Government of Ireland – International Education Scholarships 2021/2022

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is pleased to issue the 2021 Call under the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships Programme.

Under the initiative 60 scholarships will be provided for one year study at Bachelor, Master or PhD levels to successful candidates who have an offer of a place at an eligible Irish higher education institution.

Government of Ireland – International Education Scholarships

The internationalisation of Irish higher education is a key element in the delivery of a
quality teaching, learning and research experience for students and staff and for building international engagement for the sector. The Government of Ireland –
International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) scheme was established under the provisions of the Government’s International Education Strategy, 2010–2015 and expanded under the successor strategy “Irish Educated, Globally Connected (2016-
2020). Attention is also drawn to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Global.

Ireland: Delivering in the Asia Pacific Region to 2025 strategy.

The aim of the 2021 GOI-IES scheme is to reflect Ireland’s engagement in target
partner countries. The scheme is operated in the higher education sector and funded
in partnership between the Government and the higher education institutions (HEIs).
Scholarships will be branded as prestigious awards reflecting the core messages about Ireland as a centre of international education. It is expected that for every scholarship winner, awareness of Ireland will be raised among many more potential students.

Worth of Scholarship

Scholarships must be regarded as highly desirable and valueadding to individuals’ subsequent lives and careers. In view of this, the GOI-IES will be
awarded:
• to high calibre higher education students from non-EU/EEA countries;
• to study in Ireland for a period of one year

Benefits for Higher Education sector:

GOI-IES will reflect Ireland’s commitment to
excellence in the provision of higher education for both domestic and international
students:
• for scholarships that will highlight Ireland’s strengths as a centre of
international education;
• to promote links with target markets globally;
• to strengthen the internationalisation strategies of HEIs especially in
the context of the system performance framework.

Benefits:

The scheme is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), on behalf of the
Department of Education and Skills. Following a competitive process based on an
annual call for proposals from individual applicants, the HEA will approve a defined
number of scholarships under the scheme to successful applicants.

Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships will be awarded to high
calibre students from non-EU/EEA countries to study full-time in Ireland for a period
of one year. The following are the terms and conditions that will apply:
➢ The HEA will award a scholarship fund to the student (through the HEI that
the student is attending) amounting to €10,000 for one study year.

This fund is directed at covering student costs and living expenses. The scholarship may be for:
▪ the final year of an undergraduate programme;
▪ one year of a taught master’s degree programme or;
▪ one year of a research programme (i.e. one year of a 2-year research masters or a 3-4-year PhD programme).

➢ The scholarship stipend will be transferred to the host higher education institution (HEI) of the successful student and forwarded by that HEI to the scholar in two payments of €5,000.
➢ The HEI will be required to give a FULL fee waiver to the student for the scholarship year (i.e. tuition fee and registration charge are waived). This is the minimum matching funding requirement that institutions will be required to make to the scholarship scheme.
➢ It is expected that a total of 60 scholarships will be funded by the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships for the academic year 2020/2021.

Applicants must have a domiciliary of origin1 not equal to the EU/EEA or Switzerland
Scholarships may be approved for study across all disciplines, subject to the availability of places.

The HEA will seek to ensure that, overall, there is gender-balance in the cohort of  students to whom scholarships are awarded.
➢ Due to the very large number of applications it will not be possible to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates.
➢ Applications are welcome from under-represented cohorts.
➢ Successful Scholars are to commence studies in September/October 2021.
Later enrolments will only be considered in relation to PhD awardees.
➢ Students and their host HEIs may be required to attend a welcoming event
for GOI-IES awardees around this time. An official awarding event for GOIIES Scholars will be held in April 2022

Candidate profile
➢ Possess excellence (academically, personally, professionally, creatively);
➢ Excellent communication skills;
➢ Extra curriculum activities (for example: humanitarian work; politicslocal, national, international; arts; sports);
➢ Possess strong rationale for pursuing their study in Ireland that indicates
how a GOI-IES fits into their longer-term goals.

How to Apply for Government of Ireland – International Education Scholarships

The Call for Applications will issue 10 February 2020 and the centralised application system – link. is now live and accepting applications.
(2) The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Friday 26 March 2021 (Irish Time). Late applications will not be accepted.
(3) The application should be submitted via this link.
(4) Any questions regarding the call for applications should be submitted to [email protected] no later than 26 March 2021. Telephone queries cannot be accommodated.
(5) The HEA will advise the applicants and the HEIs of the outcome of the evaluation process by 1 June 2021.

For more information, visit the Government of Ireland – International Education Scholarships.

Application Deadline: 26th March 2021 5pm (Irish Time)