The Government of Ireland has officially opened applications for its prestigious flagship funding program, offering a €10k scholarships scheme for foreign students in 2026.
The 2026 scholarship scheme provides a €10k stipend and a full tuition fee waiver, positioning Ireland as a top-tier destination for global academic excellence.
Administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the €10k scholarships program fpr foreign students is designed to attract the world’s brightest minds.
Under the program, successful applicants receive a €10,000 grant intended to cover living expenses for one year of study. This financial support is coupled with a full scholarship from the host institution, covering all tuition and registration costs for the duration of the academic year.
Applications will be accepted from 29 January until 12 March 2026 through an online portal managed by the Higher Education Authority.
This was made known in a press statement posted on the official website of the Irish government.
Government officials describe the €10k scholarships program for foreign students as a strategic talent-attraction tool that complements Ireland’s wider International Education Strategy and Enterprise Policy.
The scholarships are open to all disciplines and are allocated on the basis of academic excellence, communication skills, leadership potential, and the candidate’s rationale for choosing Ireland.
For Irish universities and institutes of technology, the initiative is seen as a competitive differentiator in the global contest for postgraduate talent. Institutions are responsible for pre-screening applications and providing co-financing through the tuition waiver. Successful scholars become “GOI – International Education Scholars”, expected to act as cultural ambassadors during and after their studies, deepening Ireland’s alumni networks abroad.
What Does the Ireland Scholarship Cover?
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship is designed to ease the financial burden of studying abroad by offering both living support and tuition coverage for international postgraduate students.
- €10,000 stipend to cover accommodation, food, transport, and daily living expenses for one academic year
- 100% tuition fee waiver provided by participating Irish universities and colleges
- Applicable to full-time postgraduate programmes, including Master’s, PG Diploma, and PhD courses
- Open across multiple disciplines, supporting Ireland’s international education and talent strategy
- Funded by the Government of Ireland and managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in partnership with eligible institutions
Eligibility Criteria and Application Timeline
Students planning to apply for the Ireland €10,000 Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship 2026 must meet specific eligibility conditions and follow a fixed application schedule.
Eligibility Criteria for Ireland €10,000 Scholarship 2026
- Applicants must be domiciled outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland, and the UK
- Candidates will first need to apply for admission to a master’s, postgraduate diploma, or PhD programme offered by an eligible Irish higher education institution as per that institution’s admission procedures.
- Candidates must hold a conditional or final offer letter from an eligible Irish higher education institution
- Applicants who have previously received a Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship are not eligible
- Russian and Belarusian nationals are excluded from the 2026 scholarship call
Application Timeline and Selection Process
Applications open: January 29, 2026
Application mode: Online through the official GOI-IES portal
Application limit: One application per candidate
Supporting documents: Two references must be uploaded
Deadline: 5:00 pm (Irish time), March 12, 2026
Results announcement: Expected in early June 2026
Applications will be reviewed by participating institutions and assessed by an independent panel. Selection is based on academic performance, communication skills, extracurricular achievements, and the applicant’s motivation to study in Ireland.
