|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Government of Ireland has announced the opening of applications for its 2026 International Education Scholarships, a fully funded programme that offers international students the chance to study at leading Irish universities.
The scholarships are fully funded and cover both Master’s and Doctoral degree levels. Kenyan students aspiring to pursue full-time research master’s or doctoral degrees in Ireland can now apply for this fully funded opportunity.
Disciplines covered include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), as well as social sciences, arts, and humanities.
The scholarships provide extensive funding support valued at approximately Sh5.13 million per year (€33,000). Benefits include:
- Annual stipend: €25,000 per year (Sh3.78 million)
- Tuition fees: Up to €5,750 per year (Sh867,250)
- Research expenses: €3,250 per year (Sh490,750)
The funding duration depends on the degree type. Master’s students will receive support for two years, while PhD candidates can receive funding for up to four years.
The government stressed that applicants must accept the full grant package, as partial acceptance is not allowed.
“Candidates who have already begun their degree but completed no more than the first year may be eligible for partial funding, subject to confirmation by their research body,” read the guideline from Research Ireland.
U.S revoking, denying visas of persons celebrating Charlie Kirk’s murder
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Be new entrants to the postgraduate program, or have completed no more than the first year of their degree
- Hold a first-class or upper second-class honours bachelor’s degree or, if not, a master’s degree
- Be affiliated with an Eligible Research Body, responsible for verifying all academic results
- Applications may be submitted in English or Irish only
- Must not have had two previous unsuccessful applications, regardless of research body or topic change
- Must not be a permanent staff member at any Irish or international research body
- Must have a primary supervisor who will guide the research project. Primary supervisors can endorse only one applicant per scholarship cycle; co-supervisor or secondary supervisor roles have no restriction
- Applicants from any country are eligible, categorized as:
- Category 1: Nationals of EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the UK, or Ukraine, with at least three of the past five years’ residency in one of these countries
- Category 2: All other applicants. A proportion of scholarships is reserved for exceptional candidates from this category
Application Process
- All applications must be submitted online via Research Ireland’s portal SmartSimple platform by the relevant deadline
- Applicants should register and submit early, as server traffic may delay submissions
- Hard copies or email submissions are not accepted
- All applications require endorsement from the primary supervisor; failure to submit endorsements will render applications ineligible. The primary supervisor must be based at an Eligible Research Body in Ireland that is approved by Research Ireland.
- Applicants are responsible for discussing their research project with the primary supervisor in advance
- Research Ireland will not provide individual correspondence regarding eligibility or assessment
Interested applicants are urged to complete and submit the online application before the October 23, 2025, deadline.
