Applications for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) programme will open on January 29, offering 60 high-performing international students financial support for postgraduate study in Ireland.
Ireland is set to roll out a fresh round of funding support for international students planning to pursue postgraduate education in 2026, as applications open for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) programme.
Under the scheme, 60 scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding international applicants. Each selected student receives a €10,000 stipend for one year of full-time study, while the host Irish higher education institution (HEI) covers the full tuition fee for the duration of the scholarship.
The GOI-IES programme is funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Irish HEIs and is administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It is open to students applying for programmes at National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 9 and 10, including master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas and PhD programmes.
Application timeline
Applications for the 2026 cycle will close at 5 pm (Irish time) on March 12, 2026. Successful candidates are expected to be notified in early June 2026.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must have a domicile of origin outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK. Candidates are also required to independently secure admission to an eligible course at an Irish HEI and must hold either a conditional or final offer at the time of submitting the scholarship application. Proof of admission is mandatory.
Students who have previously received a GOI-IES scholarship are not eligible to apply again. The 2026 call also specifies that Russian and Belarusian nationals are not eligible for the programme.
Applicants are advised to confirm course eligibility directly with their chosen institution. The official list of participating HEIs and contact details is available in Appendix 1 of the 2026 GOI-IES call document and may be updated periodically.
Application process and selection
Applications must be submitted through the official GOI-IES online portal once it goes live. Each applicant is permitted to submit only one application per cycle and must upload two references as part of the submission. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified.
Selection will be based on academic merit, communication skills, extracurricular involvement and a clearly articulated motivation for studying in Ireland aligned with long-term career goals. Shortlisted applications will first be reviewed by the relevant institutions before final evaluation by an independent assessment panel.
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