How a Brazilian Scholar Earned the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Media and Cultural Studies at Maynooth University

Hi! My name is Vinicius Gouveia, and I’m from Recife, Brazil. I hold a degree in Cinema and Audiovisual from UFPE. During my undergrad, I was awarded a Brazilian Scholarship to study in France. After graduating, I went straight into the industry to apply what I had learned. A few years later, I felt the need to return to school, this time to explore media in a broader way, since my previous studies were very film-focused. Today, I am a director, producer, and screenwriter.

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship Details

I came across the Government of Ireland - International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) while I was in Ireland, improving my English. I found all the information directly on their website (https://hea.ie/policy/internationalisation/goi-ies/), which has a clear and transparent call for applications.

The scholarship covered: Full tuition fees and a €10,000 stipend for the duration of the Master's programme.

Here’s how the application worked:

1- Upload documents & personal info: I asked an Irish friend to help me translate my Brazilian high school and degree information into the European format. With his help, I finished the form in under an hour.

2- Write three 500-word essays: Not a lot of words when you want to make a solid case. I think three things helped me: I was genuine, straight to the point, and strategic about how I could stand out. I made sure to talk about what I could offer to Ireland if I were selected.

3- Get an Unconditional Letter of Offer: I applied to two universities: Maynooth University and Trinity College. Maynooth sent the letter on time; Trinity took months. So my tip is: apply as early as possible!

With those three steps, I submitted my GOI-IES application.

Educational Background

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Audiovisual and graduated with a strong GPA. Honestly, grades help, but they’re not everything. If you’ve built a meaningful career, done volunteer work, and shown leadership, that will also count. My advice? Highlight your strengths, whatever they may be.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Maynooth University?

There’s a lot of paperwork involved, diplomas, translations, and yes, that costs money. So my first tip is: check each university’s website carefully and make a list of what they ask for. Some documents are pretty standard across all applications, but others can be oddly specific. Most universities will also ask for a portfolio, proof of work, a CV, and things like that.

Start early. Be organized. And above all, be strategic. By strategic, I mean: take time to understand the university and the course you’re applying to. They always explain their goals and values on the website, read that, and then shape your application to show how you match what they’re looking for. Highlight your strengths. Believe in yourself. Show them that choosing you makes sense.

Some people even lie in their applications, but personally, I don’t feel comfortable with that. If you get caught, you can lose everything. I’d rather miss an opportunity being real than win something by pretending. Like RuPaul says: “If you don’t believe in yourself, how in the hell are you gonna expect somebody else to believe in your potential?”

I took the TOEFL online. I prepared by watching YouTube videos, practicing with teachers, and doing lots of mock tests. Still, I was super nervous on test day and ended up doing worse than I had during practice. But my score was still good enough, and I was able to negotiate with universities, especially because they interviewed me and could see my real English level.

What I learned is this: those tests aren’t just about how good your English is, they’re about structure. Each question follows a logic. If you understand that logic, you’ll be fine. So yes, study English, but also study the test itself. That’s the real key.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship?

Here’s what I always tell my friends: first, understand what the scholarship is really looking for. Most scholarships describe that on their website, but go beyond that. Do your research, read between the lines. Sometimes what they say and what they mean aren’t exactly the same.

In the case of the GOI-IES scholarship, they were very clear and meant it: strong academic performance, involvement in extracurricular activities, and motivation aligned with Ireland’s national priorities. So I stuck to that. I made sure my essays and CV reflected those three things as clearly as possible.

And yeah, writing a whole essay in just 500 words while answering the question and highlighting your strengths isn’t easy. So I split the focus: besides answering the questions, I also dedicated each of the three essays to highlight one of the main points they were looking for. It helped me stay clear and focused.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think it was the mix of honesty, clarity, and strategy. I gave concrete examples, showed what I could bring to Ireland, and wasn’t afraid to speak from the heart.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

Honestly? I’d stress less. I got the scholarship on my first try, but many amazing people didn’t, and that’s okay. If it doesn’t work out the first time, look at what you can improve and try again. I like being part of communities of people who are applying for the same scholarship. I think it also helps.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Read the official website. Follow the guidelines. But also go deeper, look up testimonials, and talk to people who went through it. Reading something like this is already a great first step. If you’d like to ask me more, feel free to reach out on LinkedIn. I’m happy to help however I can!