Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 Opens for Applications

Are you dreaming of pursuing a Master’s or PhD in Ireland without worrying about tuition and living costs? The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2026, managed by Research Ireland, offers fully-funded scholarships to both Irish and international students across all academic disciplines. These competitive, merit-based awards provide financial support, research funding, and access to world-class academic supervision.

This guide will walk you through eligibility requirements, funding details, important dates, application steps, and tips to improve your chances.

Who Can Apply?

This scholarship is open to both Irish and international students enrolled (or planning to enroll) at an Eligible Research Body in Ireland. Key requirements:

• First-class or upper-second-class Bachelor’s degree (Master’s accepted if Bachelor’s is below this).
• New entrants or first-year students by September 2025.
• No more than two previous unsuccessful applications.
• One primary supervisor from an eligible institution.
• Applications in English or Irish.

Scholarship Benefits

Component	Amount	Details
Stipend	€25,000/year	Paid to cover living costs
Tuition Fees	Up to €5,750/year	Extra €4,000 possible for non-EU students
Research Costs	€3,250/year	For travel, consumables, equipment
Duration	Master’s: 2 years, PhD: 4 years	Partial funding available if in first year

Important Dates (2026 Call)

• Call opens: 11 Sept 2025
• FAQ deadline: 16 Oct 2025
• Applicant deadline: 23 Oct 2025
• Supervisor deadline: 6 Nov 2025
• Research Office endorsement: 13 Nov 2025
• Results announced: End of April 2026
• Programme starts: 1 Sept 2026

Thematic & Strategic Opportunities

Scholarship themes are offered through partners such as:

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Met Éireann
• Department of Foreign Affairs

Even if your research doesn’t match a theme, your application is still considered for the core scholarship.

How to Apply

1. Check eligibility and secure a primary supervisor.
2. Write a strong research proposal showing novelty, impact, and feasibility.
3. Prepare documents: transcripts, referees, and ethics approval (if needed).
4. Submit online before the deadline, ensuring supervisor and research office endorsements.
5. Submit early to avoid technical issues.

Selection Process

• Applications undergo eligibility checks and international peer review (gender-blind).
• Evaluated for excellence, originality, feasibility, and leadership potential.
• Average success rate: ~18%.

Equality, Diversity & Open Research

Research Ireland supports EDI and is a DORA signatory, emphasizing quality of research outputs over journal metrics. The program follows Ireland’s National Action Plan for Open Research, promoting transparency and collaboration.

FAQs About the Scholarship

Q1: Can non-EU students apply?
Yes. International students are welcome, and extra financial support for non-EU fees may be available.

Q2: Which fields are eligible?
All academic disciplines are eligible, including traditional fields (like archaeology, biology, or engineering) as well as emerging and interdisciplinary areas (like AI, climate change, or data science).

Q3: Do I need an offer from an institution before applying?
Not exactly. You need to have a primary supervisor affiliated with an Eligible Research Body, who can endorse your application.

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