The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships 2026 is one of the most prestigious scholarships for international students in Ireland and is available for all disciplines. The program’s participants are recognized for displaying world-class potential as future research leaders. The Ireland Scholarship 2026 provides equal opportunities to people of all nationalities. Research Ireland (formerly the Irish Research Council) works with businesses, civil society organizations, and the government to maximize the value of researchers’ skills, expertise, and talent to give society the highest benefit. The purpose of this grant is to cultivate the aptitude of candidates in order to serve the community in a better way.
The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Program is a renowned national initiative overseen by Research Ireland and sponsored by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science. The Ireland Government Scholarship 2026 Program is unique in Ireland’s research landscape, complementing other funding options for postgraduate education. Students receive prestigious awards for outstanding research performance. It funds a wide spectrum of excellent individual researchers at various career stages, investing in discovery research and ground-breaking ideas that address critical community issues.
Government of Ireland Scholarships allow students worldwide to pursue their postgraduate programs and study in Ireland fully funded. The postgraduate grant is ideal for students pursuing a full-time master’s or Ph.D. who are passionate about research and have strong academic records. The scholarship is highly competitive, with an average success rate of 18% over the last five years. The program focuses on developing candidates into well-rounded researchers and leaders.
World-leading universities such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the Royal Irish Academy are among the eligible institutions under this Irish scholarship. This golden opportunity allows candidates from all disciplines to collaborate with people from diverse cultures and exchange ideas to contribute to solving real-world community challenges. A total of 1,193 postgraduate scholars were awarded in 2019, with more than 5,000 candidates funded for outstanding research to date.
Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2026:
Host Country:
- Ireland
Funded By:
- The Ireland scholarships for international students 2026 are funded by the Department of Education and Skills and managed by the Council, Government of Ireland
Degree level:
- Master’s by research
- Doctoral degree (PhD)
Program Duration:
- Ireland Scholarship for Master’s Students: Recipients will receive funding for a period of two years.
- Ireland Scholarship for PhD Students: Recipients will receive funding for a period of four years.
Eligible Universities under the Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026:
- Atlantic Technological University
- Coláiste Mhuire Marino
- Dublin City University
- Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
- Dublin Dental Hospital
- Dundalk Institute of Technology
- Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology
- Mary Immaculate College
- Maynooth University
- Munster Technological University
- National College of Art and Design
- National College of Ireland
- National University of Ireland, Galway
- RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Royal Irish Academy
- Royal Irish Academy of Music
- South East Technological University
- Technological University Dublin
- Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
- University College Cork
- University College Dublin
- University of Dublin, Trinity College
- University of Limerick
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Benefits of the Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2026:
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The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship is worth up to €34,000 per year. It includes:
- €25,000 yearly stipend to cover your living costs.
- Tuition fees covered up to €5,750 per year, including non-EU fees. Non-EU students can request an extra €4,000 per year if their fees are higher, but any remaining fee difference must be paid by the student or their university.
- €3,250 per year for research expenses, such as equipment, travel, or other project-related costs.
- Global, independent expert peer evaluation as part of an objective selection process
- The candidates will get to study at the world’s leading universities in Ireland.
Eligibility Criteria of Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship:
- The applicants can be of any age in order to apply for the Ireland scholarship.
- Prior to accessing an application form, all applicants must take and pass an eligibility quiz on the online application system.
- All applicants must be linked with an Eligible university listed above.
- Candidates must have a Bachelor’s Degree for pursuing a Master’s and a Master’s Degree for pursuing PhD applications.
- Academic referees and supervisors must provide positive reports of the applicants.
- In order to be considered, applicants must not have failed twice in their previous applications for the same program. This is true whether the applicant’s host institution or research topic has changed since their last submission.
- Students waiting for their results can also apply. However, they must get provisional certificates from their home institutions.
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The applicants must have first-class or upper-second-class degrees.
Applicants seeking a research master’s degree or a doctoral degree must not possess or have previously held an Irish Research Council scholarship. - All applicants must have a primary supervisor who is willing and able to guide them on their research projects during their studies in Ireland.
- Research involving humans or human material must have appropriate ethical approval. The scholarship does not fund research that would result in the destruction of human embryos.
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How to Apply for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2026:
- Apply online through the official application system, no hard copies or email applications are accepted.
- Take the eligibility quiz first, you must pass it to access the application form.
- Find and contact a supervisor at one of the eligible Irish universities or research institutions. Discuss your research idea with them because their endorsement is required.
- Prepare your documents, make sure your transcripts are official, stamped, and signed.
- Write your application carefully, it must be your own original work (no plagiarism).
- Submit everything in English or Irish only.
- Create an account on the online portal, fill in the application form, and upload the required documents.
- Ensure your supervisor and referees submit their forms on the system before the deadlines
Required Documents for the Government of Ireland Scholarships:
- Completed online application form (after passing eligibility quiz)
- Research proposal
- Personal statement / applicant profile
- Training & career development plan
- Environment section (fit with supervisor and host institution)
- Ethics statement (if applicable)
- Sex/Gender dimension statement
- Official transcripts for all degrees listed in the application
- Primary Supervisor endorsement form (submitted online)
- Referee form(s) (submitted online)
- Proof of nationality/residence (if requested)
- Evidence of career break (if requesting eligibility adjustment)
- Final official transcripts (if results were pending at application stage)
- Ethical approval letters (before starting any research requiring approval)
Government of Ireland Scholarship Deadline:
- The last date to apply is 23rd October 2025.
