The Government of Ireland Scholarship Program offers full scholarships, a €22,000 annual stipend, and a direct research expenses of €3,250 per annum for international students to deliver new possibilities for the future, within Ireland and beyond.
The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is an established national initiative, funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and managed by the Council.
2025 Government of Ireland Scholarship Description Details
The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is unique in the Irish research landscape and complements other channels for funded postgraduate education in the Irish ecosystem. Among its features are:
- Individual, prestigious awards for excellent research in the name of the applicant.
- An objective selection process using international, independent expert peer review.
- Funding across all disciplines, from archaeology to zoology.
- Awards for bottom-up, non-directed research, with the exception of those funded by our strategic funding partners.
Eligibility Requirements for 2025 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship
To be considered for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship, applicants must note the following:
- There is no age limit for applicants to be eligible for either programme type.
- All applicants must be affiliated with or admitted to an eligible Irish higher education institution or research-performing organization.
- Applications will only be accepted in either the Irish or English language.
- Applicants must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to the relevant programme, including strategic partner themes. This applies regardless of whether the applicant has changed their host institution or research topic since a previous submission.
Benefits of the Government of Ireland Scholarship
The value of the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship will be up to a maximum of €31,000 per annum in any approved year and will consist of the following:
- A stipend of €22,000 per annum.
- A contribution to fees, including non-EU fees, up to a maximum of €5,750 per annum.
- Eligible direct research expenses of €3,250 per annum.
Required Documents for the Government of Ireland Scholarship
To apply for the Government of Ireland Scholarship, Applicant must submit the following documents;
- Educational documents.
- Study Plan/Statement of Purpose.
- Research Proposal.
- Copy of Passport.
- Supervision details (if any).
- Recommendation forms.
- Language proof (if any).
- Additional documents (if any).
How to Apply for the 2025 Government of Ireland Scholarship (Step by Step)
- Interested and qualified applicants for the Government of Ireland Scholarship should read the call documentation carefully to ascertain whether they are eligible to apply.
- You are to first apply to an eligible Higher Education Institution or Research Programmes
- Proceed to submit your application via the online portal.
- All applications require two references to be uploaded via the online portal. It is recommended that candidates submit their applications well before the deadline, to avoid technical issues due to heavy server traffic on the respective day.
- Applications cannot be submitted once the deadline has passed.
- No alterations can be made to an application once it has been submitted.
Assessment Process
Applicants are expected to demonstrate the following attributes:
- A record of outstanding academic achievement.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Evidence of participation in extracurricular activities, for example humanitarian work, politics, arts or sport.
- A strong rational for pursuing their study in Ireland that indicates how a Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship would align with their longer-term goals.
Applications will first be shared with the relevant higher education institutions, who will check them for eligibility and shortlist them based on alignment with institutional strategic objectives.
The shortlisted applications will then be assessed by an independent panel of international assessors.