List of Irish Research Council Scholarships for International Students in 2026

Many students want to study in Ireland, but research costs and living expenses can be very high. The Irish Research Council Scholarships in 2026 give fully funded opportunities for international students to do master’s and PhD programs. These scholarships help with living costs, tuition fees, and research expenses, and also give access to top professors and academic networks. This blog shows a complete guide to all IRC scholarships, including who can apply, estimated benefits, deadlines, and tips to help students plan and increase their chances of getting selected.

List of Irish Research Council Scholarships for International Studnets

This is the list of main scholarships under the Irish Research Council and related partner programmes for 2026, and it will help you to get a quick glimpse of these scholarships.

Scholarship Name	Benefits & Coverage	Eligibility
Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme	EUR 22,000 stipend, EUR 5,750 fees & EUR 3,250 research costs per year	Any nationality, full-time master’s by research or PhD, Irish host & supervisor
Enterprise Partnership Scheme	EUR 22,000 stipend, EUR 5,750 fees & EUR 3,250 research costs per year	Any nationality, full-time research, enterprise partner & Irish host
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship	EUR 10,000 stipend & tuition waiver for 1 year	Non-EU/EEA students, full-time Master’s or PhD
EPA Ph.D. Scholarship Programme	EUR 22,000 stipend, fees & research costs	Full-time PhD research in environment or climate, any nationality
DCEDIY PhD Scholarship Programme	EUR 22,000 stipend, fees & research costs	Full-time PhD aligned to children, equality, disability, integration, and youth. Irish host & supervisor
DFAT PhD Scholarship Programme	EUR 22,000 stipend, fees & research costs	Full-time PhD aligned to global affairs, diplomacy, and international development

Types of Irish Research Council Scholarships in 2026 

The Irish Research Council will offer several fully funded scholarships for international students across multiple research areas. Let’s explore these scholarships. 

Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is one of the top research scholarships funded by the Irish Research Council. It supports international and Indian students who want to do a Master’s by Research or PhD in Ireland. This program helps students who have cool ideas and want to explore them with strong academic guidance.

What This Scholarship Offers

This scholarship covers your tuition fees, gives a yearly stipend of around EUR 19,000, and even includes research expenses. So basically, you can study without worrying about money and focus fully on your project.

Who Can Apply

Students from any country, including India, can apply if they:

• Have a strong academic record
  
• Hold or are about to hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree
  
• Have a research idea that connects with Ireland’s fields of study
  
• Get a supervisor from a recognized Irish higher education institution

Application Process

Applications usually open around September and close by October each year. Here’s how it goes:

1. Choose your Irish university and find a supervisor willing to support your proposal.
   
2. Prepare your research proposal, CV, and academic transcripts.
   
3. Submit your application through the Irish Research Council’s online portal.
   
4. Wait for the evaluation and results, usually announced in March or April.

Also Read: Scholarships in Ireland: Full and Partially Funded Scholarships 

Enterprise Partnership Scheme

The Enterprise Partnership Scheme is run by the Irish Research Council in collaboration with industry partners. It supports full-time postgraduate research in Ireland where the research project is connected to a company, NGO, or public-sector partner. Indian and other international students can apply if they meet eligibility requirements and have a confirmed supervisor and host university.

Eligibility

You can apply if you:

• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree suitable for postgraduate research.
  
• Have a confirmed supervisor and Irish host institution.
  
• Have a research project linked to an enterprise partner.
  
• Are ready to commit to full-time research.
  
• Meet English language and visa requirements if you are an international student.

Benefits

Based on previous cycles, you can expect:

• Stipend of EUR 22,000 per year for living costs.
  
• Tuition fees contribution of up to EUR 5,750 per year.
  
• Research expenses of about EUR 3,250 per year for travel, materials, or conferences.
  
• Duration: up to 2 years for master’s by research, up to 4 years for PhD.

Application Process & Deadline

• Applications are submitted online via the Irish Research Council portal.
  
• Documents required: research proposal, supervisor endorsement, enterprise partner support, academic transcripts, and references.
  
• Estimated 2026 timeline:
  
  • Call opens: Sep 2025
    
  • Application deadline: Oct/Nov 2025
    
  • Award start: Sep 2026 

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is a top research scholarship run by the Irish Research Council. It supports students who want to do a master’s by research or a PhD in any field, such as science, arts, humanities, engineering, or social sciences. The scheme is open to international students, including Indian students, and helps them focus on research without financial stress.

Eligibility

You can apply if you meet most of these:

• You hold a high-level degree or its equivalent.
  
• You plan to do full-time research in Ireland.
  
• You have secured a supervisor and host university in Ireland.
  
• You are from any country, including India.
  
• You have not already had a major Irish government research scholarship.
  
• You can show your research idea is new, useful, and able to make an impact in your field.

Benefits

Based on previous award cycles, the benefits are approximately:

• Annual stipend: EUR 22,000 for living expenses in Ireland.
  
• Tuition fee contribution: up to EUR 5,750 per year covering most non-EU tuition fees.
  
• Research expenses: approximately EUR 3,250 per year for things like travel, books, materials, and conferences.
  
• Duration: up to 2 years for a master’s by research and up to 4 years for a PhD, depending on university policy.
  
• Additional value: access to national research networks and professional development opportunities.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications are submitted online via the Irish Research Council’s portal.

