What GOI-IES Covers
The scholarship has two components. First, a full tuition fee waiver at your host institution. This includes all registration and examination charges billed by the university. The institution itself absorbs the cost as its contribution to the programme, so the waiver comes from the university's own budget rather than from the HEA. Second, a stipend of EUR 10,000 for one academic year, funded by the government through the HEA.
The stipend is paid in two instalments of EUR 5,000 each. The first instalment covers semester one, the second covers semester two. The HEA sends the money to the institution, and the institution distributes it to you. The timing varies between universities, but the first payment typically arrives toward the end of October. We will cover the payment mechanics in detail below.
If you are enrolled in a programme that spans three semesters (some Irish Master's degrees run from September through the following August), the institution may extend the tuition fee waiver to cover all three semesters. However, the stipend stays at EUR 10,000 regardless. You do not receive an extra EUR 5,000 for the third semester. The fee waiver is generous because many non-EU tuition fees in Ireland run between EUR 12,000 and EUR 30,000 per year depending on the discipline and institution. Medical and engineering programmes tend to sit at the higher end.
Paid in two EUR 5,000 instalments, one per semester, through your host institution.
Full non-EU tuition fees plus registration charges. Worth EUR 12,000–30,000 depending on programme.
What Is NOT Covered
This is the part most scholarship listing websites leave out. The GOI-IES does not cover a long list of expenses that are very real and often very expensive. Before you celebrate an offer, make sure you understand what you will be paying out of pocket.
- • International flights and travel to Ireland
- • Visa and immigration registration fees (IRP card: EUR 300)
- • Health insurance (mandatory for non-EU students)
- • Accommodation and housing deposits
- • Textbooks, research materials, and lab fees
- • Fieldwork, conference travel, and research costs
- • Family or dependant expenses if they accompany you
- • All costs beyond year one of your programme
The EUR 10,000 Reality
Ten thousand euros sounds generous until you divide it by twelve. That gives you EUR 833 per month for a full academic year. In a country where a single room in a shared flat can cost EUR 800 in the capital, those numbers should give you pause.
The HEA is unusually candid about this. The official call document states that the stipend "is unlikely to cover [living costs] completely." They recommend that students "secure other sources of funding, if possible, to avoid additional concerns." That is rare for a government scholarship. Most programmes would never put that in writing. The HEA did, because the gap between the stipend and actual living costs is too large to ignore.
Monthly living costs by city
Dublin
€1,400–2,100/monthAccommodation alone runs EUR 800–1,200 for a single room in shared housing. Add groceries, transport, phone, and utilities, and you are well above what the stipend provides. Dublin is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, and the housing shortage makes it worse. Your EUR 833/month stipend covers roughly 40–60% of actual costs here.
Cork
€1,000–1,500/monthIreland's second city. Accommodation is more affordable than Dublin but still tight, with rooms typically running EUR 550–900. UCC and MTU Cork both participate in the GOI-IES. Your stipend covers roughly 55–80% of costs depending on your lifestyle and housing luck.
Galway
€900–1,400/monthUniversity of Galway draws a lot of international students, and that demand has pushed accommodation costs up in what used to be a relatively affordable city. Rooms run EUR 500–850. Groceries and transport are slightly cheaper than Dublin and Cork.
Limerick
€800–1,300/monthThe most affordable of the major university cities. University of Limerick has an extensive on-campus village, and private rooms nearby start around EUR 450–700. Your stipend gets the closest to covering actual costs here, though you will still likely need to supplement it.
"The EUR 10,000 stipend will assist with living costs, but it is unlikely to cover them completely. Applicants are advised to secure other sources of funding, if possible, to avoid additional concerns."
The One-Year Problem
The GOI-IES covers one academic year. That is it. The scholarship does not renew, does not extend, and there is no mechanism to apply for a second year of funding through the same programme. This is spelled out clearly in the call document, but a surprising number of applicants overlook it.
If you are doing a one-year taught Master's, the scholarship covers your entire programme. You get the tuition waiver and the EUR 10,000 stipend for the full duration. This is the cleanest scenario, and it is probably why the majority of GOI-IES recipients are Master's students.
If you are a PhD student, the picture is very different. A PhD in Ireland typically takes three to four years. The GOI-IES will cover your first year: tuition for year one plus the EUR 10,000 stipend. For years two, three, and four, you need to find your own funding. That means paying non-EU tuition fees (unless your institution offers a separate fee waiver) and covering all your living costs. Some PhD students secure departmental funding, teaching assistantships, or Research Ireland grants for the remaining years. Others self-fund. But the GOI-IES itself gives you exactly one year of support and nothing more.
This is a fundamental design choice. The programme is meant to attract international talent, not to fund an entire PhD. If you need multi-year PhD funding, look at the GOIPG instead, which offers up to EUR 34,000 per year for up to four years. The GOI-IES is best suited to one-year Master's students who can complete their programme within the funded period.
