Scholarships
Ireland offers a range of scholarships for international students at government, university, and industry level. While Ireland's scholarship landscape is not as extensive as some other EU countries, targeted government-to-government scholarships, university merit awards, and Science Foundation Ireland research funding provide real financial support opportunities for Indian students.
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES)
The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship is the flagship scholarship programme for international students, awarded to approximately 60 students per year from non-EU countries worldwide. The scholarship provides EUR 10,000 per year (approximately INR 9 lakhs) towards living expenses, in addition to a full tuition fee waiver at the partner Irish university. Indian students are eligible. Applications are made through Education in Ireland (educationinireland.com) and the Irish Embassy in New Delhi. The scholarship is highly competitive; strong academic records, leadership qualities, and a compelling personal statement are essential.
Higher Education Authority (HEA) Scholarships
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) administers several targeted scholarship and bursary schemes for international students at Irish higher education institutions, including the ERASMUS+ programme, the Shared Island initiative, and specific country-to-country bilateral scholarship agreements. Prosper Overseas will advise Indian students on current HEA schemes and eligibility.
University-Specific Scholarships
Trinity College Dublin: TCD offers a range of postgraduate scholarships and bursaries through individual schools and departments — particularly in STEM subjects where research funding is available. Students applying for PhD programmes at TCD are routinely funded through Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) research grants. UCD: University College Dublin offers the UCD Global Excellence Scholarship (up to EUR 3,000 fee reduction for international students with outstanding academic records). University of Galway: UG offers the International Student Merit Scholarship for students with CGPA 3.5+ on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) — providing fee reductions of EUR 1,500–3,000 per year. Dublin City University: DCU offers several merit-based partial scholarships for international postgraduate students.
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Scholarships
Science Foundation Ireland funds hundreds of PhD and postdoctoral research positions at Irish universities each year in STEM disciplines. Indian students admitted to PhD programmes at Irish universities in the areas of ICT, biomedical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, data science, and materials science are frequently funded through SFI research centre grants (e.g., LERO — the Irish Software Research Centre; INSIGHT — the SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics; APC Microbiome Ireland). SFI-funded PhD students receive a tax-free stipend of approximately EUR 18,500/year plus full tuition fee coverage.
Erasmus+ Programme
Ireland is an active participant in the Erasmus+ programme. Students enrolled at Irish universities can apply for Erasmus+ mobility funding to study at partner universities across the EU or to undertake work placements at European companies. Erasmus+ grants of EUR 250–700/month are available for outward mobility. Incoming Erasmus+ students from EU partner universities also bring international diversity to Irish campuses. Prosper Overseas can advise on Erasmus+ opportunities available at specific Irish universities.
Prosper Overseas Scholarship Guidance
Prosper Overseas will assess your eligibility for GOI-IES scholarships, university-specific merit awards, and SFI research funding as part of our standard Ireland application service. Our Ireland team has helped numerous Indian students secure scholarship packages and partial fee waivers that significantly reduce the overall cost of their Irish education.