Ireland is more than just an idyllic tourist destination; it’s a great place to study as well. The country boasts of quality education, as evidenced by its many top-ranking universities. With more than 5,000 programs to choose from, you can have the pick of the world in Ireland.
Ireland offers multiple fully funded and generous partial scholarships that can cover tuition, living expenses, and even flights for international students. Programs like the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) and the Ireland Fellows Programme have already funded students such as Vivian Umeokwoaka (Nigeria), Thi Ngoc Anh Trinh (Vietnam), Mustefa Geda Bamuda (Ethiopia), Vinicius Gouveia (Brazil), and Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa (Malawi) to study in Irish institutions. Their paths show that with the right preparation, it is possible to make your studies in Ireland almost or completely free.
How to Study in Ireland for Free with Scholarships: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Map Out Fully Funded and Partial Scholarships in Ireland
Your starting point should be understanding the main funding routes. The flagship option is the fully funded Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES), open to high-achieving non-EU/EEA students at master’s and sometimes PhD level. It typically offers a full tuition fee waiver at an eligible Irish university plus a €10,000 stipend for one year of study, making tuition and most living costs covered if you budget carefully. The scholarship is extremely competitive and requires you to already hold a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish higher education institution before you apply.
Several GOI-IES scholars have shared how detailed research was their first serious step. Thi Ngoc Anh Trinh, now doing an MSc in Financial Technology at Dublin Business School, first learned that GOI-IES offers a tuition waiver plus a €10,000 stipend and then built a shortlist of Irish programs that matched her background in business and finance. She compared course modules, investigated how strongly each program aligned with innovation and technology, and tracked requirements and deadlines in a spreadsheet before submitting her scholarship application. Vivian Umeokwoaka, studying a Master’s in Public Health at University College Cork, similarly created a detailed Excel sheet to compare programs, eligibility criteria, documents, and deadlines, and only then applied for GOI-IES when she already knew exactly how the scholarship fitted into her long-term public health goals.
Alongside GOI-IES, the Ireland Fellows Programme is another fully funded route for professionals from eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and other regions. It usually funds a 1-year master’s degree in Ireland and can cover tuition, a living stipend, accommodation, and travel costs, making it effectively a full ride. Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa used an Ireland Fellowship to complete a Master’s in Global Health at Trinity College Dublin before later winning another fully funded scholarship for further study, showing how one Irish fellowship can open doors to more opportunities.
Once you understand the fully funded options, broaden your list using Ireland-related scholarship listings. Many universities offer generous partial awards that can reduce tuition substantially. For example, Trinity College Dublin provides Global Excellence scholarships that reduce postgraduate tuition by €2,000–€5,000; University College Dublin runs Global Excellence Scholarships that can waive up to half or even the full tuition fee for top applicants; University of Galway has Global Achievement and other merit awards; and University College Cork offers numerous merit-based scholarships across business, science, and health. Combining a strong partial scholarship with careful budgeting and part-time work allowed many students to study in Ireland with minimal personal expenses, even when they did not win a fully funded government award.
Step 2: Secure Admission and Meet Language Requirements
For scholarships like the GOI-IES and the Ireland Fellows Programme, you generally must first obtain a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish university. That means your admission strategy and your scholarship strategy are linked. Start by shortlisting institutions and programs that match your academic background and career goals: for example, Trinity College Dublin for humanities and global health, University College Dublin for business, science, and engineering, University College Cork for health and life sciences, or University of Galway for innovation and social impact–oriented programs. Use each university’s admissions page to confirm entry requirements, prerequisite subjects, and deadlines before you think about scholarship essays.
English requirements also matter. Most Irish universities require proof of English proficiency, often via IELTS or TOEFL, but many accept alternative evidence such as a previous degree taught entirely in English or other international tests. Scholarship guides for Ireland note that several popular scholarships and programs, including some Global Excellence schemes at Irish universities, may waive IELTS if you can prove English-medium education or meet other conditions. This flexibility helped many students who already studied in English to focus their time on building strong academic and professional profiles instead of retaking multiple tests.
