Required Documents

The GOI-IES application runs through the HEA's online portal, and the portal is strict about what it accepts. You cannot submit extra materials by email, and the HEA will not chase you for missing items. If something is not uploaded correctly before the deadline, it simply is not part of your application. Below is the full list of documents, with the exact formats, requirements, and common pitfalls for each one.

This is the single most important document in your application, because without it you cannot apply at all. The HEA requires proof that you have received an offer of admission from an eligible Irish higher education institution for a specific programme at NFQ Level 9 or Level 10. A conditional offer is fine. An unconditional offer is fine. What is not fine is having no offer at all.

The portal accepts several formats for this proof. You can upload a formal offer letter on university letterhead. You can upload an offer email sent from the Admissions Office, as long as it clearly identifies the programme, the level, and the institution. You can even upload a screenshot from your applicant portal showing the offer status. What matters is that the document unambiguously shows which programme you have been offered a place in and at which institution.

You need two reference letters, and the requirements are surprisingly specific. Many applicants lose marks or get their references flagged because they overlook one of the formatting rules. The HEA is particular about this, and for good reason: they receive hundreds of applications, and standardised reference formatting helps the panel review efficiently.

Each letter should be between 500 and 700 words. That is a recommendation, not a hard limit, but going significantly under or over signals that your referee either did not take the task seriously or did not read the guidelines. The sweet spot is a letter that is detailed enough to be substantive but concise enough to respect the panel's time.

You need to upload transcripts and degree certificates for all completed degrees. This means your undergraduate degree at minimum, and any postgraduate qualifications you have already finished. If you are currently enrolled in a programme and have not yet graduated, submit your most recent transcript showing courses completed to date.

All documents must be in English. If your original transcripts are in another language, you need a certified or sworn translation. Some universities provide official English-language transcripts directly. If yours does, use that version rather than getting a third-party translation, since it carries more weight and avoids questions about translation accuracy.

Your academic record contributes to the 40-mark academic assessment portion of the GOI-IES scoring. The panel looks at the quality of your academic achievements relative to the programme you are applying for. A first-class honours degree or equivalent carries more weight than a pass degree, but the assessment also considers the reputation of the awarding institution and the relevance of your prior study to the proposed programme in Ireland.

The portal asks you to upload a CV or resume. There is no prescribed format, but given the nature of this scholarship, your CV should emphasise four areas in particular: academic achievements, research experience, professional work experience, and extracurricular activities. The panel wants to see breadth as well as depth. A candidate who has published research, worked in a relevant field, volunteered in their community, and achieved strong grades is more compelling than someone who only has grades.

Keep it focused and relevant. This is not a job application where you list every part-time position you have ever held. Prioritise experiences that demonstrate leadership, international exposure, intellectual curiosity, and the kind of profile that would make a strong ambassador for Irish higher education. Two to three pages is a reasonable length for a postgraduate scholarship CV.

This is where most of your marks come from. The personal statements are worth 45 out of 100 marks in the GOI-IES scoring system, which makes them more important than your entire academic record. There are three separate essays, each worth 15 marks, and they are completed directly within the HEA portal. You do not upload them as separate documents.

Each essay should be approximately 500 words. The portal has text fields where you type or paste your responses. Because these are completed within the portal rather than uploaded as files, you should draft and polish them in a word processor first, then paste them in when you are ready. The portal does not have sophisticated editing tools, and you do not want to be writing your most important essays in a basic text box under time pressure.

Most applicants will not need anything beyond the documents listed above. However, there are two situations where additional documentation is required.