Steps to apply:

1. Find a supervisor at an Irish university who agrees to guide your project.
   
2. Prepare your research proposal explaining what you will study, why it matters, and how you will do it.
   
3. Collect academic transcripts, certificates, reference letters, supervisor’s support, ID documents, and any required language proof.
   
4. Submit the complete application before the official deadline.

Estimated 2026 timeline:

• Call opens: 11 September 2025
  
• Application deadline: 23 October 2025 at 4:00 PM Irish time
  
• Results announcement: April 2026
  
• Scholarship start date: 1 September 2026

Also Read: Masters Scholarships in Ireland for International Students 2026-27

EPA Ph.D. Scholarship Programme

The EPA Ph.D. Scholarship Programme is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland in partnership with the Irish Research Council. It supports full-time PhD research that helps solve environmental challenges, like climate change, clean water, and conservation.
The programme is open in principle to candidates from any country, including Indian students, if they meet the host university and research project requirements.

Eligibility

You can apply if you:

• Have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field and are ready to start full-time PhD study.
  
• Are accepted or about to register at a recognised Irish higher education institution with a supervisor who supports your project.
  
• Propose research that aligns with EPA’s priorities like healthy environment, green economy, or natural environment.
  
• Are available to commit full-time to research.
  
• Meet English language and visa requirements for studying in Ireland if you are an international student.

Benefits

Based on recent examples and guidelines, you might expect:

• Stipend around EUR 25,000 per year, estimated for living expenses.
  
• Tuition fees covered for the duration of the PhD.
  
• Research costs included or supported depending on the project.
  
• Duration typically up to 4 years for full-time PhD research. 

Application Process & Deadline

The call for this scholarship opens when EPA and its partners publish a technical description document. You must apply via your host institution and provide your research proposal, supervisor’s details, transcripts, and other documents.
Estimated timeline for 2026:

• Call opens: August 2026
  
• Application deadline: October 2026
  
• Project start: September 2027

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth PhD Scholarship Programme

The DCEDIY PhD Scholarship Programme is a strategic funding strand linked with the Irish Research Council under the broader Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. It supports full-time doctoral research that addresses key social issues like children’s rights, equality, disability, integration, and youth policy.  This scheme is intended to help research reflect national policy goals and to bring meaningful impact in Irish society.

Eligibility

You can apply if you meet most of these criteria:

• You hold or will hold a master’s degree or are suitably qualified for full-time doctoral study.
  
• You have identified a supervisor and a host institution in Ireland that will support your project.
  
• Your research idea aligns with DCEDIY’s themes.
  
• You are ready to commit to full-time research.
  
• For international students, you must check whether non-EU fee rules and visa conditions apply.

Benefits

Based on current and recent cycles, the benefits are approximately:

• A stipend of EUR 22,000 per year for living support.
  
• Tuition fee contribution up to EUR 5,750 per year, including non-EU fees.
  
• Research expenses of around EUR 3,250-EUR 5,000 per year to help cover travel, materials, and conferences.
  
• Duration typically up to 4 years for a PhD, depending on project and institution.

Application Process & Deadline

• Applications are made online through the IRC portal under the strategic funding partner theme “DCEDIY”.
  
• You will submit a research proposal, supervisor endorsement, academic transcripts, references, and a host institution agreement.
  
• Estimated timeline for 2026 call: Call opens in September 2025, application deadline around October 2025.
  
• Final dates and full rules will be confirmed when the official 2026 call is published.

Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade PhD Scholarship Programme

The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) PhD Scholarship Programme is a thematic stream aligned with the Irish Research Council (IRC) “Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme”. It supports full‑time doctoral research that connects with international affairs, diplomacy, development cooperation, or global policy issues. The scheme offers international students, including Indian students, a chance to conduct research in Ireland on globally relevant topics.

Eligibility

You can apply if you:

• Hold or will soon hold a Master’s degree or equivalent, and are ready to begin full‑time PhD research.
  
• Secure a recognised Irish higher‑education institution as your host and a supervisor who agrees to guide the project.
  
• Propose a research idea that aligns with DFAT’s broad policy themes such as diplomacy, global development, international security, or the changing role of Ireland internationally.
  
• Are from any country and meet the university’s and Ireland’s visa or language requirements.

Benefits

Based on recent IR C calls and partner‑stream values, you can expect approximately:

• Stipend around EUR 22,000 per year for living support.
  
• Tuition fee contribution up to EUR 5,750 per year, including non‑EU fees.
  
• Research expenses around EUR 3,250 per year for travel, data, and conferences.
  
• Duration typically up to 4 years for full‑time PhD research.

Application Process & Deadline

• Application is submitted via the IRC online portal under the “DFAT strategic funding partner” theme.
  
• Key documents: research proposal, supervisor confirmation, transcripts, reference letters, host institution endorsement, and proof of language or visa eligibility.
  
• Estimated 2026 timeline:
  
  • Call Opens: 11 September 2025
    
  • Application Deadline: 23 October 2025
    
  • Results Announcement: April 2026

Also Read: How To Study in Ireland for Free? What are the Scholarships or Grants Available?

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This was everything you needed to know about Irish Research Council scholarships for international students in 2026. These scholarships offer outstanding opportunities for global researchers to pursue postgraduate and Ph.D. studies in Ireland with full academic and financial support. For more such detailed guides on scholarships and study opportunities abroad, visit the Scholarships Page on Leverage Edu and stay updated with reliable information.