Scholarships in Ireland: Full and Partially Funded Scholarships 

Do you want financial support to study in Ireland? Several Universities and organisations provide scholarships in Ireland. These scholarships can be divided into two main categories. A fully funded scholarship (such as the Ireland government scholarship-GOI-IES) and a partially funded scholarship. While a fully funded scholarship can help you cover your entire expenses, including your research expenses, in some cases, a partial scholarship will partially cover your tuition fees. In this blog, we have covered some of the best scholarships in Ireland that you can apply for as an international student.

Top 3 Fully Funded Scholarships in Ireland 

Unlike other countries, fully funded scholarships for undergraduate students are rare in Ireland. This is because most universities already offer partial scholarships, which significantly reduce the financial burden. On the other hand, you can find several fully funded scholarships for postgraduate students (MA/PhD). Some of the top scholarships in Ireland are listed below.

S. No.	Scholarship Name	Benefits	Duration	Application Deadline
1.	UCD Global Excellence Scholarship	50%–100% tuition fee waiver	1 year	Applications for 2025/26 are now closed. Applications for 2026/27 will open in Autumn 2025.
2.	GOI-IES (Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships)	Full tuition fee waiver + EUR 10,000 stipend for one year of study	1 year	5 PM (Irish time) on 5 March 2025. Application for next year has not yet started
3.	Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme (managed by Research Ireland – IRC)	EUR 22,000/year stipend + contribution to fees + research expenses (~EUR 3,250/year)	1–4 years	23 October 2025 (16:00 Irish time)

UCD Global Excellence Scholarship

The UCD Global Excellence Scholarship is one of the best scholarships in Ireland for undergraduate students. This scholarship is fully funded! Meaning, you do not have to pay anything to study. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:

1. A non-EU national (can be Indian, Nigerian, etc) self-funding your education
2. You must be enrolling at the university for undergraduate or taught graduate programmes, as a full-time regular student
3. Must have already obtained an offer letter of admission from the university. This can be a conditional or unconditional offer letter.
4. Agree not to club the scholarship with any other award

This scholarship is meant for outstanding students enrolling at the university. 

GOI-IES (Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships)

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships is another popular fully funded scholarship in Ireland. This scholarship is available for a period of 1 year for full-time postgraduate study. You can apply for this scholarship:

1. If you are a non-EU student 
2. Hold a conditional offer of final admission to an eligible Irish university at NFQ Level 9 or 10 at the time of application.
3. The University and the particular course must be eligible under the GOI-IES scheme
4. Must submit the necessary documentation as part of the application process to obtain the Ireland government scholarship.
5. Demonstrate a strong academic record, participation in extracurricular activities, excellent communication skills, and a strong reason for studying in Ireland.

Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme (managed by Research Ireland)- (IRC)

This scholarship is meant for PhD students and provides you with full funding for the PhD project. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:

1. An international student applying for a PhD for the first time
2. Must have a first-class or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent).
3. Moreover, you must have arranged a supervisor in an eligible Irish HEI.
4. You must meet the English language requirements
5. Moreover, your research proposal must be innovative, feasible, and aligned with national research priorities.

Also Read; 6 Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships in Australia for International Students 

Partial Scholarships in Ireland for International Students 

The partial scholarships are generally university-based. This means that you will get the benefit only if you enroll in the university. These are not Ireland government scholarships.Universities fund these scholarships to reduce the financial burden on the new students. Almost every university provides partial scholarships. These scholarships cover a percentage of your tuition fees.. It can be 10% to 100% of the tuition fee.. The exact amount depends on the university, the course you are enrolling in, and the strength of your application.

Undergraduate Partial Scholarships at Top Universities In Ireland

Here is a list of the top Irish universities that provide partial scholarships to international students. These are popular undergraduate scholarships by these universities.

S. No.	University Name	Scholarship Name	Department/Course Specific	Scholarship Amount	Duration
1	Trinity College Dublin	Global Excellence Undergraduate Scholarships	All Undergraduate courses	EUR 5,000 one-time reduction	One academic year (first year only)
2	Dublin City University	DCU International Merit Scholarships	All Undergraduate courses for non-EU students	Partial tuition fee reduction	One academic year
3	University of Galway	International Student Scholarships	Varies by College (e.g., Business, Law, Science & Engineering)	EUR 2,000–5,000	Can be renewable for the full program duration for some scholarships
4	University College Cork	CACSSS International Undergraduate Scholarships	Undergraduate degrees in Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences	EUR 2,000 fee reduction	One academic year (renewable for up to 3 years)
5	University of Limerick	International Student Scholarships	All Undergraduate courses	EUR 2,500 one-time reduction	One academic year

Postgraduate Partial Scholarships at Top Universities In Ireland

Here is a list of the top postgraduate scholarships in Ireland for International students. Ensure that you visit the official website of the university and read about the eligibility criteria before you apply for the award.

S. No.	University Name	Scholarship Name	Department/Course Specific	Scholarship Amount	Duration
1	Trinity College Dublin	Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarships	All Postgraduate courses	EUR 2,000–5,000 one-time reduction	One academic year
2	Dublin City University	Faculty-Specific Bursaries	Varies by Faculty (e.g., Business, Engineering & Computing, Humanities)	EUR 900–5,900 fee reduction	One academic year
3	University of Galway	International Student Scholarships	Varies by College (e.g., Business, Law, Science & Engineering)	EUR 2,000–10,000	One academic year
4	University College Cork	CACSSS International Merit-Based Scholarships	Taught Master’s in Arts, Celtic Studies, and Social Sciences	20% tuition fee reduction	One academic year
5	University of Limerick	International Student Scholarships	All Postgraduate courses	EUR 2,500 one-time reduction	One academic year

Application Process for Partial Scholarships 

The partial scholarship application process varies depending on the scholarship. While some scholarships require you to apply, others do not. To apply, visit the official website of the university, ensure you meet the requirements, read about the documents required, and gather the same and apply before the deadline.

How Can I Get a Full Scholarship in Ireland?

First of all, know that there are limited fully funded undergraduate scholarships in Ireland. However, graduate students can find plenty of scholarships. The Irish government supports research students the most. To get a fully funded scholarship, follow the steps below:

1. First, visit the offical website of the scholarship provider and read about the eligibility criteria.
2. If you are currently enrolled in a high school, ensure that you score well in your exams. Similarly, if you are enrolled in a bachelor’s programme, intending to apply for a graduate course, ensure that your GPA is consistently good.
3. Take part in extracurricular activities, join clubs, etc to demonstrate your leadership skills. This will increase your chances of getting Ireland government scholarships.
4. When you are in your final year of school/college, check the upcoming scholarship deadline.
5. Apply for the scholarship when it’s time. Ensure that you have the necessary documents with you.
6. Read the eligibility requirements, ensure that you meet the, and apply on time.
7. You will be notified if you receive a scholarship.

Also Read: 8 Best Fully Funded Scholarships in UAE for International Students 

Scholarships in Ireland are fully or partially funded. While the fully funded scholarships are rare and competitive, the partially funded scholarships are easier to obtain. Nevertheless, you must ensure that you meet the requirements before applying for the scholarship.

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