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South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford offers 8+ scholarship schemes, of which 7 are accessible to Indian applicants.
The stack combines an automatic university entry award, a merit-based full waiver, a national Government of Ireland grant, and one India-only cash bursary.
- Standard PG tuition: €11,719 to €13,570 per year (INR 12.87 Lakhs to INR 14.90 Lakhs).
- PG tuition after automatic Global Entry Award (7% to 30%): €8,204 to €12,620 per year (INR 9.01 Lakhs to INR 13.85 Lakhs).
- PG tuition with the Academic Excellence Scholarship (50% to 100%) plus Entry Award: €0 to €6,310 per year (INR 0 to INR 6.93 Lakhs).
- Next major deadline: SETU International Academic Excellence Scholarship, tentative May 4, 2027 (annual cycle).
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 EUR = INR 109.77 as of September 2026. NFQ Level 9 means a taught Master’s programme; NFQ Level 10 means a PhD.
Table of Contents
- South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Scholarships for UG Students
- South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
- India-Specific Scholarships at South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford
- South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford PhD Scholarships
- External Government Scholarships
- South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Scholarships for UG Students
Indian undergraduate applicants can stack two SETU-funded awards. The automatic Global Entry Award trims tuition by 7% to 30%. The competitive Academic Excellence Scholarship then halves or zeroes the balance.
| Scholarship | Amount (EUR / INR) | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| SETU Global Entry Award (Undergraduate) | 7% to 30% tuition remission; €945 to €4,350 (INR 1.04 Lakhs to INR 4.78 Lakhs) per year | Self-funding non-EU applicant with an offer for a full-time in-person UG programme at Carlow, Waterford or Wexford campus | Automatic; applied once the tuition deposit is paid |
| SETU International Academic Excellence Scholarship (Undergraduate) | 50% or 100% tuition waiver; €7,250 to €14,500 (INR 7.96 Lakhs to INR 15.92 Lakhs) per year | Non-EU applicant with a firm SETU offer, IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band, holds 60% average once enrolled | Tentative May 4, 2027 (annual cycle) |
| SETU Global Sports Scholarship | Fee remission plus training support; tiered between €1,000 and €3,000 (INR 1.10 Lakhs to INR 3.29 Lakhs) per year | UG applicants who compete at national or international level in a recognised sport | Tentative July 31, 2027 (rolling before enrolment) |
The Global Entry Award needs no separate application form. SETU adds the discount to your invoice once the deposit is paid. The effective UG tuition for most Indian applicants drops to around €10,150 (INR 11.14 Lakhs).
Reddit Insight: Indian UG applicants on r/IWantOut report that the Entry Award is credited before the visa financial-proof letter is issued. The €10,000 bank balance requirement then matches the discounted tuition.
Explore More: SETU Waterford UG Programmes | SETU Waterford Full Fee Structure
South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
Master’s applicants have the widest funding menu at SETU Waterford. Four schemes stack together, and one of them, the Irish national grant, is the only route to a fully-funded taught Master’s.
| Scholarship | Amount (EUR / INR) | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| SETU Global Entry Award (Postgraduate) | 7% to 30% tuition remission; €820 to €4,071 (INR 90,050 to INR 4.47 Lakhs) per year | Non-EU self-funding student with a full-time PG taught offer at Carlow, Waterford or Wexford | Automatic on offer acceptance |
| SETU International Academic Excellence Scholarship (Postgraduate) | 50% or 100% tuition waiver; €5,860 to €13,570 (INR 6.43 Lakhs to INR 14.90 Lakhs) per year | Firm SETU offer, IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each band, strong bachelor’s transcript, work experience helps | Tentative May 4, 2027 |
| SETU Postgraduate International Scholarship | Flat €2,000 (INR 2.20 Lakhs) tuition reduction | Non-EU self-funding student in a full-time taught PG programme, not stacked with the 100% Academic Excellence Scholarship | Tentative April 30, 2027 |
| SETU Higher Diploma International Scholarship | 20% tuition remission; roughly €2,344 to €2,714 (INR 2.57 Lakhs to INR 2.98 Lakhs) | Non-EU student in a full-time Higher Diploma (Level 8 conversion) programme | Automatic on offer acceptance |
Most Indian Master’s applicants combine the automatic Entry Award with the merit-based Academic Excellence Scholarship. A First Class Indian bachelor’s plus IELTS 7.0 and a year of work experience realistically targets the 50% waiver tier.
A typical Indian Master’s funding stack for the 2027 intake looks like this:
- Sticker tuition: €12,644 (INR 13.88 Lakhs) average.
- Global Entry Award (20% typical): minus €2,529 (INR 2.78 Lakhs).
- 50% Academic Excellence Scholarship: minus €5,058 (INR 5.55 Lakhs).
- Net first-year tuition: €5,057 (INR 5.55 Lakhs).
Reddit Insight: Indian PG students on r/DevelopEire flag that the Academic Excellence award is decided in June and communicated by email. Applicants who miss the June inbox check often forfeit the award.
