UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN
Scholarships Available:
-Sports Scholarships
-Graduate Sports Scholaships
-Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarships
Closing Dates: January 31st – Ad Astra Elite Scholarship April 2nd – Sports Scholarships
Applications for the 2020/2021 academic year:
Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship – Applications now open as of November 1st 2020. Closing date January 31st 2021.
Sports Scholarship – Applications open February 1st 2021. Closing date is Friday April 2nd 2021.
The pursuit of excellence is part of the mission of UCD. All three scholarship programmes are for students who wish to compete and succeed at the highest sporting levels while simultaneously attaining a degree at UCD. (Please follow the links below for details on the Ad Astra Elite Athlete Scholarships and the Graduate Sports Scholarships);
The aim of the UCD Sports Scholarship programme is to give talented young people the opportunity of developing their sporting career by offering the highest standards in coaching, training, nutrition, strength and conditioning advice, while also completing their chosen course of study. By combining sports participation with academic work in an ideal environment within the University, a safety net is provided for the student and career prospects are, to a large extent, guaranteed. Therefore, career-threatening injuries or illness or some other unforeseen circumstances do not have the same traumatic impact. The individual is encouraged through judicious balancing of the time available to ensure that neither academic nor sporting interests are compromised.
SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS
Benefits
Benefits of the sports scholarship programme may include:
Access to the UCD High Performance Centre
Free pool membership
Access to on-campus accommodation
Tuition fees
Books
Equipment
Sport medicine and testing facilities
Reduced physiotherapy costs
Travel to national and international competitions
Academic support
The value and benefits of each sports scholarship is assessed on an individual basis. The assessments are conducted by UCD Sport and the relevant UCD club.
Criteria
There are several important criteria, which must be met – academic qualification for a course must be achieved and the recipient of a scholarship must be prepared to commit him/herself to involvement in the respective UCD sports club. The scholarship student must represent UCD and only UCD in competition. Clubs, which offer scholarships compete at a very high level and have to possess the necessary infrastructural components to facilitate a scholarship award. A satisfactory level of academic and sporting progress is essential, if the scholarship is to be renewed on an annual basis. Sports Scholarships are intended for persons of outstanding sporting ability.
When a sports scholarship application is received, it is passed on to the respective club for processing. Candidates may be shortlisted and invited to attend for interview and / or trial. Final decisions in regard to sports scholarship awards usually rest with the clubs concerned.
Please note that a sports scholarship can only be awarded where a student has applied for and gained a place on any UCD degree programme or Masters. Scholarship awards are subject to renewal on an annual basis.
A full breakdown of the award criteria can be found here: UCD Sports Scholarship Award Criteria
UCD GRADUATE SPORTS SCHOLARSHIPS
What is the UCD Graduate Sports Scholarship Programme?
The UCD Graduate Sports Scholarship (GSS) is a scholarship programme specifically for students who are competing and succeeding at the highest sporting level – nationally and internationally – while simultaneously completing a post graduate programme at UCD. The scholarship supports athletes in their pursuit of both sporting and academic success. The focus of the GSS programme is on a number of selected sports: GAA, Athletics, Rugby, Soccer, Hockey and Rowing although outstanding applicants from other sports may also be considered.
The UCD Graduate Sports Scholarships are available for courses in the following Schools:
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science
UCD School of Engineering & Architecture
Scholarship Benefits Include:
– Academic Fee Reduction (50%)
– Full Ongoing Academic Mentoring & Support
– Access to Performance Gyms & Elite Sporting Facilities
– Access to Professional S&C Support and Nutritional Advice
– Qualification from Ireland’s Leading University
How to Apply?
Step 1) Applicants MUST have already applied for and been offered a place on a UCD Postgraduate course in one of the above mentioned Schools.
Step 2) The link to apply is:
• https://sisweb.ucd.ie/usis/!W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=DEEP&APPFORM=SCADGS
If you apply and want get back to your application you put in the following link:
•https://sisweb.ucd.ie/usis/W_HU_MENU.P_PUBLISH?p_tag=MYAPPS
Further Information
** GSS Candidates will be selected through an interview process.
** The UCD GSS is run in addition to the existing UCD Elite Athlete Academy programme and UCD Sports Scholarship programmes.
** It is open to UCD students having completed their undergraduate studies as well as other Irish and non-Irish students who have completed their undergraduate studies in another Irish University/Third Level Institution. Students who have completed their undergraduate studies outside Ireland will also be considered.
UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholars
There are currently 60 UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholars in a range of sports, including 1 female and 3 male rowers, one of whom is an Olympic Silver Medallist and World Champion; 4 athletes, one of whom reached the semi-finals of the mens’ 800m at Rio Olympics; 3 Modern Pentathletes, one of whom came 8th (out of 36) at the Rio Olympics; 6 male GAA scholars and 1 female camogie player; 10 male Rugby players (4 are currently representing Ireland) and 1 female member of the Irish squad; 3 members of the Women’s Senior Hockey squad, 3 male hockey players, 2 Equestrian Eventers and 2 Equestrian Showjumpers, 3 members of the Irish women’s Soccer squad, 5 members of the UCD AFC, 3 swimmers, 2 Canoeists, and a para Table Tennis player.
A comprehensive battery of support is available to the Academy’s Elite Sports scholars, including guaranteed on-campus accommodation, academic mentoring, physiotherapy and medical assistance, nutritional and fitness monitoring, sports psychology and strength and conditioning, the latter taking place in our own High Performance Gym, under professional supervision.
Flexible admission arrangements are offered to the Elite Sports Scholars, acknowledging that dedication to elite sport may potentially detract from academic achievement in the latter stages of schooling. As a result, conditional offers to successful applicants are given pending the achievement of subject and grade requirements.
Scholarship Benefits
Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholars benefit from a scholarship, mentoring and a range of tailored supports. The value of the scholarship for new scholars entering the programme in September 2020 is €3,000 which can be used to offset the cost of fees, accommodation, or used as a bursary. If wishing to live on campus, Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholars may avail of allocated on-campus accommodation.
The scholarship is usually awarded for the first four years of study, subject to meeting the criteria for scholarship renewal each year.
With colleges providing regular updates on their sports scholarships and application process, please visit http://ucd.ie/sport/scholarships/ for any additional information.