Famously known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland has emerged as a popular choice for students interested in pursuing higher studies. It has a relatively lower tuition fee when compared to other study-abroad destinations like US, UK, and Canada. Several top-ranked universities in Ireland offer scholarships for international students. Most of these scholarships are awarded to students based on merit. However, there are also some need-based scholarships. Such scholarships ensure that students from all sorts of backgrounds get access to quality education and fulfill their dreams. In this blog, we will have a look at some of the top universities in Ireland which offer scholarships for international students.
Leading Irish Universities Offering Scholarships for International Students
Ireland has some of the world’s best universities which are known for their rich academic tradition, eminent faculty, cutting-edge research, and comprehensive student support services. To nurture the talent of its foreign students, these universities also provide various scholarships. Let us have a look at some of these universities in Ireland that offer scholarships for international students.
1. Trinity College, Dublin (TCD)
The first university to feature in our list, is Trinity College, Dublin. It is Ireland’s oldest university, which was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. According to the QS World University Rankings, 2025, TCD is the No.1 university in Ireland. To attract high-caliber students from across the world, TCD offers certain scholarships such as :
a) Global Excellence Scholarship, is given to students who perform exceptionally well in academics. Under this initiative, undergraduate students are given s cholarships worth €5,000. Even, postgraduate students are given scholarships worth €2000- €5000. This is applied as a reduction to the tuition fees of a full-time program for the first year of study, at TCD.
To apply for this, students must submit their university offer letter, and resume , and write a 200-word statement on “How I will contribute to our Trinity College Dublin community?” ( Microsoft Word document or pdf format).
b) The E3 Scholarship is meant to provide financial support to TCD’s students in the areas of Engineering, Environment, and Emerging Technologies. Under this, 1-year scholarships valued between €2,000 to €5,000 each and scholarships worth €4,000 for all 4 years of study, are given to UG students, enrolled in Computer Science, Environmental Science, and Engineering courses. Postgraduate students of Engineering, Computer Science, Statistics, Natural Sciences, and Energy Science, are also eligible to receive 1-year scholarships valued between €2,000 to €5,000 each.
The E3 scholarship will be assessed based on academic merit and the student’s potential to contribute to TCD’s E3 initiative. To apply for this scholarship, applicants must write a 200-word statement on “How I will contribute to the E3 initiative and provide Balanced Solutions for a Better World at Trinity College Dublin.”
2. University of Galway
The University of Galway was established in 1845, as the Queen’s College, Galway. It is a member of the Coimbra group, which is a network of 40 renowned European universities. For foreign students commencing study at the University of Galway, there are numerous notable scholarships such as:
a) T he Global Achievement Scholarship is meant for 1st year undergraduate students. It reduces their tuition fees by €2000. Only students who are enrolled in Galway University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, and the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics are eligible for this scholarship.
You need not apply separately for this scholarship, as all eligible candidates will be automatically considered based on their academic results and personal statement. To write as per the nuances of academic writing, seek assistance from professional SOP writers.
b) Hardiman PhD Scholarships are fully funded for 4 years, with a stipend of €25,000 p.a. plus tuition fee covered. It is awarded to high-achieving students who are about to pursue a PhD in any one of the following 5 key areas of research:
Enhancing Policy and Society
Enriching Creativity and Culture
Improving Health and Well-being
Realizing Potential through Data and enabling technologies
Sustaining our planet and people
To apply for this, students must submit two references that indicate their academic suitability & potential to undertake postgraduate research at the University of Galway.
3. Dublin Business School (DBS)
Established in 1975, the Dublin Business School was formerly known as the ‘Accountancy and Business College’. It is Ireland’s largest independent college. It is the No.2 university in Ireland as per the QS World University Rankings. It offers a variety of programs in marketing, management, business, computing, law, accounting, IT, arts, creative media, psychotherapy, and psychology. It offers various scholarships, out of which the most famous ones are:
a) Partial scholarships valued between €500 and €1000 to international students enrolled in a Level 8 and 9 program at the university.
b) Sports Scholarships are given to offer high-level support to aspiring talented athletes of the university.
4. University College, Cork (UCC)
The University College, Cork is a part of the National University of Ireland and was formed in 1845. It is among the group of three Queen’s colleges located in Belfast, Cork, and Galway. It is ranked among the top 1.1% of universities worldwide. To nurture bright minds, UCC provides several important scholarships like:
a) Returning International Student Scholarship offers a 20% fee reduction to previous students of the university who have enrolled in a taught master’s program in the College of Science, Engineering, and Food Science.
b) College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences International Undergraduate Scholarship offers a 15% fee reduction in each year of study. It can be renewed for 3 years, provided that the student performs well as per the required standards for progression.
5. University of Limerick (UL)
The first university to have been established after the independence of Ireland in 1922, is the University of Limerick. It was founded in 1972. It is the first university in Ireland to develop a cooperative education program. This provides students with a 8-month work placement, as a part of their degree. Known for supporting the academic rigor of its students, UL has several key scholarship programs:
a) Non-EU students who have completed their four-year Bachelor’s degree at UL, and are about to enroll in a Master’s program at the university (not available for MSc Sustainable Resource Management, Policy and Practice), can avail of the UL Progression Scholarship. It provides them with a 50% discount on their tuition fees.
b) UL Sports Scholarships are open to all current and full-time, students or those applying to the university for the first time. To be eligible, you must be a member of a national governing body of a sport that the Irish Sports Council recognizes. The scholarship has three categories: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Students are provided with numerous benefits like a training grant, on-campus accommodation, high-level coaching, discounts on registration fees, gym and sports arena membership, sports clothing, and academic flexibility.
