Irish Government Scholarship for Postgraduate Students

The Irish Government Postgraduate Scholarship Program is an exceptional opportunity for ambitious researchers. The program offers generous financial support and covers a wide range of specializations.

This program aims to promote research excellence and develop future leaders in the field of scientific research.

Background of the Irish Government Scholarship Programme

The Irish Government Scholarship Program is a well-established national initiative, funded by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and managed by the Council. This program has a unique place in the Irish research landscape and complements other channels of funded higher education in the Irish ecosystem.

The most prominent features of the Irish government scholarship program are:

• Prestigious individual grants for outstanding research in the applicant’s name
• An objective selection process using independent international peer review
• Funding covers all disciplines, from archaeology to zoology
• Grants for non-bottom-up research, excluding those funded by strategic funding partners

Innovative proposals

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Program welcomes pioneering proposals that address new and emerging areas of research or that offer creative and innovative approaches. Proposals of an interdisciplinary nature are also encouraged, as it is recognized that progress in fundamental understanding is achieved by integrating information, techniques, tools and perspectives from two or more disciplines.

Features of proposals welcomed in the program:

• Address new and emerging research areas
• Providing creative and innovative curricula
• Multidisciplinary nature
• Integrating knowledge from different fields

High competitiveness

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Program is highly competitive, with an average success rate of 18% over the past five years. Successful grantees under the program are recognized as demonstrating world-class potential as future research leaders.

Competitive factors in the program:

• Low success rate (18% on average)
• Strict selection of candidates
• Evaluate future research potential
• Recognition of global excellence

Strategic financing partners

A number of government ministries and agencies are collaborating with the Irish Research Council to support the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Program as a mechanism to achieve shared national goals. The Irish Research Council's strategic funding partners for 2025 are:

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Ministry for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Irish Meteorological Service (Met Éireann)

What the Irish Government Scholarship offers

The value of the Irish Government Grant is up to a maximum of €31,000 per annum in any approved year and consists of the following elements:

• A grant of €22,000 per year
• Contribution to fees, including fees for non-EU students, up to a maximum of €5,750 per year
• Eligible direct research expenses of €3,250 per year

Scholarship Benefits:

• Generous financial support
• Covering tuition fees
• Assistance with research expenses
• An opportunity to focus on research without financial constraints

How to apply for the Irish Government Scholarship

Prospective applicants should read the invitation documents carefully to ascertain whether they are eligible to apply. Indicative copies of the applicant and supervisor forms are provided for information purposes only. All participants must create and submit their forms via the electronic system.

Application steps:

• Read the invitation documents carefully
• Verify eligibility
• Create an account on the electronic system
• Fill out the required forms
• Submit the application before the deadline

Scheduled dates

You should pay attention to the following important dates for the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme:

• Applications open: August 29, 2024
• FAQ deadline: 16:00 (Irish time) 03 October 2024
• Deadline for applicants: 16:00 (Irish time) 10 October 2024
• Supervisor/Mentor Deadline: 16:00 (Irish time) 17 October 2024
• Research Office endorsement deadline: 16:00 (Irish time) 24 October 2024
• Announcement of invitation results: end of April 2025
• Scholarship start date: September 1, 2025

Please note that the timings provided here are indicative and may be subject to change.

Inquiries and support

If you do not find an answer to your query in the invitation documents, you should contact the research office of the proposed institution who will provide information and clarifications about the invitation. Research offices can send any queries they are unable to clarify to [email protected].

For reasons of transparency and fairness to all applicants, the Irish Research Council will not enter into written or telephone correspondence with any individual regarding the assessment process or eligibility to apply.

Important points for inquiries:

• Contact the research office of the proposed institution
• No direct contact with the Irish Research Council
• Commitment to official communication channels
• Respecting the principles of transparency and fairness

The Irish Government Postgraduate Scholarship Program is an exceptional opportunity for ambitious researchers to develop their skills and conduct pioneering research. With generous financial support and an emphasis on research excellence, the program provides an ideal environment for academic and professional growth. We encourage qualified applicants to take advantage of this unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and build a promising career in the field of research.

Eligible Nationalities