Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 2025/2026 is a prestigious and competitive national initiative funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and managed by Research Ireland. The programme offers fully funded opportunities for outstanding postgraduate students (Master's and PhD) across all academic disciplines.

With an average success rate of 18%, this programme is one of the most competitive scholarships in Ireland. It provides individual, prestigious awards in the name of the applicant and encourages pioneering, interdisciplinary, and innovative research.

Summary

1. Applicant Deadline: October 23, 2025
2. Supervisor Deadline: November 6, 2025
3. Research Office Deadline: November 13, 2025
4. Study Level: Masters, PhD
5. Host Country: Ireland
6. School: Higher Education Institutions in Ireland
7. Sponsor: Government of Ireland / Research Ireland
8. Eligible Countries: All countries

Eligibility Criteria for Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026

The programme is open to Master’s and PhD candidates who will be new entrants to the postgraduate

degree for which they are seeking funding. Applicants who have completed no more than the first

year of their degree might be eligible to apply. The following conditions also apply:

1. There is no age limit for applicants to be eligible.
2. All applicants must be affiliated with an Eligible Research Body, which will be responsible
3. for verifying all results from undergraduate or postgraduate degrees named in the application.
4. All applicants must have a first-class or upper second-class honors bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, degree. If the applicant does not have a first-class or upper second-class honors bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent degree, they must possess a master’s degree.
5. Research Ireland’s determination of an applicant’s eligibility on these criteria is final.
6. o If undergraduate examination results are not known at the time of application
7. and the application subsequently meets the funding threshold, the final degree
8. result must be confirmed before a Letter of Offer can be issued.
9. All applicants must be affiliated with an Eligible Research Body, which will be responsible for verifying all results from undergraduate or postgraduate degrees named in the application.
10. Applications will only be accepted in either the Irish or English language.
11. Applicants must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to the programme. This applies regardless of whether the applicant has changed their Eligible Research Body or research topic since a previous submission.
12. Applicants must not be a permanent member of staff in either an Irish or international
13. Research Body.
14. All applications require a primary supervisor willing to guide the proposed research project. Research Ireland is not in a position to assist applicants in finding a primary supervisor for their application.
15. Primary supervisors may not support more than one applicant to the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship.

Benefits of Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026

The value of the scholarship will be up to a maximum of €34,000 per annum in any approved year and will consist of the following:

1. a stipend of €25,000 per annum
2. a contribution to fees, including non-EU fees, up to a maximum of €5,750 per annum [In cases where the grant recipient is a non-EU national, they may request an additional €4,000 per annum over-and-above the standard fee contribution. Any remaining differential in fees must be paid by the grant recipient and/or the Research Body.]
3. eligible direct costs of €3,250 per annum

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the SmartSimple platform.

For more details, visit Government of Ireland Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

October 23, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Government of Ireland Scholarship 2026