Ireland is an increasingly popular study destination. The Higher Education Authority reported 44,535 non-Irish-domiciled enrolments in 2024/25, a 10.2% increase from the previous year. Of these, 32,940 were non-EU enrolments.
Ireland also offers a wealth of study options at the undergraduate and graduate levels. These options, together with the scholarships in Ireland listed below, make the country an attractive choice for students seeking a high-quality and potentially more affordable education. Here, we will go over some of the best scholarships in Ireland, along with scholarship recipients’ stories where available.
Top Scholarships in Ireland
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships Program | Irish Government | Master’s, postgraduate diploma, Ph.D. | €10,000 stipend and full fee waiver for one year of full-time study |
| University College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarship | University College Dublin | Bachelor’s, graduate taught | 50% or 100% tuition fee scholarship |
| Hardiman Ph.D. Scholarships | University of Galway | Structured Ph.D. | Fully funded for four years, with a €25,000 annual stipend and tuition fee coverage |
| John O’Hagan Grattan Scholarship | Trinity College Dublin | Ph.D. | Fees and an annual stipend of €20,000 for four years; confirm the next application cycle with the department |
| UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarship 2026 | University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law | Ph.D. | Fees up to the non-EU rate and an annual stipend of €25,000 for a maximum of four years |
| Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa | Irish Government | Master’s | Programme fees, flights, accommodation, and living costs |
| Trinity Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships | Trinity College Dublin | Bachelor’s | First-year tuition fee reduction of €2,000 to €5,000, depending on the region |
| University of Galway Postgraduate Scholarships | University of Galway | Master’s | Varies by scholarship; the central postgraduate page lists a €1,500 Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship for eligible EU students and separate international scholarships |
| UCC Lilly Research Scholarships | University College Cork | MSc Research, Ph.D. | €16,000 stipend, tuition fee coverage, and €6,000 toward consumables |
| DCU Merit Scholarships | Dublin City University | Varies | Partial merit-based scholarship; amount varies |
| Maynooth University Sanctuary Award Scholarship | Maynooth University | Bachelor’s, postgraduate | Fee waiver, stipend of up to €5,000, laptop funding, and access-program supports |
| RCSI International Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Scholarship | RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences | Undergraduate Pharmacy | Additional €1,500 first-year tuition fee reduction for selected self-funded non-EU applicants |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships | European Union | Master’s | €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, contributing toward travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs |
| Dr Sheila Boland Scholarship in Public Health | University of Limerick | Master’s | €5,000 to support an eight-week practical placement at the University of Arizona |
1. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships Program
The Irish Government, through the Higher Education Authority, offers the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships Program (GOI-IES). The program supports high-caliber international students pursuing study at National Framework of Qualifications levels 9 or 10, including eligible master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and Ph.D. programs.
Each year, 60 scholarships are awarded for one year of full-time study. The scholarship provides a €10,000 stipend and requires the recipient’s host higher education institution to provide a full fee waiver for the scholarship year. Applicants must have a domiciliary of origin outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. They must also hold a conditional or final offer of admission to an eligible Irish institution when applying. Applicants who have previously received a GOI-IES award are not eligible to apply, and Russian and Belarusian nationals are not eligible under the current rules.
Here is what Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) Scholars Say:
“They will grant 60 scholarships every year. The scholarship consists of a stipend of 10,000 euros and a full waiver of the tuition fee for an academic year.”
Thi Ngoc Anh Trinh
“This award, designed for non-Irish and non-EU students, offered me an incredible opportunity to pursue my master’s degree in Ireland.”
Christine
“I am deeply thankful to the Government of Ireland for selecting me through a highly competitive process.”
Mustefa Geda Bamuda
2. University College Dublin Global Excellence Scholarship
Founded in 1854, University College Dublin had the largest overall enrolment among institutions included in the Higher Education Authority’s 2024/25 data, with 34,715 students. The same dataset recorded 7,985 international enrolments at UCD.
UCD’s Global Excellence Scholarships provide a limited number of 50% and 100% tuition fee scholarships for outstanding international students entering eligible undergraduate or graduate taught programs. Applicants must be incoming students classified as non-EU for tuition fee purposes and must already hold an offer or conditional offer for an eligible UCD course. Online, January-start, part-time, clinical, offshore-campus, and International Foundation Year pathway programs are excluded. The 2026/27 scholarship competition is closed, so prospective applicants should check the official UCD page for the next application cycle.
3. Hardiman Ph.D. Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Fully funded for four years, with a €25,000 annual stipend and tuition fee coverage
- Eligible Degree(s): Structured Ph.D.
- Meet the Hardiman Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys, including Christine’s story.
The Hardiman Ph.D. Scholarships are offered by the University of Galway to high-achieving students who wish to pursue a structured Ph.D. The scholarships are available across a wide range of structured Ph.D. programs rather than a fixed list of five research areas.