Explore More: SETU Waterford Admission Requirements | SETU Waterford Overview
India-Specific Scholarships at South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford
SETU Waterford does not run an India-only university bursary. Indian applicants instead rely on one Indian trust fund that layers on top of any SETU award.
| Scholarship | Amount (EUR / INR) | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education Future International Scholarship | INR 2 Lakhs to INR 10 Lakhs cash grant | Indian passport holder, admitted to a taught Master’s abroad, family income up to INR 15 Lakhs per year, minimum 60% in the last qualifying exam | Tentative February 28, 2027 (annual) |
This grant is disbursed to the student’s Indian bank account before departure. Stacking a INR 5 Lakhs cash grant with a 50% Academic Excellence waiver cuts first-year tuition below INR 3 Lakhs.
Explore More: SETU Waterford Ranking
South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford PhD Scholarships
SETU runs one flagship PhD funding call plus access to the national Irish scheme. Both cover tuition in full and pay a monthly stipend.
| Scholarship | Amount (EUR / INR) | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| SETU PhD Scholarship Programme | Full tuition fee waiver plus €19,000 (INR 20.86 Lakhs) annual stipend for 4 years | PhD applicants nominated by an SETU academic supervisor, minimum 85% score in the ranked internal call, cross-campus eligible | Tentative March 15, 2027 (annual internal call) |
| SETU School of Business PhD Studentship | Tuition waiver plus €18,500 (INR 20.31 Lakhs) stipend per year | Applicants with a First Class Master’s in business, economics or a related discipline and a written research proposal aligned with SETU priority areas | Rolling; tentative next window January 31, 2027 |
The SETU internal PhD call is competitive, with only 10 fully-funded seats awarded across all campuses each year. Indian PhD applicants should approach a named SETU supervisor at least six months ahead. The supervisor must submit the nomination on your behalf.
Explore More: SETU Waterford Research Areas
External Government Scholarships
Indian students admitted to SETU Waterford can apply to two external schemes. Both are annual, both stack cleanly with any SETU award, and both require a firm offer letter.
| Scholarship | Amount (EUR / INR) | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) | Full tuition waiver for one academic year plus €10,000 (INR 10.98 Lakhs) stipend | Non-EU applicant with a firm offer at NFQ Level 9 (taught Master’s) or NFQ Level 10 (PhD), only 60 seats globally per year | Opens January 29, 2027; closes tentative late March 2027 |
| Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship | €25,000 (INR 27.44 Lakhs) stipend per year plus €5,750 (INR 6.31 Lakhs) research expenses plus tuition | Research Master’s or PhD candidates hosted by SETU, applications routed through the SETU research office | Tentative October 30, 2026 (winter call) |
The GOI-IES is the single highest-value scheme for Indian Master’s applicants at SETU Waterford. Judging weighs academic record, statement of purpose, and endorsement from the SETU International Office. Applying without SETU’s active support is the most common rejection cause.
Reddit Insight: Indian GOI-IES winners on r/IrishStudents note that SETU’s International Office endorses only one to two candidates per intake. Early contact with SETU Global (before December) shapes the shortlist, not raw GPA.
South East Technological University (SETU), Waterford Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the maximum funding an Indian student can stack at SETU Waterford?
Ans. A Master’s applicant who wins the GOI-IES gets full first-year tuition plus a €10,000 (INR 10.98 Lakhs) stipend. Layering an Education Future grant of INR 5 Lakhs on top pushes the first-year benefit past INR 26 Lakhs.
Ques. When should I apply for SETU Waterford scholarships for the September 2027 intake?
Ans. Send your SETU admission application by January 2027 so the offer is in hand for scholarship deadlines. The GOI-IES window runs late January to late March 2027. The SETU Academic Excellence Scholarship closes tentatively on May 4, 2027.
Ques. Do I need a separate scholarship application at SETU Waterford?
Ans. The Global Entry Award is automatic once you accept your SETU offer and pay the tuition deposit. The Academic Excellence Scholarship, the Postgraduate International Scholarship, and the GOI-IES each need a separate form. Send it to internationaladmissions@setu.ie.
Ques. What academic score do Indian applicants need for the SETU Academic Excellence Scholarship?
Ans. SETU asks for a First Class bachelor’s degree (60% or higher aggregate) from a UGC-recognised Indian university. IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each band is the language floor. Recipients must maintain a 60% average each year to renew.
Ques. How does the GOI-IES scholarship work for Indian students at SETU Waterford?
Ans. The GOI-IES is a national competition with 60 seats globally each year. Indian applicants apply through the Higher Education Authority portal after receiving a firm SETU offer. The SETU International Office then issues an internal endorsement letter that counts heavily in shortlisting.
Ques. Does the SETU scholarship stack cover the cost of living in Waterford?
Ans. A shared student flat in Waterford runs €550 to €750 (INR 60,000 to INR 82,000) per month. Total monthly living costs sit near €1,000 (INR 1.10 Lakhs). The GOI-IES €10,000 stipend covers about ten months of living. The Academic Excellence Scholarship is tuition-only, so students top up with 20 hours of part-time work weekly.
Ques. Is the SETU Waterford Academic Scholarship the same as the International Academic Excellence Scholarship?
Ans. Yes. After the 2022 merger of Waterford Institute of Technology and IT Carlow, the WIT Academic Scholarship was renamed the SETU International Academic Excellence Scholarship (IAES). It now runs across all three campuses, with the same 50% or 100% tiers and 60% renewal condition.
Scholarships offered
TU Dublin Centenary Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: 60
Axol Science Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $2,000
- Type: Company-Sponsored
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
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