GOI Scholarship 2026 – Government of Ireland Scholarships for international students GOI-IES
GOI-IES scholarship 2026 | Government of Ireland Scholarships for international students 2026-2027. The applications for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) is open for 60 places awarded across all Irish Higher Education Institutions each year. It is open to citizens of all nationalities at the exception to candidates having legal and permanent residency in European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) countries, United Kingdom or Switzerland.
The scholarships will be for one year of a full-time master’s (taught or research) or PhD programme. Scholarships may be approved for study across all disciplines, subject to the availability of places. The results of the scholarship competition are normally released in June or July each year and successful scholars will be expected to commence their studies in either September or October.
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What is the Government of Ireland scholarship Program for international students?
This Ireland government scholarship includes a Full fee waiver and €10,000. The GOI-IES scholarship aims to reflect Ireland’s engagement to support partner countries. The programme is funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) and managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
Eligible students must be:
- On the non-EU fee rate.
- From a non-EU/non-EEA country.
- In the following for 2026-27:
- 1-year taught Masters programme (full time).
- 1 year of a PhD programme (full time).
The main purpose of the Irish State Scholarship program is to make student exchange programs with partner countries, to ensure that they benefit from the quality education offered by Ireland and to make Ireland one of the centers of international education.
GOI-IES scholars can explore avenues for personal and professional development, establish connections with Irish and international peers and enhance connections between their countries and Ireland. The GOI-IES is aimed at top-level international students – it is a highly competitive scheme for which a large number of applications are received each year. Applications are assessed by a panel of independent international reviewers and scholarships are awarded to the highest scoring candidates.
Eligible Institutions for GOI scholarship 2026
List of institutions eligible under the GOI-IES program:
- Griffith College , Dublin.
- ICD Business School , Dublin.
- Independent College , Dublin
- Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest.
- Trinity College Dublin
- University College Cork
- Mary Immaculate College , Limerick
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University
- National College of Art and Design, Dublin.
- American College Dublin
- Atlantic Technological University.
- CCT College, Dublin.
- Dublin Business School
- Dublin City University
- Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design, and Technology.
- University College Dublin
- University of Limerick
- Dundalk Institute of Technology
- Galway Business School.
- National College of Ireland, Dublin.
- University of Galway.
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
- South East Technological University.
- Technological University Dublin.
Scholarships should be awarded by the following bodies:
- Irish Universities.
- Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology with delegated authority to make awards.
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
How do I get a Government of Ireland Scholarship?
Applicants must have a domiciliary of origin outside the EU/EEA/United Kingdom/Switzerland in order to apply for the GOI-IES scholarships. Presently, nationals from Russia and Belarus cannot apply.
- Applicants must have a conditional or final offer of admission to that HEI at the time of application and will be required to submit a copy of same.
- The offer letter must confirm that the student has been offered a place on a full-time programme as an international, paying student. If you have more than one offer, separate applications may be submitted for each course offer.
- A maximum of three applications can be submitted. Final offers will be subject to admission to the relevant HEI.
What are the Benefits from the Government of Ireland GOI-IES Scholarship?
Candidates will have the following as benefits for this government GOI scholarship if selected :
The HEI will be required to give a FULL fee waiver to the student for the scholarship year (i.e. tuition fee and registration charge are waived).
And an amount of €10,000 for one study year. This fund is directed at covering student costs and living expenses. The scholarship may be for : one year of a taught Masters’s degree program or; one year of a research program (i.e. one year of a 2-year research masters or a 3-4-year PhD program).
Candidate profile
Applicants are expected to demonstrate:
- excellent communication skills.
- a record of outstanding academic achievement.
- evidence of participation in extracurricular activities, for example, humanitarian work, politics, arts or sport; and
- a strong rationale for pursuing their study in Ireland that indicates how a GOI-IES would align with their longer-term goals.
What is the criteria for Evaluation of Government of Ireland Scholarships?
A marking system (total 100 marks) is part of the call, with the relevant scores shown in brackets after the key selection criteria below. Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves fully with the evaluation criteria prior to making an application.
An application must cover the following:
- Two references uploaded via the online application portal. Please note that the HEA will not accept references submitted outside of the online application portal (15 marks).
- Personal statement (refer to the Candidate profile), where applicants will be required to demonstrate:
- how they will extend themselves beyond their project/studies to become actively involved in Irish society, in order to maximise their academic and cultural exchange experience and to raise awareness of the GOI-IES programme in Ireland and beyond (15 marks).
- the benefit of becoming a GOI-IES scholar: to themselves (personally and professionally), to the HEI, to Ireland (economically and societally), as well as to their country of origin (15 marks).
- the extent to which they have a long-term interest in Ireland and how they will promote links with Ireland during their time as scholars and alumni (15 marks).
- Your academic qualifications, achievements and work experience (40 marks).
The scholarships amount to €10,000 for one year of study and are awarded by the HEA to the successful applicants through the HEIs that they are attending. This fund is directed at assisting with student costs and living expenses. In addition, the awardees’ host HEIs will be required to give a full fee waiver to the awardees for the scholarship year (i.e. tuition fee and registration charge are waived). This is the minimum matched funding requirement that institutions will be required to make to the scholarship scheme.
Recommendations
FAQs
Potential applicants should read the call documentation carefully to ascertain whether they are eligible to apply. All participants must create and submit their GOI-IES applications via the online system.
Applicants must have a domiciliary of origin outside the EU/EEA/United Kingdom/Switzerland in order to apply for the GOI-IES scholarships. Presently, nationals from Russia and Belarus cannot apply.
