Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (GOI-IES) 2026: Deadline, Eligibility, Benefits

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships, known as GOI-IES, are administered by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Irish government to attract high-achieving students from outside the European Union, European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to study in Ireland. Around 60 scholarships are awarded each year, covering one year of full-time study at NFQ level 9 (master's degree, taught or research, or postgraduate diploma) or NFQ level 10 (PhD). Applicants must first apply separately for admission to an eligible Irish higher education institution and hold a conditional or final offer before they can submit a GOI-IES scholarship application; a student who has previously held a GOI-IES award is not eligible to apply again. Citizens of Russia and Belarus are not eligible to apply. Selection looks for outstanding academic achievement, strong communication skills, extracurricular involvement, and a clear, well-argued reason for wanting to study in Ireland tied to the applicant's longer-term goals. Each scholarship provides a stipend of EUR 10,000 for the year of study, together with a full waiver of tuition fees from the host institution, effectively covering both living costs and fees for that year. The deadline for the 2026 round was 5pm Irish time on 12 March 2026; the Higher Education Authority publishes a new call document and FAQ on its website ahead of each year's round.