Step 3: Combine University Scholarships, Cost-Saving Strategies, and Backup Plans
Because scholarships like GOI-IES and the Ireland Fellows Programme are so competitive, strong applicants often build multiple paths to “studying for free” instead of relying on a single award. One common strategy is to apply simultaneously for government scholarships and university scholarships. At Trinity College Dublin, Global Excellence scholarships can reduce tuition by €2,000–€5,000; at UCD, Global Excellence and other merit scholarships can cover half or all tuition for top candidates; at University of Galway, Global Achievement scholarships provide a €2,000 reduction on first-year fees; and at UCC there are multiple faculty-level awards worth thousands of euros per year. If you also receive GOI-IES or an external fellowship, these institutional awards can sometimes stack or free up funds for extra research, conferences, or savings.
Current scholars frequently built Plan A, B, and C. Thi applied for several scholarships at once and eventually received multiple offers, not just GOI-IES. She then chose the option that best matched her academic and financial goals for Ireland. Likewise, Vivian kept applying even after an earlier scholarship rejection, using each application cycle to refine her documents. The lesson is simple: don’t pin everything on one scholarship, even if it is fully funded. Apply broadly, to government, university, and external scholarships, and let the results give you choices.
To make partial funding feel like “studying for free,” combine scholarships with smart financial planning. Many students choose 1-year master’s programs instead of 2-year options to cut overall costs, pick cities like Cork or Galway where rent can be lower than central Dublin, and carefully plan part-time work within Irish student visa rules to cover any remaining living expenses. When tuition is mostly or fully covered by scholarships, these strategies can reduce your out-of-pocket costs to a very manageable level.
Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in Ireland
You can finish your bachelor’s in Ireland for free by applying for any of these scholarship offers:
1. Trinity College Dublin
Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. Modeled after Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, it is comprised of the Faculties of Arts, Humanities, & Social Science, Engineering, Math, & Science, and Health Science.
TCD’s undergraduate scholarships include a Bachelor in Business Scholarship, an E3 Balanced Solutions for a Better World Scholarship, a Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship, a Government of Ireland Scholarship, and Country-Specific Scholarships (Chinese, Indians, Americans, Brazilians).
2. National University of Ireland – Galway
NUI Galway was founded in 1895 as the Queen’s College Galway. It is home to four colleges, namely the Arts, Business, Medicine, and Science & Engineering.
Foreigners who wish to study at NUI Galway may apply for one of its Undergraduate Scholarships available for international students. The university also accepts external funding sources.
3. National University of Ireland – Maynooth
Based in Country Kildare, Ireland, Maynooth University can trace its roots back to 1795. Formerly a constituent college, it currently offers its academic courses through the Faculties of Social Science, Science & Engineering, Arts, Celtic Studies, & Philosophy.
Maynooth University offers a long list of undergraduate scholarships, including Entrance Scholarship, Bachelor of Music Entrance Scholarship (Top-Scoring Applicant), Music Scholarship (2nd-Year Students), Intel Women in Technology Undergraduate Scholarship, Google Women Techmakers Undergraduate Scholarship Award, Naughton Scholarship (STEM Entrants), Scholarship for Students with Disabilities, Scholarship for Adult Learners, Gerard Byrne Undergraduate Bursary (Visually-Impaired), Credit Union Members Scholarship, Dublin Port Company Undergraduate Scholarship, St. Vincent de Paul Undergraduate Bursary Fund and Denham Fellowship for Kings Inns Entrants (Socially Disadvantaged)
4. University of Limerick
Founded in 1972, the University of Limerick was the first institution to be established after Irish independence. Located along the River Shannon, UL offers undergraduate scholarships according to Faculty (Business, Education & Health Science, Science & Engineering, and Arts, Humanities & Social Science).
The university also offers nationality-specific bursaries, i.e. for Chinese, Georgian, and Indian students.
5. Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a public university founded in the year 1975. Based on the Northside of Dublin, it offers courses in the fields of Engineering & Computing, Humanities & Social Science, Education, and Health.
DCU offers undergraduate scholarships according to the country of origin:
- China – Four slots
- India – Five slots
- USA – Four slots
Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in Ireland
Studying free master’s programs in Ireland is possible in the schools listed down below.
