Status: not open yet. Applications for the 2027/28 Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship have not opened. Based on recent years, the round is expected to open in late January 2027 (for a September 2027 start). We update this page the moment the HEA confirms the official dates — so bookmark it, and use the time now to get ready.
Quick Read
- What it is: the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) — a €10,000 stipend plus a full tuition-fee waiver for one year of study.
- How many: around 60 awards a year, worldwide (60 for 2026/27).
- Who: international (non-EU/EEA) students — Indian applicants included — holding an offer for an eligible one-year course at an eligible Irish institution. Postgraduate only — undergraduate study does not qualify. Not every course or college counts; see below.
- When (expected): not open yet; based on recent years, applications are likely to open in late January 2027 and close around mid-March, for a September 2027 start. Dates are not yet confirmed.
- Beyond GOI-IES: most Irish universities — UCD, Trinity, UCC, Galway, DCU and more — run their own merit scholarships for international students (full list below).
- The real edge: the application turns on your offer letter and personal statement — both of which you can lock in before it opens.
Ireland’s single most valuable scholarship for international students is the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship — a €10,000 stipend and a full tuition-fee waiver for a year. It’s competitive, it rewards preparation, and it opens for only a few weeks each year. The 2027/28 round isn’t open yet, but the students who win it are the ones already getting ready. Here’s exactly what it offers, who qualifies, and how to be first in line.
What the scholarship actually covers
Run by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Government of Ireland, GOI-IES funds one year of study. For a one-year Master’s, that means your whole programme.
| What you get | Detail |
|---|---|
| €10,000 stipend | A contribution toward living costs for one academic year, usually paid in instalments through your university. |
| Full tuition-fee waiver | Your tuition and registration fees for the year are covered. (Bench fees on a few science/engineering programmes aren’t included — check your course.) |
| Duration | Funds one year of full-time, in-person study — a taught Master’s, a postgraduate diploma (Level 9), or one year of a research Master’s/PhD. |
What it’s worth, in real terms. A full fee waiver on a Master’s can be worth €10,000–€25,000+ depending on the course, and the €10,000 stipend sits on top of that. Between them, a GOI-IES award can cover the single biggest cost of studying in Ireland for a year.
Who can apply
GOI-IES is a postgraduate scholarship for high-calibre international students — it is not open to undergraduate applicants. In broad terms, you’re eligible if you:
- Are an international (non-EU/EEA) student — Indian passport holders qualify, provided your domicile is outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK.
- Hold a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish higher education institution, for the September 2027 intake.
- Are starting an eligible course type: a taught Master’s, a postgraduate diploma (NFQ Level 9), or a research Master’s/PhD — at least one year, full-time and in-person, starting September/October 2027.
- Have not previously held a GOI-IES award, and submit only one application.
Important: not every course or college qualifies
This is where most applicants trip up. The scholarship isn’t open to every Irish university or every programme — and checking before you pin your hopes on it is essential:
- Only eligible institutions take part. The HEA publishes an official list of eligible higher education institutions (Appendix 1) with each year’s call. If your university isn’t on that list, the scholarship doesn’t apply. (Institutions in Northern Ireland are not eligible.)
- The institution decides which of its courses accept scholars. Even at an eligible university, each one shortlists candidates and chooses which programmes can host a GOI-IES scholar — so confirm with the university that your specific course is included.
- These course types are excluded: undergraduate degrees, online degrees, foundation-year studies, and anything starting in winter or spring (you must start in September/October). Blended courses count only if you attend all in-person classes and live in Ireland for the full year.
Don’t apply blind. A strong application to an ineligible course is wasted effort. Match your course and university to the eligibility rules first — it’s one of the first things we check for every student aiming at this award.
Expected timeline for 2027/28 (not yet confirmed)
The HEA has not yet announced the 2027/28 dates. Based on the last round, this is the likely shape — treat it as a planning guide, not a confirmed schedule:
| Stage | Expected window (2027/28) |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Expected late January 2027 |
| Deadline | Expected mid-March 2027 |
| Results | Expected around June 2027 |
| Course start | September 2027 |
We’ll replace these with the confirmed dates the moment the HEA publishes the 2027/28 call.
How it’s scored — where the award is actually won
Applications are marked out of 100, and the balance tells you exactly where to put your effort:
- 45 marks — personal statement. Three answers (up to ~500 words each). This is the biggest single factor, and the one most students underprepare.
- 40 marks — academic record, achievements and work experience.
- 15 marks — two references, uploaded through the portal.
Two things lose people the award every year: a rushed personal statement written in the final days, and references chased after the window opens. Both are fixable now — months before applications even go live.