For students starting on September 1, 2026, each award provides four years of funding, including a €25,000 annual stipend and tuition fee coverage. The award does not cover the student levy or provide a separate budget for consumables or travel.
Applicants must nominate a proposed supervisor and arrange for the required supervisor form to be submitted. They must also complete the scholarship application and provide two academic references. A separate application is required for admission to the structured Ph.D. program. Applicants should check the official page for the next competition timeline.
Here is what Hardiman Scholarship Scholars Say:
“The Hardiman Scholarship is a funding offered by the University of Galway Foundation, which supports around 20 outstanding Irish and international students each year as they begin their doctoral studies at this university.”
Christine
4. Grattan Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Fees and an annual stipend of €20,000 for four years
- Eligible Degree(s): Ph.D.
The current Trinity College Dublin page describes the John O’Hagan Grattan Scholarship. The scholarship page states that the award is fully funded, including fees and an annual stipend of €20,000 for four years.
John O’Hagan Grattan Scholars are selected based on their scholarly achievements, commitment to teaching, and ambition to understand and improve society through research and education. Scholars are expected to participate in teaching-related activities for a maximum of six hours per week during the teaching term.
The official application instructions still display a 2022 closing date. Prospective applicants should contact the relevant Trinity department and confirm whether a new application round has been published before preparing an application.
5. University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law Doctoral Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Fees up to the non-EU rate and an annual stipend of €25,000 for a maximum of four years
- Eligible Degree(s): Ph.D.
The generic UCD Sutherland School of Law Doctoral Scholarships are not being offered for 2026/27. However, the School of Law’s current scholarship page lists one new UCD Ad Astra Doctoral Scholarship for students starting in September 2026. This award provides tuition fees up to the non-EU rate and an annual stipend of €25,000 for a maximum of four years, renewable each year subject to satisfactory progress.
The same page also lists ERC doctoral scholarships for the RefLex project on international refugee law. These awards provide a €25,000 annual stipend and fees up to the non-EU rate for a maximum of four years. Applicants should review the official scholarship page carefully because the application requirements and deadlines differ by award.
6. Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa
The Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa enables selected early- to mid-career professionals from eligible countries who demonstrate leadership potential to pursue a fully funded one-year master’s-level program at an Irish higher education institution. Eligible programs generally start in August or September and run for between 10 and 16 months.
The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation, and living costs. The program aims to nurture future leaders, develop capacity to support national Sustainable Development Goals, and build positive relationships with Ireland. Country-specific eligibility rules apply, so applicants should review the relevant guidance for their country.
Here is what Ireland Fellowship Programme Scholars Say:
“Ireland Fellowship Programme – Fully funded (Trinity College Dublin)”
Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa
“Through this opportunity, I studied for a Master’s in Global Health at Trinity College Dublin.”
Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa
“This fellowship provided a crucial platform for me to deepen my passion for public health and helped shape my professional, academic, and personal journey.”
Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa
8. TCD India Undergraduate Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: First-year tuition fee reduction of €2,000 to €5,000, depending on the region
- Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s
The former Trinity India Undergraduate Scholarship page linked in older versions of this article is no longer the current general undergraduate scholarship listing. Eligible students from India may instead review Trinity’s current Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships. These scholarships are available to exceptional international students who have an offer to begin the first year of an eligible full-time undergraduate degree and who are charged the non-EU tuition rate.
The Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship is applied as a first-year tuition fee reduction valued between €2,000 and €5,000, depending on the region. Medicine, dentistry, acting, engineering, natural sciences, and computer science and statistics are excluded from this particular award. Scholarships for some excluded subjects may be available at the school or faculty level.
Indian nationals residing in India should also review Trinity’s separate Undergraduate Indian Scholarships page for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics opportunities. The STEM faculty page advertises a competitive undergraduate scholarship valued at €36,000, awarded as a €9,000 annual fee reduction over four years.
9. University of Galway Postgraduate Merit Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Varies by scholarship; the central postgraduate page lists a €1,500 Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship for eligible EU students and separate international scholarships
- Eligible Degree(s): Master’s
University of Galway, formerly known as NUI Galway, offers several postgraduate scholarships. The available awards and eligibility requirements vary by applicant category, course, and college.
The university’s central postgraduate scholarship page lists a Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship valued at €1,500 for eligible EU students who have been accepted to a full-time taught master’s program and hold a first-class honors degree or equivalent. International students paying non-EU fees should review the university’s separate international scholarship page and the scholarship options offered by their chosen college or school.
10. UCC Lilly Research Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €16,000 stipend, tuition fee coverage, and €6,000 toward consumables
- Eligible Degree(s): MSc Research, Ph.D.
University College Cork lists Lilly Research Scholarships for students applying for an MSc Research or Ph.D. degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, biotechnology-related areas, or Chemical Engineering.
Candidates must hold at least a Second-Class Honors, Grade 1 degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject. The scholarship provides a €16,000 student stipend, tuition fee coverage at the EU or international rate, and €6,000 toward consumables. It is tenable for two or four years, depending on whether the recipient pursues an MSc Research degree or a Ph.D.
