Ireland Announces €10,000 Scholarships for International Students Starting January 29 – Apply Now!

The Government of Ireland €10,000 Scholarship 2026 is open to international students who are domiciled outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland, and the UK. Indian students are fully eligible to apply. Applicants must have a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish higher education institution for a full-time postgraduate programme. Students who have previously received a Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship are not eligible. As per the 2026 guidelines, Russian and Belarusian nationals are excluded from applying.

The scholarship supports full-time postgraduate programmes at Irish higher education institutions. This includes Master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and PhD programmes classified under NFQ Levels 9 and 10. The scholarship is available across a wide range of disciplines, allowing students from diverse academic backgrounds to apply. However, the course must be offered by an institution participating in the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship programme and must commence in the 2026 academic year.

Each selected student receives a €10,000 stipend to support living expenses for one academic year. This amount can be used to cover accommodation, food, transportation, and daily costs in Ireland. In addition to the stipend, the host Irish institution provides a full tuition fee waiver for the duration of the scholarship. Together, these benefits significantly reduce the overall cost of studying in Ireland, making postgraduate education more affordable for international students, including those from India.

Applications for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship 2026 will open on January 29, 2026. Candidates must complete and submit their applications through the official GOI-IES online portal. The final deadline for submission is 5:00 pm Irish time on March 12, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Scholarship results are expected to be announced in early June 2026, allowing students time to prepare for the academic year.

Yes, applicants must have either a conditional or final offer letter from an eligible Irish higher education institution at the time of applying. Without an offer letter, candidates are not eligible to submit a scholarship application. This requirement ensures that students are already academically qualified and accepted for a postgraduate programme in Ireland. Indian students are advised to apply to Irish universities early so they can secure an offer before the scholarship application deadline.

For the 2026 academic year, the Government of Ireland will award 60 International Education Scholarships to eligible international students. These scholarships are competitive and merit-based, attracting applicants from across the world. Due to the limited number of awards, candidates are encouraged to submit a strong application highlighting academic excellence, communication skills, extracurricular achievements, and a clear motivation for choosing Ireland as their study destination.

Applications are first reviewed by the participating Irish higher education institutions. Shortlisted applications are then assessed by an independent selection panel. Selection is based on multiple factors, including academic performance, communication and leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, and the applicant’s motivation and long-term goals. A strong personal statement explaining why the candidate wants to study in Ireland plays a key role in the final decision.

Only one application per candidate is allowed for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship 2026. Students who submit multiple applications will be disqualified. Additionally, candidates who have already received this scholarship in previous years are not eligible to apply again. Applicants must also submit two references as part of the application, and all documents must be completed and uploaded correctly before the deadline.

No, the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship covers only one academic year, even for PhD candidates. The scholarship provides a €10,000 stipend and a full tuition fee waiver for that year only. PhD students may need to arrange additional funding for the remaining years of their programme through institutional funding, research grants, or other scholarships offered by Irish universities.