How the Stipend Is Paid
The payment chain has three steps. The HEA transfers the funding to your host institution. The institution then distributes the stipend to you. The HEA does not pay you directly, and you should not expect to hear from the HEA about payment dates. Your finance office or international office at the university is the point of contact for stipend-related questions.
The EUR 10,000 arrives in two instalments: EUR 5,000 for semester one, and EUR 5,000 for semester two. The exact timing depends on when the HEA releases funds to the institution and how quickly the institution processes the payment. Based on what past recipients have reported, the first instalment typically arrives toward the end of October or early November, roughly six to eight weeks after the academic year begins in September.
You need cash on arrival
This matters. If your semester starts in September and the first payment does not arrive until late October, you need six to eight weeks' worth of living expenses from your own pocket. That means accommodation deposits (often one to two months' rent upfront), groceries, transport, phone setup, and the EUR 300 IRP immigration registration fee. Budget at least EUR 2,000 to EUR 3,000 in personal savings for the gap between arrival and your first stipend payment.
Typical payment timeline
GOI-IES vs. GOIPG: Side by Side
People confuse these two programmes constantly. Both have "Government of Ireland" in the name. Both fund postgraduate study. But the difference in financial support is enormous. If you are a PhD applicant with strong research credentials, the GOIPG is the far more valuable award. Here is how they compare.
| Feature | GOI-IES | GOIPG |
|---|---|---|
| Managed by | HEA | Research Ireland (formerly IRC) |
| Annual stipend | €10,000 | €34,000 |
| Duration | 1 year only | Up to 4 years |
| Total possible funding | €10,000 + tuition | €136,000 + fees |
| Tuition fees | Waived by institution | Up to €5,750/yr contribution |
| Eligible students | Non-EU/EEA only | Irish, EU, and international |
| Levels covered | Master's, PG Diploma, PhD | Master's by research, PhD |
| Application route | HEA portal + university offer | Direct to Research Ireland |
| Awards per year | 60 | ~200 (18% success rate) |
The funding difference is stark. A GOIPG PhD recipient can receive up to EUR 136,000 over four years. A GOI-IES PhD recipient gets EUR 10,000 for one year and then self-funds. If your primary goal is PhD funding, the GOIPG is the programme to target. The GOI-IES is better suited to one-year taught Master's students, where the tuition waiver plus EUR 10,000 stipend covers the entire programme duration.
Supplementing the Stipend
Given that the stipend will not cover your living costs in any Irish city, you will almost certainly need additional income. The good news is that Ireland's student visa rules are relatively generous when it comes to part-time work.
On a Stamp 2 student visa, you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during official holiday periods (typically June to September and mid-December to mid-January). This is one of the more generous student work allowances in Europe. In the UK, for comparison, many student visas also allow 20 hours per week, but holiday provisions are more restrictive depending on the visa type.
Income potential during term time
Combined monthly income (term time)
At roughly EUR 1,900 per month, you can cover living costs in most Irish cities, though Dublin will still be tight. Keep in mind that this assumes you find work immediately, that you work the full 20 hours every week, and that you earn at least minimum wage. Many international students find part-time work in hospitality, retail, or campus roles. Tech-savvy students sometimes pick up freelance or remote work. During holiday periods, you can work up to 40 hours per week, which bumps potential earnings to around EUR 2,200 per month at minimum wage.
Health Insurance Costs
Health insurance is mandatory for non-EU students in Ireland. Your university will require proof of coverage as part of your registration. This is not optional, and the GOI-IES does not pay for it. You need to budget for it separately.
The cost varies widely depending on the provider and coverage level. Basic plans that meet the university's requirements typically run between EUR 120 and EUR 500 per year. Some universities have negotiated group rates with specific insurers, which tend to be on the lower end. Others require you to arrange your own policy. Check with your institution's international office to find out which plans they accept and whether they offer a group scheme.
Ireland has a public healthcare system, but as a non-EU student, you are generally not entitled to free public healthcare unless you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from an EU/EEA country, which GOI-IES applicants by definition do not. A GP visit without insurance costs EUR 50 to EUR 65. An emergency room visit without referral can cost EUR 100 or more. Prescription medication is additional. Health insurance is not a luxury here. It is a practical necessity.
Continue reading
Eligibility
Who qualifies for the GOI-IES and the nationality, programme, and institutional requirements.
How to Apply
Step-by-step through the HEA portal, the admission requirement, and the scoring breakdown.
After Selection
Visa process, IRP card, living costs, part-time work rules, and the Stamp 1G stay-back option.
Ready to apply?
Now that you understand what the scholarship covers (and what it does not), check how to submit your application through the HEA portal.
How to Apply