Ireland has long been a favorite among international students. Ireland provides world-class education, rich culture, and stunning landscapes. Making study in Ireland easier for students are numerous scholarships. These scholarships enable students to pay for tuition fees, living costs, and other expenses. International students have plenty of opportunities to fund their studies in 2025. The following is an in-depth explanation of the most sought-after scholarships for international students studying in Ireland.

 

 

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)

 

The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the country. It aims to support highly talented international students who want to pursue undergraduate, master’s, or PhD programs at Irish higher education institutions.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

• Must be a non-EU/EEA student.
• Must have an offer of admission from an eligible Irish higher education institution.
• Must be planning to pursue a full-time program in Ireland.
• Must demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• a €10,000 stipend and a full tuition fee waiver for one year
• Deadline is in March

 

 

Trinity College Dublin Scholarships for International Students

 

Trinity College Dublin provides a number of scholarships for international students, such as merit-based scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. These scholarships are designed to attract high-achieving students to pursue studies at one of Ireland’s leading universities.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

• Must be an international student (outside the EU/EEA).
• Needs to have an offer to study in Trinity College Dublin.
• A 3.5 or higher GPA in high school is required of undergraduate students.
• For postgraduate students, a good academic background and professional experience are required.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• Different scholarship types have different dates, with some in April and others in May. The values range from €2,000 to €5,000.

 

 

 

University College Dublin (UCD) Global Excellence Scholarships

 

 

University College Dublin provides Global Excellence Scholarships to international students from around the globe. The scholarships are for undergraduate and postgraduate students and are given on the basis of academic merit.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a non-EU/EEA student.
• Must be applying for a full-time program at UCD.
• Must meet the specific academic entry requirements for the program.
• For postgraduate programs, applicants must have a strong academic background and relevant work experience.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• Offers partial or full tuition fee coverage for outstanding international students, with application deadlines varying by region, but generally around March 31st for most regions

 

 

University of Limerick International Scholarships

 

University of Limerick provides scholarships for international students interested in pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies. They provide the scholarships on the basis of academic excellence, and the scholarship covers half of the fee.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be an international student.
• Must have received an offer of admission to a full-time program at the University of Limerick.
• Must meet the academic requirements for the chosen program.
• Scholarships are awarded based on academic merit.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• a €10,000 stipend and full fee waiver, and merit-based scholarships like those from the Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, with amounts ranging from €2,000 to €4,000
• Deadline is around March

 

 

 

Dublin City University (DCU) International Scholarships

 

Dublin City University provides various scholarships for international students. These scholarships are intended to assist with tuition fees for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a non-EU international student.
• Must hold an offer of admission from DCU.
• For undergraduate programs, applicants must have strong academic qualifications.
• For postgraduate programs, applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic and professional achievements.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• Full Tuition Fee Waiver & Living Expense Allowance of €10,000.

• Applications open in February to March

 

 

Maynooth University International Scholarship Program

 

Maynooth University provides scholarships to foreign students who would like to undertake undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The scholarships are aimed at promoting diversity and academic excellence in the university.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a non-EU international student.
• Must have received an offer of admission from Maynooth University.
• Must demonstrate a high academic standard.
• The scholarship is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• For full-time programs, Maynooth University’s International Office Scholarships provide non-EU students with tuition fee discounts of €1,000, €2,000, €2,500, or €5,000. Applications are due in March.

 

 

Irish Research Council (IRC) Scholarships for Postgraduate Students

 

The Irish Research Council (IRC) provides scholarships for foreign students for research-based postgraduate studies. The scholarships are competitive and provide funding for tuition fees, living expenses, and research costs.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be a non-EU/EEA international student.
• Must have a strong academic record.
• Must be applying for a research-based postgraduate program.
• Must meet the specific eligibility criteria set by the IRC for each research program.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• Provides scholarships that pay €3,250 for research costs, €5,750 for tuition, and a €22,000 stipend annually.  Usually, the application deadline falls in October.

 

 

The National College of Ireland (NCI) Scholarships

 

The National College of Ireland offers scholarships for international students, specifically for postgraduate programs. These scholarships are aimed at students who have demonstrated academic excellence and potential for leadership.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must be an international student.
• Must have an offer of admission to a full-time postgraduate program at NCI.
• Applicants must meet the specific academic and professional qualifications for the chosen program.

 

Deadline & Coverage

• The National College of Ireland (NCI) provides a number of discounts and scholarships, such as the First-Class Honours Postgraduate Scholarship (50 % Discount) for final-year students and the Master’s Edge Scholarship (25 % discount on full-time, daytime Masters programs) with an application deadline of August 1st, 2025.

 

Conclusion

 

There are numerous scholarship schemes available for international students in Ireland in 2025. Whether you are applying for an undergraduate, postgraduate, or research-oriented course, there are scholarships available to make your studies more economical. It is essential to read the eligibility requirements and deadlines of each scholarship thoroughly. Ensure you collect all documents needed and submit your application on time. Ireland awaits your arrival at its world-class universities!