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Ireland September 2027 entry: applications open October 2026; main deadline 1 July 2027 (most programmes); scholarship consideration automatic with admission

University of Galway International Fee Reduction Scholarship

The University of Galway (formerly NUI Galway) offers International Fee Reduction Scholarships of EUR 2,000 to EUR 5,000 (LKR 690k-1.7M) per year to international undergraduate and postgraduate students based on academic merit. The university is one of Ireland's top universities, particularly strong in medicine, marine sciences, business (J.E. Cairnes School), engineering, arts, and Celtic studies. Located on the Atlantic coast in the historic city of Galway, the university has around 18,000 students with a thriving international community. The scholarship is automatically considered for eligible applicants — no separate form required. Sri Lankan applicants find Galway an attractive lower-cost alternative to Dublin, with strong English-medium teaching and a welcoming small-city atmosphere.

University of Galway

University-funded

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Value

EUR 2,000 - EUR 5,000 per Year

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Duration

Each Year of Programme

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Application

Automatic at Admission

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Galway Programme Admission

You must be applying to the University of Galway for an undergraduate or taught postgraduate programme. Most programmes participate — Bachelor's, Master's by coursework, and one-year graduate certificates. Research PhD/MRes candidates apply for separate Galway PhD scholarships.

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Non-EU International Status

Open to non-EU international students paying overseas tuition. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible. EU students have separate Galway funding routes and lower tuition baseline.

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Strong Academic Profile

Awards are tiered by academic merit. UG entry: 3 As at A/L for top tier (EUR 5,000); 3 Bs for lower tier (EUR 2,000). PG entry: first-class for top tier; strong second-upper for lower tier. Subject choices should align with the intended programme.

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English Proficiency

Required: IELTS 6.5+ overall (no band below 6.0) or TOEFL iBT 88+ for most programmes (higher for Medicine, Law, and some Health Sciences). Sri Lankan applicants with English-medium degrees may qualify for the MOI-letter waiver.

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Apply to Galway

Submit your University of Galway application via the international portal or via CAO (for Irish applicants). Non-EU applicants apply directly via the Galway international application system. Application fee EUR 50.

Submit application materials

Required: school/Bachelor's transcripts, IELTS/TOEFL, motivation letter, two references. For some programmes (e.g. Medicine), UCAT/HPAT and interview are required. Sri Lankan applicants can request MOI-letter waivers where applicable.

Automatic scholarship review

All admitted international students are automatically reviewed for the International Fee Reduction Scholarship. The award tier is determined by academic record translated to Galway's grading scale. There is no separate scholarship application.

Offer + Irish visa

Successful applicants receive an offer letter specifying the scholarship tier. Use the offer + scholarship + financial documents to apply for the Irish Student Visa (Long-Stay D) via VFS Colombo. Galway's International Office provides accommodation booking support.

Why University of Galway?

The University of Galway was founded in 1845 (originally as Queen's College, Galway) and is consistently ranked in the top 3 Irish universities. Notably strong in marine sciences and medicine; the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics is highly respected. Galway city itself (population 80,000) offers a much more affordable Irish experience than Dublin — accommodation, food, and entertainment are 30-40% cheaper. The Atlantic coast and Connemara are on the doorstep. Strong international student support including a small but established Sri Lankan student community.