The Department of Further and Higher Education announced on 5 November 2025 that the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) will fund one Irish student for undergraduate, master’s, PhD or advanced studies in China during academic year 2026/27. Applicants must first register on the CSC ‘Study in China’ portal before submitting documentation through Irish authorities.
The scheme covers tuition, on-campus accommodation, medical insurance and a monthly living allowance, making it one of the few fully-funded outbound opportunities for Irish nationals since EU Erasmus+ quotas tightened. Qualifying universities include top-tier institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Sichuan, with programmes taught in English or Mandarin.
![China offers fully-funded 2026/27 scholarship to Irish students]()
The scholarship aligns with Ireland’s Asia-Pacific Strategy, which aims to diversify graduate mobility and deepen research links beyond Europe. HR managers of multinational firms with China operations view the award as a pipeline for bilingual talent; several have pledged internship placements for returning scholars.
Interested candidates must submit transcripts, a study proposal and two academic references by 31 January 2026. Successful applicants will receive visa assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Dublin.
The scheme covers tuition, on-campus accommodation, medical insurance and a monthly living allowance, making it one of the few fully-funded outbound opportunities for Irish nationals since EU Erasmus+ quotas tightened. Qualifying universities include top-tier institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Sichuan, with programmes taught in English or Mandarin.
The scholarship aligns with Ireland’s Asia-Pacific Strategy, which aims to diversify graduate mobility and deepen research links beyond Europe. HR managers of multinational firms with China operations view the award as a pipeline for bilingual talent; several have pledged internship placements for returning scholars.
Interested candidates must submit transcripts, a study proposal and two academic references by 31 January 2026. Successful applicants will receive visa assistance from the Chinese Embassy in Dublin.
