The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) program is designed to support exceptional international students pursuing master’s or PhD studies in Ireland. Administered by the Higher Education Authority in collaboration with Irish higher education institutions, the initiative awards 60 scholarships annually for one year of full-time study in any field at the master’s or PhD level.
Each scholarship, valued at €10,000, includes a stipend for the academic year, and host institutions are required to grant full fee waivers to the awardees. Successful candidates are expected to commence their studies in either September or October of 2024.
To be eligible, applicants must be domiciled outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland/United Kingdom and must apply for admission to a relevant master’s or PhD program at an eligible higher education institution. The application should be supported by a conditional or final offer of admission, confirming the student’s status as an international fee-paying student.
Exclusions apply to Russian and Belarussian nationals, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, as stated by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in March 2024.
Applicants are required to submit their applications via the online portal, including two references. The application deadline is 5 pm (Irish time) on March 13, 2024, and it is advised to submit well before the deadline to avoid technical issues due to server traffic. No alterations can be made once the deadline has passed.
The assessment process emphasizes academic excellence, communication skills, participation in extracurricular activities, and a compelling rationale for choosing Ireland for further studies. Higher education institutions will review applications for eligibility and alignment with institutional objectives before an independent panel of international assessors assesses shortlisted applications.
Key dates for the application process include the deadline on March 13, 2024, and the call outcome expected in late May or early June 2024. For detailed information about the GOI-IES program, including the 2024 call document, FAQs, and indicative application form, applicants are encouraged to refer to the provided documents on the program’s official page.
Method of Application
