A Guide To Scholarships In Ireland

Ireland is an island located in Europe. The city has consistently provided the best-class education through its world-renowned universities like Trinity College Dublin and the University of Galway. And a fun fact, celebrities like Jamie Dornan and Andrew Scott are Irish, so it’s pretty evident that Ireland produces intellectual and talented people.
But have you ever wondered how much it costs for you to get a degree from Ireland? It roughly starts at 3,000 Euros and can go up to 5,000 Euros for one year of college. Seems too expensive, right? But don’t let these numbers stop you from pursuing your dreams; you can get financial aid through scholarships from the government and the university you are looking to apply to. We have a list of Ireland scholarships to make your work easy and cut you some slack so you can watch some Andrew Scott or Jamie Dornan movies!

Selection Criteria for Irish Scholarships 

Apart from doing well in your academics, there are a few more things you would require to grab that scholarship, like:
1. High academic standing
2. Should have a volunteering background
3. If necessary, having written submissions for research program scholarships.
4. Recommendation letter, if needed.
5. English language proficiency, which international students can demonstrate through TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and other exam results.
Every scholarship has different selection criteria; some may only require an application, while others may have more. You can also contact the granting agency for more specifics on the selection criteria.

Application Requirements 

Before submitting an online application for Ireland scholarships, students should remember the following:
1. Include whatever information your application reviewer might want to examine and consider.
2. Create a strong resume.
3. Letters of recommendation from your alma mater might be beneficial.
4. Write a persuasive letter/essay to a professor asking for a postdoctoral or PhD position in their lab.
5. Communicate clearly to prevent unexpected misunderstandings
6. Clearly state your need for a scholarship and why you should be considered for one.
7. The motivational letter must include information regarding the advantages you typically provide to the host university.
8. Apply as soon as possible before the deadline.

Types of Scholarships

There are various types of Ireland scholarships available, and most of them are divided into two categories, i.e., government scholarships and University scholarships. 
Some of the significant Ireland scholarships are:

Government Scholarships

Ireland scholarships are provided by a variety of entities, with one of them being the government. Ireland government scholarships are funded by the Ireland international education scholarship programme, and a total of 60 government of Ireland scholarships 2023 are expected to be awarded.

Government of Ireland Scholarships

The Government of Ireland awards 60 scholarships to deserving students through the Government of Ireland Scholarships initiative for one year.
1. Deadline for applications: March 20
2. Register at www.hea.ie.
Benefits: a 10.000 Euro year stipend and full tuition and registration fee reimbursement at higher education institutions.

Fulbright Scholarships

International students can apply for one of Ireland's six types of Fulbright grants. These specifics are as follows:

Centenary Scholarship Program

The Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian, and American students' scholarship programme.
1. Apply online at me@reading
Benefits: free tuition for one-year

Central Bank of Ireland Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students

The Central Bank of Ireland has launched a scholarship programme for students pursuing a fully funded part-time honours degree.
1. August 12 is the application deadline.
2. Visit https://registers.centralbank.ie/ to apply.
Benefits: a salary of $29,550 per year, 24 days of yearly leave, financial aid for study, paid time off, etc.

The Walsh Fellowships

International graduates looking for research opportunities in Irish agriculture and food research are given the Walsh Fellowships. This fellowship is given to 30 new students each year.
1. Stipend awards are available for courses lasting two years for MSc programmes and four years for PhD programmes. Teagasc Research Center is the preferred site for research.
2. Non-research PG students are not eligible to submit their Walsh Fellowship applications.
3. The submission deadline is September 10.
4. Register at www.teagasc.ie.
Benefits: Annual grant of 22,000 Euros

Scholarships for Ontario College Graduates

Students from Ontario College can finish honours degree programmes in Ireland. Ontario residents who complete two-year college programmes with honours are eligible to continue their education for an additional two years in Ireland.
1. Submission deadline is May 31.
2. Register at www.thea.ie.
Benefits: 15% off tuition fees, up to $7,600

Ireland Scholarships granted by Universities

Apart from the limited government Ireland scholarships, you can find luck with the numerous Ireland university scholarships. University scholarships are offered on a varied basis and cover different aspects of monetary support to students. It’s always recommended to check your university website for more information and eligibility on graduate and undergraduate scholarships.

NUI Galway International Students Scholarships

This grant is available to deserving non-EU students enrolling in undergraduate, graduate, and research programmes.
1. Application Deadline: Depends on the Program
2. Visit www.nuigalway.ie to apply.
Benefits: Special scheme incentives ranging from $2,200 to $5,700 are available for UG and PG students. Some programmes waive the tuition charge, and research candidates receive an annual allowance of $18,300.

Centenary Scholarship

The Centenary scholarship programme is open to applicants from non-EEA/EU nations who plan to enrol in a full-time master's programme. Students studying at the Dublin Institute of Technology may apply for scholarships.
1. Application closing date: May 18, 2023
2. Apply online at me@reading.
Benefits: The tuition charge will be waived in half.

Maynooth University Scholarships 

Maynooth University offers a variety of scholarships for incoming undergraduate and graduate students. Available scholarships include sports, entrance exams, music, the Michael Osborne Scholarship, the Intel Women in Technology Scholarship, and others.
1. Application deadline varies depending on the scholarship.
2. Visit Maynooth University's website to apply.
Benefits: Awards ranging from $1,200 to $3,440 per year under various programmes.

University College Cork Excellence Scholarships (PhD)

Scholarships are available to University College Cork students who wish to pursue a PhD, both EU and non-EU students.
1. April 20 is the application deadline.
2. Register at www.ucc.ie.
Benefits: Funding only covers EU fees; non-EU students are responsible for the remaining balance.

Trinity College Dublin Scholarships

Trinity College Dublin offers a variety of scholarships to students from throughout the world or from certain nations. Each programme has a different price, deadlines, and requirements for the scholarship.
1. Deadline for Applications: Variable
2. Website: www.tcd.ie.
Benefits: Depending on the type of scholarship, the cost might vary between $5,700 and $11,400.‍

What After Being Granted Scholarships in Ireland?

So, what do you do after applying for a university or government of Ireland postgraduate scholarship or undergraduate scholarship? The government of Ireland scholarships 2023ocess is straightforward:
1. A formal letter for acceptance or denying the scholarship to the scholarship coordinator.
2. Request proof of Ireland scholarship for visa application.
3. Have a rough idea of the prices for the following year and plan your spending accordingly to stay under the scholarship budget.

Now that you have a basic idea about scholarships in Ireland, you can start applying or find out about additional Ireland scholarships for international students and manage your finances accordingly. The next step in your academic journey is finding the perfect student housing in Ireland. All the best for your journey!