates get 12 months. Check irishimmigration.ie for the current rules.

8 Tips to Win Ireland Scholarships for International Students

1. Apply for admission early. Scholarship forms usually need an offer first.
2. Choose courses with automatic awards as a safety net.
3. Write a specific statement: what you will study, why in Ireland and what you will do afterwards.
4. Ask referees early and give them your CV.
5. Confirm your fee category. EU-only awards are a common trap.
6. Check your region’s deadline. UCD’s differed by region in 2026.
7. Keep documents in clearly named PDFs and submit a day early.
8. Use official sites only. Genuine Irish scholarships never ask you to pay to be considered.

For wider options, see our Europe scholarships hub, our list of fully funded scholarships in 2026 and our guide to graduate scholarships for international students.

FAQs About Ireland Scholarships for International Students

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1. Are there fully funded Ireland scholarships for international students? A few come close. GOI-IES gives €10,000 plus a full fee waiver for one year, and the Ireland Fellows Programme funds a master’s fully for eligible professionals. Both are highly competitive, and neither fully covers Irish living costs beyond their stipends.

2. When do Ireland scholarships for 2027 open? GOI-IES is expected to open in late January 2027 and close in mid-March, based on the 2026 round. University awards vary from autumn to early summer.

3. Can Pakistani, Indian and Nigerian students apply? Yes for GOI-IES and most university awards, because they are open to non-EU students. The Ireland Fellows Programme is limited to eligible countries, so check yours.

4. Can I get an Ireland scholarship without IELTS? The university sets the English rule, and many accept other tests or proof that your degree was taught in English. You must meet it to hold an offer, and most scholarships require an offer.

5. Which Irish universities offer the biggest fee reductions? UCD offers some 100% tuition awards, and Galway has awards of around €10,000 a year in some colleges. DCU and Maynooth offer fixed reductions of up to €5,000 on selected programmes.

6. Can I combine two Irish scholarships? Often not. Several universities bar stacking within the same institution. Check each scheme’s terms before you accept.

7. Do I need an offer before I apply for a scholarship? Yes for most. GOI-IES needs a conditional or final offer, and UCD and Trinity need a course offer.

8. Are Maynooth Taught Master’s Scholarships open to non-EU students? They are reported as being for Irish and EU students. Non-EU students use the International Office scholarships.

9. Can I work while studying in Ireland? Yes, on Stamp 2: 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours during the main holiday periods.

10. How much money must I show for the Irish student visa? Current guidance for courses over eight months is €10,000 per year. Confirm the figure on irishimmigration.ie before you apply.

11. Do I need a Schengen visa for Ireland? No. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, so you need an Irish visa where required.

Conclusion: Start Your Ireland Scholarship Plan Now

The best strategy for Ireland scholarships for international students is to stack your chances: apply early for admission, target GOI-IES if you are a master’s or PhD candidate, and choose programmes with automatic fee reductions as a safety net. Bookmark this hub and check back each month, because we update it as UCD, Trinity, Galway and the HEA publish their 2027 dates.