Ireland: government scholarships for international postgraduates

Funded routes

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships: 60 awards a year, each with a €10,000 stipend and a full fee waiver for one year of master's or PhD study, for students domiciled outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK. The 2026 call closed on 12 March.
Research Ireland's Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships, which individual research students applied for, have closed. Research Ireland now funds universities through its Empower programme, so ask the Irish university you are applying to about the PhD funding it offers.

Application fees

Undergraduate applications through the CAO cost €35 online by 20 January 2027, or €50 by 1 February. For a master's you apply to each university: Trinity College Dublin charges €55 per course and University College Cork €50 (€100 for its two Professional Master of Education programmes). Trinity refunds its fee only if the course does not run.

Compare other countries in our guide to universities with no application fee.

Proof of funds and fees for your visa

Students from visa-required countries must show access to at least €10,000 for living costs for each year of study. Since 30 June 2025 you must also have paid at least €6,000 of your tuition (or the full fee if it is lower) before a visa is granted. A scholarship covering these costs usually counts. Keep your award letter ready.

Working while you study

Non-EU students with Stamp 2 permission can work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours a week in the holidays (June to September, and 15 December to 15 January). Hours cannot be averaged across weeks.

After you graduate: Stamp 1G

The Third Level Graduate Programme lets non-EEA graduates of Irish institutions stay on to look for work. With a level 8 award (an honours bachelor's degree) you get 12 months. With a level 9 award or above (a master's or PhD) you get 12 months, which can be renewed for another 12 if you show you have been looking for graduate-level work. On Stamp 1G you may work full time, but you may not be self-employed or run a business, and there are overall limits on the time you can spend in Ireland on student permissions.

Common questions

How much is the application fee for a master's in Ireland?

Each university sets its own: €55 per course at Trinity College Dublin and €50 at University College Cork. Undergraduate applications through the CAO cost €35 online by 20 January 2027, or €50 by 1 February.

How much money do I need for an Irish student visa?

At least €10,000 for each year's living costs, and since 30 June 2025 you must also have paid at least €6,000 of your tuition, or the full fee if it is lower.

Can I work in Ireland as a student?

With Stamp 2 you can work up to 20 hours a week in term and up to 40 hours a week in the holiday periods (June to September, and 15 December to 15 January).

Can I stay in Ireland after graduating?

Yes, under the Third Level Graduate Programme: 12 months after a bachelor's, and 12 months renewable once after a master's or PhD.