1. University College Dublin – Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
Apart from its Irish Government Scholarships, UCD also offers a handful of scholarships for students of the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. These include:
- GMAT MBA Scholarships
- Michael Smurfit MBA and MSc Scholarships
- MSc Scholarships (Aviation Finance, Marketing & Retail Innovation)
- Norman Liu Aviation Scholarships
- Excellence Scholarships for Executive MBA and Modular MBA Students
- Regional Excellence Scholarships for MBA Students
- Women on the MBA Scholarship
- Merit-Based Scholarships for Chinese, Vietnamese, and Sri Lankan Students
- Academic Excellence Scholarships for Indian Students
- University of Delhi Graduate Scholarship
Getting one of the fully-funded or full-tuition scholarships would make international students be able to study for a Master’s in Ireland for free.
2. National University of Ireland – Galway
NUI Galway also offers a variety of bursaries through its Postgraduate Merit Scholarship and Business Merit Postgraduate Scholarship. The latter is open to students taking up their Masters in International Accounting, Corporate Finance, International Management, HRM, International Finance, Global Environmental Economics, Health Economics, Public Policy, Information Systems Management, Business Analytics, Marketing Management, or Digital Marketing.
3. National University of Ireland – Maynooth
Only a few Masters’ scholarships are available at Maynooth University. These include the MU Taught Scholarship and the Intel Taught Masters Scholarship.
4. University of Limerick
UL offers post-graduate scholarships for students enrolled in its four faculties. Additionally, those who wish to pursue their master’s in the university may be qualified for UL’s progression scholarship.
5. Dublin City University
Similar to its undergraduate scholarship programs, bursaries for master’s students are accorded to their nationalities. There are four slots available for Chinese and American students respectively, as well as four slots for Indian applicants. There is also a lone slot for those of Japanese nationality.
Here are some of the students who were able to study a Master’s degree in Ireland for free!
- Vinicius Gouveia from Brazil received GOI-IES at Maynooth University, covering full tuition and a €10,000 stipend, to pursue a Master’s in Media and Cultural Studies.
- Vivian Umeokwoaka from Nigeria earned GOI-IES at University College Cork (UCC) to study a Master’s in Public Health, fully funded, covering tuition and living expenses.
Here is what Master’s Scholarship Recipients in Ireland Say:
“The scholarship covered: Full tuition fees and a €10,000 stipend for the duration of the Master’s programme.”
Vinicius Gouveia
“I spent significant time understanding what the scholarship valued. For GOI-IES, I emphasized my commitment to social impact and climate communication.”
Elizabeth Biwott
“Through this opportunity, I studied for a Master’s in Global Health at Trinity College Dublin.”
Madalitso Aline-Mary Mwenemurupa
Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in Ireland
Ph.D. students may apply at the following Irish universities to study for free:
1. Trinity College Dublin
Trinity College Dublin offers Ph.D. scholarships through the CNPq Bursary, China Scholarship Council, Government of Ireland, Irish Research Council, Loyola Institute, Grattan Scholarship, and Hamilton Scholarship.
2. National University of Ireland – Galway
Apart from the Postgraduate Merit Scholarship program, NUI Galway also offers the Government of Ireland Scholarship for Ph.D. students. This includes a 10,000 Euro ($12,257) stipend and a full fee waiver, allowing Ph.D. students to study in Ireland for free.
Another option is the NUI Galway Hardiman Research Scholarship. This provides an annual allowance of 16,000 Euros ($19,611) and other fees.
3. National University of Ireland – Maynooth
Maynooth University Ph.D. students may apply for the following bursaries: John & Pat Hume Doctoral Award, MU Funded Teaching Studentships, MU Doctoral Scholarships, High-Mobility Wireless Communications (Electrical Engineering) Research Fellowship and Coherent Raman Spectroscopy (Electrical Engineering) Research Fellowship.
4. University of Limerick
UL offers Ph.D. students to enroll for free via the Government of Ireland Scholarship. Applicants must have an offer of admission from UL, which is to be submitted to the Higher Education Authority for consideration.
Here are some of the students who were able to study a PhD degree in Ireland for free!
- Christine from Indonesia earned a fully funded Hardiman PhD Scholarship at the University of Galway, covering full tuition, a generous stipend, and research support so she could pursue a PhD in Biomedical Science focused on cellular manufacturing and diabetes research.
Here is what Scholarship Recipients in Ireland Say about Fully Funded PhD Study:
“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
Although Ireland has fewer universities compared to other countries, its universities are quite affordable, and if you take advantage of different scholarships you can study for free. Visit the websites of the universities we have mentioned above to grab your opportunity.
We hope this article on how to study in Irish universities for free was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students in Europe page.
