Quick Information
| Country | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | Master's/PhD |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded |
| Scholarship Value | €10,000 stipend for one year + full tuition and registration fee waiver |
| Application Deadline | March 12, 2026 |
| Last Verified Date | November 11, 2026 |
| Official Source | https://hea.ie/assets/uploads/2026/01/2026-GOI-IES-FAQs_Updated_28-January-2026.pdf |
What the GOI-IES Is
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship is Ireland’s flagship award for international students. It is funded by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Irish higher education institutions and managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). About 60 scholarships are awarded each year across the whole world, which makes it one of the most competitive awards on this site — but also one of the most valuable for a single year of postgraduate study in Ireland.
What It Pays
The award has two parts. The HEA pays a €10,000 stipend for one year to help with living costs, and the host institution waives tuition and registration fees in full for that year. Together those two parts cover the biggest costs of a year in Ireland, but the stipend alone does not cover full living costs, so scholars still need savings or other support for rent and daily expenses. The award lasts one academic year only, even if the programme runs longer, although a host institution may extend the fee waiver where a course runs across three semesters.
Who Can Apply
Applicants must be domiciled outside the EU, the EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Three other conditions must all be met: you must already hold a conditional or final offer for an eligible full-time, in-person Master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD programme at an eligible Irish institution; you must never have held a GOI-IES before; and you must not be a Russian or Belarusian citizen. There is no age limit. The offer requirement is the step that catches most people: you cannot apply for the scholarship until the university has offered you a place, so apply to Irish universities first.
How to Apply
First, apply to an eligible Irish institution and secure a conditional or final offer. Then submit the scholarship application through the HEA’s online portal, with proof of the offer, your academic and work history, a personal statement and two references. Only one application is allowed per cycle. The 2026 call opened on 29 January 2026 and closed at 5:00 pm Irish time on 12 March 2026, and results were expected in early June 2026. The 2027/28 call has not been published yet — it is expected to open in late January 2027, with a deadline in early to mid-March 2027 (dates not published). The practical plan for September 2027 entry is to apply to Irish universities from October 2026 onwards, so the offer is ready before the scholarship portal opens.
How Competitive Is It?
With about 60 awards for the whole world, GOI-IES is a long shot for any single applicant — but it is a free application, and the offer-first rule means the pool is limited to students who already hold an Irish admission offer. A strong academic record, a clear personal statement and solid references are what separate winners. Apply to the university early, and treat the scholarship application as a second, separate piece of work.
Official source: Higher Education Authority (HEA) — Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships 2026, FAQs