Postgraduate Funding
Looking for opportunities to fund your postgraduate studies at DCU? See the options below to find one that works for you.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all scholarships applicable to DCU. We encourage students to take time and look into sources of funding outside of this list.
We also advise students to carefully read the terms and conditions of each scholarship they apply to, as some do not allow students to hold multiple awards.
For EU Students:
SUSI offers a Fee Grant & Maintenance Grant for Postgraduate Students
The Fee Grant will be worth €4,500 for the upcoming academic year.
Eligibility for these grants depend on:
- Nationality condition: Ireland, UK, An EU or EEA country or Switzerland.
- Residence condition: Resident in Ireland for 3 of the previous 5 years.
- Means test: Based on family’s gross income and circumstances.
- Approved course of study: You must be attending an approved course of study (All DCU courses are approved).
- Progression: You must be progressing from your previous level of study.
- Max period of grant assistance: Only available for a certain amount of years.
Click here to use SUSI's Eligibility Reckoner.
Tax relief is given at a standard rate of 20%, minus a 'disregard amount' which is set by Revenue each year.
The maximum of tax relief you can be awarded through this scheme is €7,000 per person, per course, per academic year.
This scheme is not means tested, meaning any Irish Postgraduate student can apply for this.
More information can be found here.
Claims for this Tax Relief scheme can be made through the Revenue myAccount.
DCU Business offer a variety of scholarships for high performing students across a range of programmes.
Further details, eligibility and closing dates can be found here
The Student Assistance Fund (SAF)
This fund provides support for part-time and full-time students who are experiencing short or long-term financial difficulties while attending higher education.
Applications to the SAF open for three weeks in both semesters, however emergency applications can also be made outside of these timeframes.
Queries should be sent to studentassistancefund@dcu.ie or phone 00 353 1 700 60 55.
DCU Student's Union
The DCU SU are here to provide all manner of supports to students. Click here for their information on financial supports, or contact a member of the SU Team.
If you a previous graduate of DCU, you are eligible for a 10% reduction in Masters Fees.
This applies to both full-time and part-time postgraduate courses in DCU.
You do not have to apply for this scheme. DCU will contact you to confirm your eligibility.
Both DCU Business School and the Faculty of Engineering and Computing are offering scholarships for members of the Gaelic Players Association.
The DCU Faculty of Engineering and Computing and has one scholarship available, valued at €3,000. The application process includes a personal statement, asks applicants to enclose their CV and an interview for shortlisted candidates. More information can be found here.
DCU Business School offers two scholarships for full-time masters programmes or the Executive MBA. This award will cover the full fees of the selected programme. Click here for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 1st of July 2023.
This scholarship aims to support one female part-time postgraduate applicant in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing and DCU Business School.
Applicants to the following courses can apply:
- MSc in Computing (with Major Options).
- MEng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
- MEng in Electronic and Computer Engineering.
- Any postgraduate programme in the DCU Business School.
For students applying to the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, read the brochure to find out more.
Queries and applications to the Faculty of Engineering and Computing can be made to aine.nolan@dcu.ie. Closing date is the 12th of June 2023.
For students applying to the DCU Business School, click here for more.
Queries and applications to the DCU Business School can be made to businessscholarships@dcu.ie. Closing date is the 11th of July 2023.
The Press Council of Ireland has partnered with four leading Irish universities to launch a new annual Bursary to assist a student to pay the fees for a Master’s Degree in Journalism.
Further details can be found here. The deadline for applications is the 12th of July 2023.
Most workplaces understand the importance, and benefit, of lifelong learning.
If you are in employment, check with your HR department for a contribution towards your Postgraduate Study.
Some courses are supported by Skillnet or Springboard.
Our advice to asking your employer for PG funding is as follows:
- Do your research: Contract, future role requirements, training scheme / allowances.
- Form a business case: What do you want to study and why? How will it benefit you and your employer?
- Early application: Application process & budgets.
- Decision maker: Officially express your interest in completing a postgraduate course to the person who will make the decision.
Many Irish financial institutions offer competitive rates for Education Loans.
Speak to a Student Advisor within your local bank to find out more.
For Non-EU Students:
DCU offers partial merit-based scholarships to some non-EU students.
You are automatically considered for a scholarship when you apply as a non-EU student to DCU. We’ll let you know if you have qualified for a scholarship when we contact you to advise if your application to study at DCU has been successful.
Certain conditions apply. Please contact dcuglobalrecruitment@dcu.ie for more information.
This merit based bursary is available for high achieving Non-EU applicants that have received an offer to study on a postgraduate programme in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Successful recipients will receive a €2000 fee reduction on the full-time 2023–2024 Non-EU Tuition Fees for your postgraduate programme. All Non-EU applications to a postgraduate programme in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences are automatically considered for this bursary.
Successful recipients of the bursary will be notified via email.
Please contact dcuglobalrecuitment@dcu.ie for further information.
DCU Business School and the family and friends of the late John Thompson are welcoming applications for the John Thompson Scholarship.
This scholarship will cover the fees of one MSc Digital Marketing Student.
Closing date is the 30th of July.
If you a previous graduate of DCU, you are eligible for a 10% reduction in Masters Fees.
This applies to both full-time and part-time postgraduate courses in DCU.
You do not have to apply for this scheme. DCU will contact you to confirm your eligibility.
DCU has announced five new University of Sanctuary scholarships for postgraduate taught part-time or full-time Masters courses.
These scholarships are available to International Protection Applicants and applicants with refugee status or Permission to Remain who are not eligible for state support, i.e. Free Fees Initiative or Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) grant. Individuals at deportation order stage are not eligible to apply.
The closing date for these scholarships is the 30th of June, 2023.
For more information, visit dcu.ie/sanctuary or contact sanctuary@dcu.ie.
The /node/180256 is an opportunity available for Brazilian students pursuing a full-time postgraduate degree at DCU.
Scholarships will be awarded to high calibre students from Brazil (Brazilian Citizens currently residing in Brazil) who will be ambassadors for their course and DCU during their studies and after graduation. Scholarship winners will be selected on academic merit.
The following is on offer:
- 5 scholarships: €10,000 Tuition Fee Waiver (of Non-EU rate of Tuition Fee)
- 1 scholarship: €5,000 Tuition Fee Waiver (of Non-EU rate of Tuition Fee)
Applications close on the 1st of July 2023.
For more information on this scholarship, click here, view our brochure, or contact tiago.canhoto@dcu.ie.
The Fulbright Awards provide grants for U.S. citizens to research, study, or lecture in Ireland.
Visit this page for more information on the available grants.
The George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program is a national, competitive scholarship sponsored by the US-Ireland Alliance
Up to twelve Mitchell Scholars between the ages of 18 and 30 are chosen annually for one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
This program provides tuition, accommodation, and a stipend for living expenses and travel. The scholarship covers September through May of an academic year.
The Irish Government offers a number of fellowship programmes to students from developing countries to undertake full-time study at Master's level at an Irish higher level institution, with a focus on courses that are relevant to Irish Aid's development objectives
Learn more about past fellows and applicant information at irishaidfellowships.ie.
The Government of Ireland offers an International Education Scholarship, which pays fees in full and includes €10,000 for living expenses.
The deadline for applications is 5pm (Irish Time) on the 24th of March 2023.
Click here to find more information and apply.
Enquiries can be made to goi-ies@hea.ie