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Scholarships & Funding In Ireland
PLEASE NOTE: As a result of Brexit, from Autumn 2021 postgraduate students from the European Union studying at a UK university will be charged the same tuition fees as international students. Meanwhile, UK students studying their postgraduate course at a European university are also likely to incur higher tuition fees than their EU counterparts. It is advisable to check with the individual universities in the UK and Europe for up-to-date information on tuition fees for all postgraduate programs.
Scholarships and bursaries can make all the difference when you are studying at postgraduate level at university in Ireland, whether you're studying a masters or a PhD program. Some postgraduate scholarships in Ireland are intended for specific research trips and others can be used for whatever the student needs to spend to continue to study. Irish universities and individual departments perform well internationally in the Arts and many students in Ireland find they can get funding through the Arts Council of Ireland.
Here is a table showing some of the funding opportunities available to postgraduate students in Ireland.
Let's take a look at some of the ways you can secure a scholarship to fund your postgraduate program in Ireland.
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Funding from Irish universities
There are lots of funding opportunities for postgraduate students in Ireland to search for. If you are from Ireland, then the first place to search for scholarships and bursaries is at the university you are attending – they usually have a good selection of funding opportunities for home students. For international students who are travelling to Ireland for postgraduate study, then it is recommended to start searching for scholarships from organisations in your home nation. However, plenty of universities offer scholarships on a merit basis that are available for all students to apply for – be they home, UK, European or International. The older the universities in Ireland tend to have more historic scholarships available. Many universities – such as the University of Cork – will list the scholarships available for students to apply for on their website. Individual university departments – such as the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Limerick – will list scholarships and bursaries available to their postgraduate and undergraduate students. Most universities will have some bursaries available to students in need, these are often means-tested but they are a good source of income if you are struggling to cope financially. Some government bursaries schemes – such as the 1916 Bursary Fund – are funded by the Irish government but applications are made through your university.
Funding from other organisations
Aside from the universities themselves, there are other organisations that offer postgraduate scholarships to Irish, EU and non-EU students. One such organisation is the Irish Research Council – who offers scholarships to students from Ireland and overseas for their research and studies, making it a good place to check for funding options. There are lots of organisations in Ireland who sponsor students to study certain subject areas. For example the Naughton Foundation sponsors students in Engineering and Technology and promotes study and research in these subject areas. Another place worth checking is your former school, workplace or a relevant charity that you have participated in. Industry press – such as hospitality magazines – can also be good places to look for scholarships and funding opportunities for postgraduate students. Once you have been offered a place on a postgraduate program in Ireland you will also be eligible to apply for a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary worth £500.
What information will you need to provide?
The information that you need to provide for a postgraduate scholarship or bursary in Ireland will depend on the scholarship. Most scholarships will have some element of academic excellence and in this case you will need to supply your academic records with the application. Your personal statement will probably be quite important when you’re applying for a scholarship, as this will be where you can explain any outside interests and memberships of any relevant organisations. Some scholarships are awarded on the condition of continuing excellent academic results and you might find that you are required to supply information for the duration of the scholarship. For scholarships that are related to research you will need to provide details of your intended research and will usually also need to provide the results of your research too.
Popular Irish scholarships
The most popular scholarships in Ireland are the ones from the Irish Government. These come from the Irish Research Council and competition is fierce as they offer a scholarship to any subject area. Scholarships advertised through the universities’ website will also be very popular and you will probably find many of your fellow students applying for them, too.
Find a postgraduate program in IRELAND
