The Government of Ireland has opened the 2026 call for its flagship International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) programme, offering 60 merit-based awards to high-calibre students from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Applications will be accepted from 29 January until 12 March 2026 through an online portal managed by the Higher Education Authority. Each scholarship provides a €10,000 stipend for living costs plus a full tuition-fee waiver from the host institution for one year of full-time study at NFQ levels 9 or 10 (master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD).
Government officials describe the scheme as a strategic talent-attraction tool that complements Ireland’s wider International Education Strategy and Enterprise Policy. The scholarships are open to all disciplines and are allocated on the basis of academic excellence, communication skills, leadership potential and the candidate’s rationale for choosing Ireland. Russian and Belarusian nationals are excluded under the 2026 call, reflecting EU sanctions policy.
For Irish universities and institutes of technology, the initiative is seen as a competitive differentiator in the global contest for postgraduate talent. Institutions are responsible for pre-screening applications and providing co-financing through the tuition waiver. Successful scholars become “GOI - International Education Scholars”, expected to act as cultural ambassadors during and after their studies, deepening Ireland’s alumni networks abroad.
![Ireland launches €10,000 International Education Scholarships for 2026 intake]()
Practical implications for mobility managers and international admissions teams include: (1) the need to align internal scholarship calendars with the 12 March closing date; (2) advance visa-support planning, as winners will be applying for long-stay ‘Stamp 2’ student permissions; and (3) outreach to education agents in priority markets such as India, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria where demand for scholarships is traditionally strong.
If applicants or sponsoring institutions need hands-on help navigating Ireland’s long-stay student visa process, VisaHQ offers streamlined document checks, up-to-date requirements and submission support through its Dublin-based service centre—details can be found at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/
Employers that sponsor staff for higher degrees can also leverage the programme to offset tuition costs while up-skilling future assignees in Ireland’s innovation ecosystem.
With postgraduate fees for non-EU students ranging from €14,000 to €24,000 per year, the GOI-IES package represents a saving of up to €34,000, underscoring Ireland’s message that it remains open, welcoming and globally connected in a tightening talent market.
Government officials describe the scheme as a strategic talent-attraction tool that complements Ireland’s wider International Education Strategy and Enterprise Policy. The scholarships are open to all disciplines and are allocated on the basis of academic excellence, communication skills, leadership potential and the candidate’s rationale for choosing Ireland. Russian and Belarusian nationals are excluded under the 2026 call, reflecting EU sanctions policy.
For Irish universities and institutes of technology, the initiative is seen as a competitive differentiator in the global contest for postgraduate talent. Institutions are responsible for pre-screening applications and providing co-financing through the tuition waiver. Successful scholars become “GOI - International Education Scholars”, expected to act as cultural ambassadors during and after their studies, deepening Ireland’s alumni networks abroad.
Practical implications for mobility managers and international admissions teams include: (1) the need to align internal scholarship calendars with the 12 March closing date; (2) advance visa-support planning, as winners will be applying for long-stay ‘Stamp 2’ student permissions; and (3) outreach to education agents in priority markets such as India, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria where demand for scholarships is traditionally strong.
If applicants or sponsoring institutions need hands-on help navigating Ireland’s long-stay student visa process, VisaHQ offers streamlined document checks, up-to-date requirements and submission support through its Dublin-based service centre—details can be found at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/
Employers that sponsor staff for higher degrees can also leverage the programme to offset tuition costs while up-skilling future assignees in Ireland’s innovation ecosystem.
With postgraduate fees for non-EU students ranging from €14,000 to €24,000 per year, the GOI-IES package represents a saving of up to €34,000, underscoring Ireland’s message that it remains open, welcoming and globally connected in a tightening talent market.
