Scholarships – Ireland
Ireland offers a wide range of scholarships to support international students from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, making it an affordable and attractive destination for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Whether you’re applying to a public university, technological university, or private college, you’ll find merit-based, government-funded, and university-specific scholarships tailored for international applicants.
🇮🇪 1. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships (GOI-IES)
The GOI-IES is Ireland’s flagship scholarship for non-EU/EEA international students, awarded by the Government of Ireland in collaboration with Irish Higher Education Institutions.
📌 Key Features:
- Tuition fee waived: Full coverage
- Stipend: €10,000 for 1 academic year
- Available for: Bachelor’s (final year), Master’s, and PhD students
📝Eligibility:
- Excellent academic record
- Strong motivation letter
- Leadership potential and extracurricular achievements
Official Website:👉 https://hea.ie/funding-governance/funding-schemes/international-education-scholarships/
🏛️ 2. University-Specific Scholarships
Many Irish universities offer generous financial aid and merit-based scholarships for international students. Some prominent examples:
- Trinity College Dublin (TCD): Global Excellence Scholarships up to €5,000
🔗 https://www.tcd.ie/study/international/scholarships/ - University College Dublin (UCD): Global Excellence Scholarship (partial tuition), South Asian and African Merit Awards
🔗https://www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/ - University of Galway: International Scholarships €2,000–€5,000 based on merit
🔗 https://www.universityofgalway.ie/international-students/fees-and-funding/scholarships/ - University College Cork (UCC): 20+ scholarships for international students, including postgraduate research support
🔗 https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studentinfo/financialinfo/scholarships/ - Dublin City University (DCU): Tuition reductions for high-achieving students
🔗 https://www.dcu.ie/international/scholarships
🧑🎓 3. Technological University Scholarships
Irish Technological Universities offer excellent value for money and often provide fee discounts or targeted aid for students from developing countries.
- TU Dublin International Scholarships:🔗 https://www.tudublin.ie/study/international-students/scholarships/
- Munster Technological University (MTU): 🔗 https://www.mtu.ie/international-students/
- Atlantic Technological University (ATU): 🔗 https://www.atu.ie/international-scholarships
- SETU & TUS Scholarships: Email the admissions team directly or visit the international office page of each university.
💼 4. Private College Scholarships
Top private colleges in Dublin and across Ireland also offer fee discounts or merit-based scholarships to attract international talent.
- National College of Ireland (NCI): Master’s scholarships up to €4,000
🔗 https://www.ncirl.ie/International/Scholarships - Griffith College: Academic Merit and Regional Scholarships
🔗 https://www.griffith.ie/study/scholarships - Dublin Business School (DBS): Partial scholarships on business, computing, and law programs
🔗 https://www.dbs.ie/international-students/international-student-scholarships
🎯 5. Thematic & Regional Scholarships
Ireland also participates in regional or thematic funding programs that may be relevant to students from Asia and Africa:
- Irish Aid Fellowship Programme: For applicants from developing countries
🔗 https://www.irishaidfellowships.ie - Erasmus+: EU-funded exchange programs and joint degrees
🔗 https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/ - Education in Ireland Scholarship Directory: Search all scholarships by institution
🔗 https://www.educationinireland.com/en/how-do-i-apply/scholarships/
🧾 6. Tips for Applying
- Start your search early—many scholarships close 6–8 months before intake
- Tailor your SOP and highlight leadership or community work
- Submit all supporting documents (transcripts, IELTS score, LORs) well before deadlines
- Track internal university deadlines—they may differ from government schemes