Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 (All Disciplines)

Applications are now open for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 2026, a prestigious opportunity for postgraduate students to pursue full-time research in any discipline. Managed by Research Ireland and funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, this highly competitive program supports Master’s and PhD candidates demonstrating world-class research potential.

The scholarship is fully funded, offering up to €34,000 per year, covering a stipend, tuition fees, and research costs. It is open to applicants worldwide, with specific eligibility criteria for EU and non-EU nationals, and there is no application fee. The application deadline is 23 October 2025 at 16:00 (Irish time), with outcomes announced by the end of April 2026. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here. 

Key Details

• Fields of Study: Any discipline
• Funding: Fully funded, up to €34,000/year (stipend: €25,000; fees: up to €5,750; research costs: €3,250).
• Duration: Master’s (1-2 years); PhD (3-4 years), depending on entry status.
• Application Deadline: 23 October 2025, 16:00 (Irish time).
• Application Fee: None.
• Supervisor Requirement: One primary supervisor (must endorse only one applicant).

Scholarship Overview

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, managed by Research Ireland, supports full-time research for suitably qualified postgraduate candidates pursuing or intending to pursue Master’s or PhD degrees. It is unique for offering individual grants, an objective international peer-review process, and support for innovative, interdisciplinary research. Successful applicants are recognized as future research leaders.

Scholarship Benefits

• Stipend: €25,000 annually.
• Fees Contribution: Up to €5,750 for tuition (non-EU students may request an additional €4,000).
• Research Costs: Up to €3,250 for project expenses.
• Note: Full scholarship package must be accepted; partial acceptance is not allowed.

Check this: TWAS Visiting Expert Programme: Opportunities for Developing Countries

Duration of Funding

• Master’s by Research: 2 years (new entrants); 1 year (first-year students).
• Doctoral Degree (PhD): 4 years (new entrants); 3 years (first-year students).
• Career Breaks: Adjustments possible for documented maternity, paternity, or other eligible breaks.

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply?

• New Entrants: Starting a Master’s or PhD.
• First-Year Students: Completed no more than one year by 1 September 2025.
• Academic Requirements: First-class or upper second-class honours bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), or a Master’s degree.
• Affiliation: Must be linked to an Eligible Research Body in Ireland.
• Supervisor: Requires a primary supervisor (can only endorse one applicant per call).

Also Check: OIST Visiting Scholars Program 2026

Nationality and Residency

• Category 1: Nationals of EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, UK, or Ukraine, resident in these areas for 3 of the last 5 years before 1 September 2025.
• Category 2: All other applicants (exceptional candidates may be funded).

Who Cannot Apply?

• Applicants with two prior unsuccessful applications.
• Permanent staff at research institutions.
• Master’s degree holders (for Master’s applicants) or PhD holders.
• Projects already funded by Research Ireland or other agencies.

Also check: NTU Global Connect Fellowship 2026 (Fully Funded)

Strategic Funding Partners

Apply for scholarships aligned with:

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Climate change, green economy, healthy environment.
• Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childhood disadvantage.
• Met Éireann: Climate modeling, weather forecasting, AI applications.
• Department of Foreign Affairs (Andrew Grene Scholarship): Conflict resolution, gender equality.
• Note: Partner-themed applications are also considered for standard scholarships if not selected.

How to Apply

1. Eligibility Quiz: Complete on Research Ireland’s online system.
2. Contact Supervisor: Discuss your project early.
3. Submit Online: By 23 October 2025, 16:00 (Irish time) via Research Ireland’s portal (no hard copies/emails).
4. Required Forms:
   • Applicant form.
   • Primary supervisor endorsement (by 6 November 2025).
   • Research Office endorsement (by 13 November 2025).

Also check: SIIT University EFS Graduate Scholarship 2026 in Thailand

Assessment Process

• Streams: STEM and AHSS, evaluated separately.
• Process: Eligibility check, review by outer and inner International Assessment Boards (IAB).
• Criteria (100% total):
  • Applicant (40%): Track record, potential, supervisor reference.
  • Project (40%): Clarity, methodology, impact.
  • Training/Career Development (10%): Skill-building plan.
  • Environment (10%): Supervisor and institutional support.
• Gender-Blind: No gender information shared with reviewers.