Ireland charges tuition for international students - EUR 10,000-35,000 per year. But there are real scholarship opportunities that can significantly reduce costs, particularly for high-achieving students from eligible countries.
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships
60 scholarships per year, EUR 10,000 each (one academic year). For non-EU citizens studying full-time at Irish HEIs. High academic achievement required. Applications open February-March at hea.ie/students-hub/international-students.
Trinity College Dublin Scholarships
Trinity Excellence Scholarship: automatic EUR 2,500/yr reduction based on entrance results, no separate application. Trinity Entrance Awards: up to full tuition waiver for exceptional applicants (top 1% in your country). Trinity Business School Scholarships: EUR 5,000-20,000 reduction for MSc and MBA programmes.
UCD Global Excellence Awards
EUR 3,000-6,000/yr tuition reduction for non-EU undergraduate applicants with strong academic record. Automatically considered during UCD application - no separate form needed. UCD also has country-specific bursaries for India, China, Nigeria, Kenya.
Ireland Fellows Programme
Fully funded scholarship by Irish Aid for students from eligible developing countries (60+ countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America). Covers tuition + monthly stipend + return flights + health insurance. Priority: public policy, health, agriculture, governance, environment. Apply through country's Irish Aid office or government ministry.
University-Specific Awards
University of Galway: EUR 3,000 international student scholarship for non-EU undergrads. UCC: EUR 2,500-5,000 for high-achieving non-EU applicants. DCU: EUR 2,000 Excellence Scholarship. Maynooth: EUR 1,500 Millennium Scholarship for developing country students.
External Programmes
Erasmus Mundus joint Master's programmes with Irish partners: full funding (tuition + EUR 1,400/month stipend) for non-EU students. Fulbright Ireland: for US citizens only - tuition + monthly stipend + return airfare.
Realistic Expectations
Combining strategies: Government of Ireland scholarship (EUR 10,000) + university merit award (EUR 3,000-6,000) + part-time work (EUR 8,000-12,000/yr) can offset EUR 20,000-28,000 annually. This makes Ireland's total cost comparable to Australia or Canada.
Find verified Ireland education consultants at ConsultancyCheck.
Explore more
Find your perfect consultancy.
Matched to your country & study goals — free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a fully funded scholarship to study in Ireland?
The Ireland Fellows Programme (administered by Irish Aid) is a fully funded scholarship for students from eligible developing countries, covering tuition, flights, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. The Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships provide EUR 10,000 but are not fully funded.
How many Government of Ireland scholarships are available per year?
60 Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships are awarded annually by the HEA. Apply early when applications open in February-March.
Does Trinity College Dublin give scholarships to international students?
Yes - Trinity offers Excellence Scholarships (EUR 2,500/yr automatic reduction), Entrance Awards (up to full tuition waiver for exceptional applicants), and Business School scholarships of EUR 5,000-20,000.
Can I combine multiple scholarships in Ireland?
Yes - you can generally combine a Government of Ireland scholarship with a university-specific merit award. Always confirm with the scholarship administrators, but stacking is often permitted.
Find a Verified Consultancy
Browse 800+ consultancies with real student reviews — sorted by rating and verification status.