Ireland GOI Scholarship 2026 opens Jan 29: €10,000 + fee waiver

Ireland’s Higher Education Authority (HEA) will open applications for the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) 2026 on January 29, 2026, offering 60 awards for non-EU students pursuing eligible postgraduate programmes. The scholarship provides a €10,000 stipend for one year and requires the host Irish institution to provide a full tuition fee waiver for the scholarship year.

Check: Study in Ireland Guide for International Students

Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026

The HEA’s 2026/27 call confirms:

• Scholarship value: €10,000 for one year (towards living costs)
• Tuition support: host HEI must provide a full fee waiver (tuition + registration charge waived for the scholarship year)
• Award count: 60 scholarships expected for 2026/27
• Study mode: full-time, in-person study; scholars are expected to begin in September/October 2026 and live in Ireland during study

GOI-IES eligibility: who can apply (Indian students included)

To be eligible, applicants must meet all key conditions, including:

• Domiciliary of origin outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the UK
• Hold an offer (conditional or final) as an international, fee-paying student for an eligible NFQ Level 9/10 programme (master’s / postgraduate diploma / research master’s / PhD) at an eligible Irish HEI
• Must not have previously held a GOI-IES scholarship
• Must not be a Russian or Belarusian citizen

The call document also notes that blended courses can be eligible only if scholars attend all in-person components and live in Ireland for the scholarship duration.

Check the top Universities in Ireland for Indian Students

GOI-IES 2026 deadlines

• Applications open: January 29, 2026
• Application deadline: 5 pm (Irish time), March 12, 2026
• Results expected: early June 2026

What to know before you apply?

A few practical points from the call:

• You must upload proof of your offer (offer letter/email/portal screenshot) for 2026/27; both conditional and final offers are accepted.
• References are part of scoring, and the call advises keeping references “recent enough” (dated within a year of the closing date).

The HEA cautions that €10,000 may not cover full living costs, and stipend disbursal may be split (e.g., by semester or monthly) via the institution—so students should plan for upfront funds, especially for accommodation.

What Indian students should do next?

If you’re applying now

• Fast-track your Ireland offer (conditional is acceptable, but some institutions may prefer final offers during their internal shortlisting).
• Line up two strong referees and start drafting a tight personal statement focused on impact and fit with Ireland.

If you have an offer/admit

• Confirm your course is eligible and that your offer clearly states 2026/27.
• Prepare proof-of-offer documentation and keep it ready for upload on opening day.

If you’ve filed/are filing the visa

• This scholarship is for study starting Sept/Oct 2026, but the HEA explicitly warns visa processes can be lengthy—plan documentation early once results are out (early June).

If you’re already studying abroad

• If you’re already on a multi-year programme at an eligible Irish HEI, you may need a document confirming you will continue in 2026/27 (as per the call guidance).