Government Of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunity Programme 2025/26 -

About the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 2025/26

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 2025/26, managed by Research Ireland and funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is a flagship national initiative that supports exceptional postgraduate students pursuing Master’s and PhD research degrees across all academic disciplines.

This prestigious scholarship is recognised for its selectivity and emphasis on individual research excellence. With an average success rate of about 18% over the last five years, the programme identifies scholars with world-class potential and supports them in becoming future research leaders.

Call Launch Date: 11 September 2025
Administered by: Research Ireland
Funding Body: Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Study Location: Ireland
Funding Type: Fully funded competitive scholarship

The 2026 call will open on 11 September 2025, with complete eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and other details published in the official Call Document on the Research Ireland website.

About Research Ireland

Research Ireland is Ireland’s national research funding agency. Its mission is to support cutting-edge research across all disciplines while fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem. Through initiatives like the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, it nurtures early-career researchers, helps build academic capacity, and drives Ireland’s global research reputation.

Eligibility Criteria (2026 Call)

From 2026 onwards, the programme will now be open to:

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New entrants to a Master’s or PhD programme, and
Current students already registered and in the first year of the degree programme for which they are seeking funding.

This aligns the scholarship with a full-degree funding model, providing support from the earliest stage of postgraduate study.

Additional rules include:

Supervisors may act as Primary Supervisor for only one applicant per call, ensuring equitable mentorship.
No restrictions on serving as a secondary or co-supervisor.

Applicants must also demonstrate academic excellence, the feasibility of their proposed research project, and strong personal motivation to pursue advanced research training.

Programme Highlights

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is unique within Ireland’s research landscape due to its bottom-up approach and its commitment to funding pioneering individual research proposals.

Programme Competitiveness

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is highly competitive and designed for candidates who exhibit:

Outstanding academic records and intellectual capability.
Research potential and a clear ability to conduct independent scholarly work.
Well-structured and feasible research proposals with potential impact.
Leadership qualities and evidence of commitment to advancing knowledge.

Being awarded this scholarship signifies recognition of exceptional promise at an international level.

Strategic Funding Partners

Although the programme primarily funds non-directed, bottom-up research, several scholarships are co-funded by strategic partners. These partnerships align with national research priorities and may guide funding toward specific thematic areas.

Details about strategic collaborations and targeted research opportunities will be provided in the 2026 Call Document, available from 11 September 2025.

Key Dates

Call Launch: 11 September 2025
Call Document Release: 11 September 2025
Deadline for Applications: To be confirmed in the Call Document

Applicants are strongly advised to start preparing early, as the competition requires careful planning and coordination with academic supervisors.

Benefits of the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 2025/26

Prestigious individual awards granted directly in the name of the applicant.
Independent international peer review to ensure a rigorous, fair, and merit-based selection process.
Open to all academic disciplines, from archaeology to zoology.
Support for non-directed research, allowing applicants to pursue innovative topics of their choosing (with exceptions for projects co-funded by strategic partners).
Encouragement of interdisciplinary and pioneering research, especially proposals that apply creative methodologies or explore emerging areas of knowledge.

This programme places emphasis on originality, impact, and the researcher’s potential, rather than predefined research priorities, making it one of the most flexible and prestigious funding schemes in Europe.

How to Apply

Review the Call Document on the Research Ireland website once published (11 September 2025).
Check eligibility requirements carefully, including academic qualifications and registration status.
Develop a high-quality research proposal, ensuring clarity, originality, and feasibility.
Secure an academic supervisor at an Irish higher education institution willing to support your application.
Submit the application online following the instructions in the Call Document.
Await peer-review evaluation, which is transparent and benchmarked against international standards.

Applications are assessed by independent international experts to ensure fairness and academic rigor.

Final Thoughts

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 2025/26 is one of Europe’s most competitive and prestigious research funding opportunities. By providing full financial support, international recognition, and research independence, it empowers talented postgraduates to pursue ambitious research goals and make meaningful contributions to knowledge and innovation.