Government of Ireland Scholarships and Other Funding Explained
You don't have to figure this out alone, the team at Studentbuddy is here to support you every step of the way.
Ireland's national and institutional funding landscape has several distinct programmes, understanding how each works helps you apply strategically across all relevant options.
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships
This programme, coordinated through the Higher Education Authority, provides scholarships covering significant costs for international students studying at Irish higher education institutions, competition is meaningful given its national scope, so a strong, complete application matters.
Institution-specific merit scholarships
Beyond national programmes, individual universities offer their own merit-based scholarships specifically for international students, often smaller in value than the national scheme but with potentially less competition, apply to these alongside, not instead of, national options.
Irish Research Council funding
For postgraduate research students, the Irish Research Council funds various scholarship and fellowship schemes, eligibility for non-EU applicants can vary by specific scheme, check current requirements directly.
Sector-specific and subject-specific funding
Some funding is tied to specific subject areas, particularly in fields aligned with Ireland's strategic research priorities, research whether your intended field has dedicated funding opportunities beyond general scholarships.
Building a coordinated application strategy
Apply to national, institutional, and subject-specific funding in parallel where eligible, tracking each programme's distinct deadline and requirements separately rather than treating scholarship search as a single unified process.
Get a personalised scholarship strategy for Ireland.
Explore Scholarships →FAQs
What is the flagship national scholarship programme for Ireland?
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships, coordinated through the Higher Education Authority.
Should I apply to institutional scholarships if I've already applied nationally?
Yes, apply to these alongside, not instead of, national options, since they often have less competition despite typically smaller individual values.
Does the Irish Research Council fund non-EU students?
Eligibility varies by specific scheme, check current requirements directly for your particular funding stream of interest.
Is subject-specific funding worth researching separately?
Yes, some funding is tied to fields aligned with Ireland's strategic research priorities, worth checking if your intended field has dedicated opportunities.
Should I treat scholarship applications as one combined process?
No, track each programme's distinct deadline and requirements separately, applying to multiple relevant options in parallel.