How to be ready before it opens
Because the window is short and the result turns on your offer and your statement, the work that wins it happens before the portal opens:
- Secure your Irish offer early. You need an offer in hand to apply — so apply to your universities now. Several are already open for September 2027; see our live Ireland September 2027 intake tracker.
- Draft your personal statement now. Three strong, specific answers beat three rushed ones — and 45 of 100 marks ride on them.
- Line up your two referees so they’re ready to upload the moment the portal opens.
- Shortlist the right course and university for your profile and goals — start with our Study in Ireland guide.
How to apply (when it opens)
The process itself is straightforward once the call is live:
- Have your Irish offer letter ready before you start.
- Create an account and complete the application on the official GOI-IES portal.
- Upload your personal statement answers and references, and submit early — late applications are not accepted, and you can’t edit after submitting.
Other scholarships to study in Ireland
GOI-IES is the flagship, but it isn’t the only route to funding. Almost every Irish university runs its own merit scholarships for international students — usually a part-fee reduction awarded automatically or on a short application, often stackable with nothing else. Awards and deadlines change every year, so treat the figures below as typical/indicative and confirm the current amount on each university’s official scholarships page before you plan around it.
| University | Typical international / merit awards | Official page |
|---|---|---|
| University College Dublin (UCD) | Global & merit scholarships; MBA awards up to ~€27,000; taught-Master’s merit commonly ~€5,000–€7,000. | ucd.ie/global/scholarships |
| Trinity College Dublin | Global-relations & postgraduate awards; also a GOI-IES host institution. | tcd.ie/study/international/scholarships |
| University College Cork (UCC) | College & merit scholarships commonly ~€2,000–€5,600. | ucc.ie/en/international |
| University of Galway | International merit scholarships commonly ~€2,000–€5,000. | universityofgalway.ie/international-students |
| Dublin City University (DCU) | Merit scholarships commonly ~€2,000–€5,000. | dcu.ie/international |
| University of Limerick (UL) | International & merit scholarships (various; often ~€2,000+). | ul.ie/global |
| Maynooth University | International merit scholarships commonly ~€2,000–€5,000. | maynoothuniversity.ie/international |
| National College of Ireland (NCI) | Merit scholarships commonly ~€3,000–€5,000. | ncirl.ie/international |
| Griffith College | International bursaries commonly ~€1,000–€3,000. | griffith.ie/international |
Figures are typical ranges, not guaranteed offers — each university sets its own awards, criteria and deadlines, and these change yearly. Always confirm the current scholarship and closing date on the university’s official page before applying.
Most students leave money on the table. University merit awards often turn on applying early and to the right course — and many go unclaimed simply because applicants don’t know they exist. Our counsellors match your profile, marks and budget to the scholarships you’re most likely to win, across GOI-IES and every university above. Ask us what you qualify for.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Government of Ireland scholarship open now?
Not for 2027/28. The round hasn’t opened yet — based on recent years it’s expected to open around late January 2027. We’ll update this page with the confirmed dates as soon as the HEA announces them.
How much is the Government of Ireland scholarship worth?
A €10,000 stipend plus a full tuition-fee waiver for one year — together often worth €20,000–€35,000+ depending on the course.
Can Indian students apply?
Yes. Indian students are eligible as non-EU/EEA international applicants, provided they hold an offer from an eligible Irish institution and meet the other criteria.
Do I need an offer letter before I apply?
Yes — you must already hold a conditional or final offer from an Irish university. That’s why securing your offer early is the single most important step.
Does it cover a PhD or an undergraduate degree?
A research Master’s or PhD is eligible (it funds one year of a research programme), alongside taught Master’s and Level 9 postgraduate diplomas. Undergraduate, online and foundation-year courses are not eligible.
Does every Irish university offer this scholarship?
No. It applies only to institutions on the HEA’s official eligible list, and each one decides which of its courses can host a scholar — so always confirm your specific course and university qualify before you build your application around it.
Related reading from The Mentors Circle
- Ireland September 2027 intake — which universities are open (live tracker)
- Study in Ireland: full guide for Indian students
- Funding your studies: education loan vs family funds
- Ireland student visa checklist — complete document list
Sources & further reading
- Higher Education Authority (HEA) — official administrator of GOI-IES
- Education in Ireland (Enterprise Ireland) — scholarships for international students
About The Mentors Circle. Guiding Indian students since 2014 and an Enterprise Ireland endorsed agent with a 97% visa success rate, we help students line up the offer, the statement and the references that scholarship panels actually reward — well before the window opens. Talk to a counsellor and we’ll build your GOI-IES game plan for 2027.
Scholarship details verified October 2026 against the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Education in Ireland. The 2027/28 round had not opened at the time of writing and all 2027 dates are expected, not confirmed — always check the official HEA GOI-IES page for the current call before applying.
