10 Best Scholarships 2025–2026 in Ireland for International Students
Are you interested in studying abroad on a fully financed scholarship in Ireland? Ireland provides high-quality education with a variety of scholarships for overseas students at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. These scholarships are financed by the Irish government, universities, and research institutions, making Ireland a desirable destination for international students.
Ireland is quickly becoming a top destination for international students seeking quality education in a culturally rich and welcoming environment. The Irish government and its universities offer a variety of scholarships to help ease the financial burden for international students. In this post, we break down the 10 best scholarships in Ireland for the 2025–2026 academic year, including how to apply, documents required, and links to the official websites.
1. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)
Funding: €10,000 stipend + full tuition fee waiver
Eligibility: Open to students from non-EU/EEA countries applying for a one-year master’s or research program.
How to Apply:
Apply to an eligible Irish higher education institution.
Receive a conditional or full offer.
Submit a scholarship application via the HEA portal.
Documents Needed:
Offer letter from an Irish institution
Academic transcripts
Passport
Personal statement
Two reference letters
2. Trinity College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarships
Funding: €2,000 to €5,000 toward tuition
Eligibility: International students applying to undergraduate or postgraduate programs.
How to Apply:
Apply for admission to TCD.
After receiving an offer, submit a scholarship application by email.
Documents Needed:
Offer letter from Trinity
Motivation letter (max 500 words)
Academic transcripts
Resume/CV
3. University College Dublin (UCD) Global Scholarships
Funding: Partial to full tuition waiver
Eligibility: Non-EU students applying for undergraduate or graduate programs.
How to Apply:
Apply for admission via UCD’s application portal.
Automatic consideration or separate scholarship form depending on the award.
Documents Needed:
Academic transcripts
CV
Motivation statement
English proficiency scores
4. University of Galway International Scholarships
Funding: €1,000–€4,000 tuition reduction
Eligibility: Open to international students applying for undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.
How to Apply:
Apply for admission to the University of Galway.
Complete the scholarship application form (post-offer).
Documents Needed:
Admission offer
Personal statement
Academic records
Proof of English proficiency
5. Maynooth University International Scholarships
Funding: Up to €2,000 tuition fee reduction
Eligibility: For non-EU undergraduate and postgraduate students.
How to Apply:
Apply to a program at Maynooth.
Submit scholarship application (may be automatic for some awards).
Documents Needed:
Academic transcripts
Personal statement
Proof of offer
Passport copy
6. University College Cork (UCC) International Scholarships
Funding: Full or partial tuition fee waiver
Eligibility: International undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.
How to Apply:
Apply to UCC and receive an offer.
Submit a scholarship application via the online portal.
Documents Needed:
Admission letter
Academic history
CV
Motivation letter
7. Dublin City University (DCU) International Merit Scholarships
Funding: €2,000–€5,000 tuition discount
Eligibility: International undergraduate and postgraduate students.
How to Apply:
Apply for admission to DCU.
Eligible applicants are considered automatically.
Documents Needed:
Academic transcripts
CV/Resume
English language proof
Passport
8. Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) Scholarships
Funding: €1,000–€3,000 tuition reduction
Eligibility: International students in undergraduate or postgraduate programs.
How to Apply:
Submit your program application.
Eligible candidates will be invited to apply for scholarships.
Documents Needed:
Admission letter
Transcript and certificate
Reference letters
Statement of purpose
9. Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship
Funding: Full tuition + €19,000 annual stipend
Eligibility: Master's and PhD students (research-based programs)
How to Apply:
Find an academic supervisor in an Irish institution.
Apply online via the Irish Research Council platform.
Documents Needed:
Research proposal
Supervisor endorsement
Academic transcripts
CV
Letters of recommendation
10. Griffith College Dublin Scholarships
Funding: Up to 50% tuition fee reduction
Eligibility: International students applying to undergraduate or postgraduate programs.
How to Apply:
Apply for admission to Griffith College.
Indicate interest in scholarships during your application.
Documents Needed:
Academic transcripts
Personal statement
CV/Resume
Proof of offer
Final Tips Before Applying
Start early: Many scholarships have strict deadlines.
Prepare multiple recommendation letters and a strong statement of purpose tailored to each scholarship.
Ensure your documents are certified and translated (if not in English).
Always apply to the course first—most scholarships require a letter of offer before you can be considered.