The live UCC scholarship page does not display a current competition deadline. Prospective applicants should contact the university using the details on the official page to confirm whether a new application round is open.
11. DCU Merit Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Partial merit-based scholarship; amount varies
- Eligible Degree(s): Varies
Dublin City University offers partial merit-based scholarships to some non-EU students. Applicants are automatically considered when they apply to DCU as non-EU students, and eligible recipients are informed when the university communicates the outcome of their study application.
The current official page does not publish a single fixed value for the general DCU Merit Scholarship. It also lists separate faculty-level scholarships and bursaries for eligible 2026/27 programs, with fee reductions that vary by faculty and course. Applicants should consult the official DCU scholarship page for the award that applies to their program.
We have many stories from recipients who have received DCU Merit Scholarships. For example, read about Amiya Sur from India, who received a DCU Merit Scholarship covering around 30% of his tuition costs.
12. Maynooth University Sanctuary Award Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Fee waiver, stipend of up to €5,000, laptop funding, and access-program supports
- Eligible Degree(s): Bachelor’s, postgraduate
Maynooth University was officially designated as a University of Sanctuary in February 2020 in recognition of its initiatives to welcome refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants into the university community. Its Sanctuary Scholarships Scheme supports eligible students from asylum-seeking or refugee backgrounds who are living in Ireland.
The scholarship is open to international protection applicants in Ireland, as well as refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, and people with leave to remain in Ireland who do not have access to state support for their studies. Applicants must be registered with the Department of Justice and provide documentation confirming their status. Undergraduate applicants must apply through the CAO process, while postgraduate applicants must apply through MU Apply. The scholarship is available for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate study; Ph.D. scholarships are not currently offered through this scheme.
The scholarship includes a fee waiver, a stipend of up to €5,000 paid in two installments during the academic year for the duration of the recipient’s studies, funding toward a personal laptop, and a Maynooth University Access Programme package of supports. The 2026/27 application call has closed.
13. RCSI International Pharmacy Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Additional €1,500 first-year tuition fee reduction for selected self-funded non-EU applicants
- Eligible Degree(s): Undergraduate Pharmacy
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences currently offers an International Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Scholarship for selected self-funded non-EU applicants who hold an offer to study Pharmacy at RCSI. Eligible candidates are automatically considered based on their academic results and personal statement. A separate scholarship application is not required.
For the 2026/27 academic year, RCSI lists non-EU Pharmacy tuition fees of €25,000 per year. Privately funded students receive a €7,000 annual RCSI Development Initiative Scholarship, reducing tuition to €18,000 per year. Selected recipients of the International Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Scholarship receive an additional €1,500 reduction in the first year only, reducing first-year tuition to €16,500 before applicable one-time charges.
14. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, contributing toward travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs
- Eligible Degree(s): Master’s
- Meet the Erasmus Mundus Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys, including those of Eline from France and Reinfrida Ostack Mwalongo from Tanzania.
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are high-level, integrated master’s programs designed and delivered by international partnerships of higher education institutions. Each program involves study periods in at least two countries, and an individual master’s edition may last one to two academic years.
Competitive Erasmus Mundus scholarships are available to students from around the world. Under the current European Union formula, the scholarship is calculated at €1,400 per month for the duration of the master’s program, up to a maximum of 24 months. It contributes toward travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs. Applicants should review the specific Erasmus Mundus consortium page for program-level requirements and deadlines.
Here is what Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Scholars Say:
“I receive a monthly stipend from the Erasmus Mundus Program of €1400, which allowed me to save up while living in Portugal. In Ireland, this is much harder …”
Maryam Javaid
“The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is renowned for its competitiveness and is highly esteemed within the aquaculture community in India.”
Madhav Karthikeyan
“I would highly recommend aspiring students to apply for the Erasmus Mundus scholarship—it’s truly a life-changing opportunity.”
Wasif Jan
“The program is jointly offered by the University of Glasgow (UK), Dublin City University (Ireland), and Charles University (Czech Republic), allowing students …”
Ayesha Zafar
15. Master of Science in Public Health – Sustainability Leader Scholarship
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €5,000 to support an eight-week practical placement at the University of Arizona
- Eligible Degree(s): Master’s
The former Sustainability Leader Scholarship page is no longer the current funding listing for the University of Limerick’s MSc in Public Health. The current course page instead lists the Dr Sheila Boland Scholarship in Public Health.
This scholarship supports one MSc in Public Health student each year. The €5,000 award helps fund an eight-week practical placement at the University of Arizona. It is awarded to the top-performing student who expresses an interest in the placement, based on first-semester results.
If affordability is the main potential obstacle to pursuing your studies in Ireland, the scholarships above may help make higher education more accessible. Because scholarship values, deadlines, and eligibility rules may change between academic years, review each official scholarship page before applying.
We hope that this article on scholarships in Ireland for international students was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students page for more informative articles.