6. Griffith College Dublin (GCD)
Established in 1974, with four campuses in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, Griffith College is one of the two largest independent higher education colleges in Ireland. Griffith College is also a member of the Erasmus/ Socrates mobility program, which is an EU student exchange program. To support international learners, GCD has a number of bursaries and scholarships.
The Griffith Academic Merit Scholarship valued between €500-€1500 is given to undergraduate international students who have performed well in academics. It is applicable in each level of study, where learners progress from one stage of a program to the next. Even postgraduate foreign learners, with exceptional academic performance, are given scholarships worth €1000-€2000. Apart from this, if an international student’s sibling also gets accepted into GCD, then they will receive a 10% sibling discount on their tuition fees, provided that the first sibling is still studying at the university.
7. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)
RCSI is also known as the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. It is a not-for-profit medical professional and educational institution in Ireland. It was built in 1784. It is known for teaching various healthcare-related subjects such as medicine, pharmacy, biomolecular sciences, physiotherapy, population health, dentistry, nursing, and midwifery. Some of its notable scholarships are:
a) The Consilio Manaque Medicine Scholarship is awarded to the student with the highest combined Irish Leaving Certificate (or equivalent school leaving examinations) and HPAT score, who has enrolled in RCSI’s Undergraduate Medicine program. It is worth €25,000 and is given to students who have resided in the EU or an EEA member state (Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) or Switzerland for at least three of the five years preceding admission.
Students have to complete the online scholarship application form and write a personal statement (300-500 words) that talks about their passion and commitment to studying medicine. To write effectively, you must consult the study abroad consultants like Contentholic , known for their exceptional SOP writing services.
b) RCSI’s alumni award the International Consilio Manaque Medicine Scholarship to non-EU students. It is for students with a good academic record, who have enrolled in a Graduate Entry Medicine Programme (4 years) or Direct Entry Medicine program (5 and 6-year tracks), at RCSI. To avail of this scholarship worth €25,000 , applicants must submit an annual report , that describes their academic, and social activities and achievements at RCSI.
8. Dublin City University (DCU)
The Dublin City University was formed in 1975, as the National Institute of Higher Education, Dublin. Based on the country you come from, and the course you have chosen to study at DCU, there are various scholarship incentives. Apart from this, DCU in collaboration with the Irish government and other agencies, provides scholarships that offer fee reductions and provide international students with accommodation and other support services. Some of DCU’s popular scholarships are:
a) The DCU Humanities and Social Sciences Bursary is awarded to high-achieving non-EU students who have received an offer to study a postgraduate program in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Successful recipients will receive a €2000 fee reduction.
b) Brazilian Student Ambassadors Scholarships are for Brazilian students who have performed well in academics and are capable of establishing a stronger bond between DCU and Brazil. S/he must be enrolled in a PG program at DCU. A tuition fee waiver of € 5000 is given.
To apply for this, applicants must submit:
Statement Letter stating why studying at DCU is relevant to their career.
Personal Statement explaining why they should be considered for this scholarship, their reasons for enrolling in a program at DCU, and the relevance of completing a PG degree for both Brazil and Ireland.
To convince the university authorities, it is better to consult professional SOP writers who will help you write well-researched, error-free content.
9. Maynooth University (MU)
Maynooth University is located in County Kildare, Ireland. It is also known as the National University of Ireland and was established in 1997. To provide financial support to its students, the university provides various scholarships, out of which the most important ones are:
a) MU Taught Postgraduate Scholarships worth €2000 , per year to both EU and non-EU students, enrolled in full-time programs at the university. It is awarded based on academic excellence.
b) MU Sports Scholarships are awarded to both UG and PG students, to help them excel in sports and studies. As a part of this scholarship, students are assisted with sports and university-related expenses (like sporting equipment, and travel costs). To be eligible for this, you must maintain a satisfactory academic performance, and perform exceptionally well in sports.
10. Technological University Dublin (TUD)
TUD is Ireland’s 1st technological university which was built in 2019. It places a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial ethos and on having an industry-focused approach. To reward students for their hard work and dedication, TU Dublin provides several scholarships, out of which the widely popular ones are:
a) Enterprise Mobility scholarships provide grants and other support to students who are single parents , to help them with their education. The TU Dublin Foundation offers grants worth €3000. Applicants need to submit a personal statement and provide sufficient financial details in their application form.
If you are short-listed, you might be asked to appear for an interview. To get the best guidance regarding university applications, it is better to contact study abroad consultants who provide interview guidance and SOP writing services.
b) Intel Women in Technology Scholarship consists of bursaries worth €3000 , which is given to female students enrolled in an undergraduate Level 8 Degree in Physics, Computer Science, or Electrical/Electronic Engineering, at TUD.
They should be in their 3rd or final year of study. Successful applicants will be assigned an Intel mentor who will guide them throughout their studies and will also be given a summer work placement , with Intel.
Conclusion
Thus we see how some of the top-ranked universities in Ireland offer a range of merit-based and need-based scholarships to their international students. These scholarships not only provide financial support but also provide students with mentorship, coaching, on-campus accommodation, placement assistance, travel costs, and gym and sports facilities. By providing scholarships, universities in Ireland can nurture and retain the academic rigor and talent of its foreign students.
Scholarships encourage diversity by allowing more people from various ethnic and economic backgrounds to achieve their academic goals and career dreams. If you are also a student who has a dream to study in Ireland and wants to enquire about universities that provide scholarships, then you must contact study abroad consultants. We, at Contentholic , are known for providing one of the best career counseling, visa guidance, and SOP and LOR writing services in India. Reach out to us and fulfill your study abroad dreams.
