Government of Ireland Postgraduate scholarships

Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships for 2026-2027

Scholarship in Applied Science , in Art and Humanities , in Business and Law , in Different Fields , in Education and Languages , in Engineering , in Medicine , in Natural Science , in Social Science

Ireland, Ireland
Apply Before : October 23, 2025

Opportunity ID 9754
Degree Master PH.D
Language Requirement Not Required
Fields of study Various Fields
Opportunity Type : Fully Funded
Duration 1 to 4 Years
Gender Male Female
Language of Instruction English
Application Fee Required No

Opportunity Description

Applications are now open for Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships for 2026. The Government of Ireland offers Postgraduate Scholarships to outstanding students to conduct research projects in their chosen area of interest. This unique national initiative in the Irish research landscape opens other channels for funded postgraduate education in the Irish ecosystem. The Irish Research Council manages the scholarship program.

Proposals that address new and emerging research fields or introduce creative, innovative approaches, as well as those that advance understanding by integrating techniques, information, tools, and perspectives from two or more disciplines, are welcomed. Interdisciplinary proposals are also encouraged.

This Program is highly competitive; the average success rate of candidates has been 18% over the past five years. Successful candidates under the Program are recognized as demonstrating world-class potential as future research leaders.

This Postgraduate Scholarship Program is distinct from other funding options for postgraduate study in Ireland and works with them. Its features include:

Individual, renowned honors in the applicant’s name for outstanding research
A selection procedure that is impartial and uses international, unbiased expert peer review
Funding for all academic fields, from zoology to archaeology.
Awards for non-directed, bottom-up research, excluding those supported by our strategic funding partners.

Opportunities you may apply:

Quick Details of the Ireland Scholarship

Application Start: September 11, 2025, 12:00 Irish local time

FAQ deadline: 16th October 2025, 16:00 Irish local time

Application Deadline: 23 October 2025 (16:00 Irish Time)

Supervisor and Mentor Deadline: 6th November 2025, (16:00 Irish Time)

Research Office Endorsement Deadline: 13th November 2025 (16:00 Irish Time)

Result Outcome: End of April 2026

Award Start Date: 01 September 2026

Funding Type: Scholarship

Organizer/Host Institution: Irish Research Council

Eligible Countries: International

Eligible Gender: All

Target Group: Postgraduate researchers

Focus Area/Field: All research disciplines

Study Level: Master’s and PhD

Number of Opportunities: Varies

Duration: Up to 1 year per approved year

Program Language: English

Host Country: Ireland

Scholarship Duration:

Research master’s degree   1 year
Structured research master’s degree   2 years
Traditional doctoral degree   : 3 years
Structured doctoral degree   4 years

Benefits of Scholarship

The selected candidates will benefit from a maximum of €34,000 per annum in any approved year. This amount will consist of the following elements:

A stipend of €25,000;
Fee contribution, paid to the host institution, up to a maximum of €5,750, which includes non-European Union fees. [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.]
A direct research allowance of €3,250 enables the researcher to conduct the research project.

Partner Funding Organizations

Some government bodies and agencies partner with the Irish Research Council to support this Scholarship Program to deliver on shared national objectives. The strategic funding partners of the Irish Research Council for 2026 are as follows:

Eligibility Criteria

All candidates should complete and pass some eligibility questions on the online application system before accessing an application form. Please review further information outlining what would deem an application ineligible in the call for applications:

Applicants’ age is not a requirement for eligibility in this scholarship program.
All candidates should be affiliated with an eligible Irish research-performing organization or higher education institution.
Applications are only acceptable in either the Irish or English language.
To be eligible for the 2026 scholarship, candidates must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to this Program, including strategic partner themes.
The Irish Research Council does not provide funding for research under any of the following prohibited areas:

1. Human cloning for reproductive purposes;
2. Genetic modification of human beings causes such changes, but for research relating to cancer treatment of the gonads.
3. Creation of human embryos solely for stem cell procurement or research, including somatic cell nuclear transfer

Applicants from both the European Union and non-EU member states are welcome to apply.
Have a first-class or upper second-class honors bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
Must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications to this Program, including to its strategic partner’s theme, and
If you apply for a research master’s or doctoral degree, you must not currently hold, or have previously held, a Council scholarship.
Innovative proposals for degrees addressing new and emerging research fields or those introducing creative approaches are welcomed.
Interdisciplinary proposals are also recommended, as the programs greatly value integrating several aspects of education/research.
Note: Most scholarships will be awarded to nationals of European Union member states, and a proportion of scholarships will be awarded to those who are not residents or citizens of European Union member states.

Opportunities you may apply for:

Eligible Universities

Atlantic Technological University
Dublin City University
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
Dublin Dental Hospital
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology
Marino Institute of Education
Mary Immaculate College
Maynooth University
Munster Technological University
National College of Art and Design
National College of Ireland
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy of Music
South East Technological University
Technological University Dublin
Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
Trinity College Dublin
University College Cork
University College Dublin
University of Galway
University of Limerick

In recognition of the contribution of publicly funded research performers to Ireland’s research base, the research-performing organisations (RPOs) that are eligible to apply to the Irish Research Council’s postdoctoral and principal investigator-led funding programmes are:

Economic & Social Research Institute
Marine Institute
Teagasc
The Discovery Programme

Selection Process

The Government of Ireland’s Postgraduate Scholarship Program is highly competitive, and successful applicants are selected through an objective, independent peer review process conducted by international experts.

Application Process

Eligible applicants should carefully read the scholarship terms and conditions to ensure they meet all the eligibility criteria and then apply online.

Apply Now

Watch the Informative video by Mr. Taban formor winner of this scholarship:

Attachments to Download:

Please visit the official scholarship call and the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (GOIPS) website.

FAQs

Is a first-class Higher Diploma equivalent to an Honours Bachelor’s degree for eligibility?

Answer: According to Irish NFQ standards, both a Higher Diploma and an Honours Bachelor’s degree are listed as level 8. Therefore, a first-class Higher Diploma makes the applicant eligible.

Can an applicant apply for the scholarship if they currently receive external funding for a Research Master’s and intend to transfer to a PhD?

Answer: Yes, the clause regarding previous funding applies only to completed projects. Applicants currently registered for a master’s or PhD who wish to apply for funding to complete their degree, including those transferring from a master’s to a PhD, are eligible.

Are PhD by Artefact and Professional Doctorates eligible under the GOIPG program?

Answer: Yes, a PhD by Artefact or other formats, including Professional Doctorates, are eligible as long as they meet the principles of the National Framework for Doctoral Education and are supported by the host institution.

Is an English language certificate required to apply for the scholarship?

Answer: The IRC does not require an English language certificate. However, applicants should check the specific English language requirements of the Irish higher education institution where they will be enrolled.

Can a student apply if enrolled part-time to switch to full-time if they secure funding?

Answer: Yes, applicants can apply as long as they intend to pursue full-time research if awarded the scholarship. In the application’s ‘Career Training Development Plan’ section, they should indicate their intention to switch to full-time status.

Can a research fellow act as the primary supervisor for the scholarship application?

Answer: No, the primary supervisor must be a suitably qualified and experienced permanent academic staff member at the host institution.

Are applications with supplementary material such as GANTT charts mandatory, and is there a file size limit?

Answer: GANTT charts are not mandatory, but supplementary materials like diagrams or bibliographies can be uploaded in PDF format. The total file size limit is 2GB, and the content must be essential for understanding the proposed research.

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