How is the major project graded and what kind of projects help in getting higher scholarships in Ireland for a Master's?
Your Irish master's thesis, often worth 30 of 90 ECTS, is graded by your supervisor and a second examiner on a percentage scale, where 70% and above earns First Class Honours. Scholarship panels favor industry-linked, interdisciplinary, or open-source projects tied to national priorities like climate action or health.
Your major project or dissertation carries real weight in an Irish master's, typically worth around 30 of your total 90 ECTS credits, and it is graded independently by your supervisor and a second examiner rather than just one person. If your grade sits near a distinction boundary, an external examiner from another university may step in to moderate. Beyond your grade, the actual content and impact of your project matters a great deal if you are chasing scholarship funding.
How Your Grade Gets Determined
| Grade Band | Percentage |
|---|---|
| First Class Honours (1.1) | 70% and above |
| Second Class Honours, Grade 1 (2.1) | 60% to 69% |
| Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (2.2) | 50% to 59% |
| Standard pass minimum | 50% |
What Makes a Project Attractive to Scholarship Panels
- Industry-linked or applied research projects with tech, pharma, or green energy partners show clear real-world impact.
- Interdisciplinary and emerging tech projects, such as AI ethics or health informatics, stand out to review committees.
- Projects aligned with national priorities like climate action, digital transformation, or the bio-economy attract funding bodies.
- Open-source or deployable technical projects give panels tangible proof of your execution ability.
My Advice
Pick your thesis topic with a specific funding body's stated priorities in mind, such as the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme, rather than choosing a topic purely for personal interest. Talk to your supervisor early about pairing your project with an industry partner or making it open-source, since that single decision can meaningfully strengthen a scholarship application later.
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