Applying for third-level sports scholarships
By Adette Ring
GOOD news, parents. After all those years standing on a sideline, perhaps getting cold and wet but still managing to support your wonderful child, there is now some payback for all this encouragement – the Irish Sports Scholarship Programmes are now open!
January, for every Leaving Certificate student, is CAO month - a time when you fill out a form that will lead down a clear career path. But January is also the month that students and parents alike should start investigating the world of the third level sports scholarships.
Every college in Ireland offers some level of sports scholarships and no matter what sport you play you really should look at these and decide whether or not you should apply. They is no harm in applying and, as I always say to potential applicants, If you are not in you cannot win.”
In this article I will list the main scholarships that are available this year in both our Universities and our Institutes of Technology.
Remember, there is no central application portal - you MUST apply individually to each sports department in each college. They all have different closing dates but the good news is once you have attempted one application you can repeat your answers with a few minor tweaks for each college application.
The University Sector
UCD (University College Dublin): https://www.ucd.ie/adastraacademy/elitesports/scholarships/
In UCD sport, support for talented sportsmen and women is delivered at two levels - the UCD Sports Scholarship programme and the Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship Programme.
UCD Sports Scholarship programme: Applications open February 1st 2021 and the closing date is April 2nd 2021. The benefits of the sports scholarship programme include:
* Access to the UCD High Performance Centre
* Free pool membership (UCD has a spectacular 50m pool)
* Access to on-campus accommodation/tuition fees/books/equipment
* Sport medicine and testing facilities and 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 Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholarship: Applications to this scholarship are open since November 1st 2020. Please note the closing date is very close - January 31st 2021. No late applications under any circumstance.
There are currently 60 UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports Scholars in the programme. A comprehensive battery of support is available to the Academy’s Elite Sports scholars. Flexible admission arrangements are offered to the Elite Sports Scholars. Applicants can expect to receive points concessions on certain courses. The value of the scholarship for new scholars entering the programme in September 2021 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. Successful Ad Astra applicants will also be awarded the list of benefits listed earlier for the sports scholarships recipients.
Interviews will take place in March or April 2021 and students must be available to attend. Candidates will be notified in early March if they are shortlisted for interview.
If you are not successful in the Ad Astra programme your name will be automatically added to the sports scholarship programme.
The application is long and you must be able to draft a sporting CV, write an excellent sporting personal statement about yourself and clearly define your sporting aims for the years ahead.
Additional information: please email Ann O’Hanlon, Manager, Ad Astra Elite Sports Academy, a.ohanlon@ucd.ie.
DCU (Dublin City University): https://www.dcu.ie/sports-wellbeing/sport-scholarships-sports-development-service
Applications for both sports scholarships - Sport Scholarships Programme and Performance Sports CAO points Concession Programme for 2021-2022 - will open in February 2021. Closing date is not listed as of yet.
Sports scholarship programme award includes:
* Financial subsidy and Membership to the DCU Sports Complex
* High Performance Education Talks and Workshops
* Academic Support and Lifestyle Support and Career Guidance Support
* Sports Science Supports
* Goal Setting and Performance Planning
* Access to National & International competition.
Performance Sport CAO Points Concession programme: Available for students of outstanding sporting ability in selected priority sports. DCU list of priority sports are Athletics, Basketball, GAA Sports, Soccer and Rugby and it is worth noting that the minimum criteria for GAA is minor county level and capable of competing at a higher county level.
The contact person in DCU is Yvonne McGowan, General Sports Scholarships, at Yvonne.mcgowan@dcu.ie.
Trinity College: https://www.tcd.ie/Sport/scholarships/
Applications for 2021/2022 open in February 2021. The website has an excellent booklet that you can download that explains all the supports available in the college. Prospective students are encouraged to email performancesport@tcd.ie.
Mayo Ladies player Lisa Cafferty is the Student Sport Pathway Manager in Trinity and she is extremely helpful.
Please note, the scholarship has no influence on college offers or places and will not have any influence on CAO or entry requirements.
The college has a range of tiers that you can apply for.
Podium: Valued up to €9,000 in support including a bursary of up to €3,500. Carded or Olympic pathway level athletes, along with significant athletic calibre will be considered.
Performance: Valued up to €5,000 in support including a bursary valued between €750 and €1500. Criteria will likely feature those up to Senior or U20, County, and/or International representation.
Club Academy: Valued up to €3,000 in support services with limited bursaries available up to €1,000. Those in this tier may be endorsed by High Performance Pathway coaches or National Governing Body as having significant potential in their sport. Typically, athletes will be Junior International athletes or part of performance pathways in their chosen sport. Returning scholars must meet progression targets to be eligible.
Trevor West: The Trevor West Scholarship is awarded to exceptional athletes who have shown outstanding contribution to sport at Trinity and engagement with their relevant club. The scholarship provides support services and a bursary of €1,000.
TUD (Technological University Dublin): https://www.tudublin.ie/study/undergraduate/scholarships/sports-scholarships/
The Athlete Support Programme is available at all the TU Dublin campuses.
The application process opens February 1st 2021 and I would advise all applicants to apply early.
The benefits of an award may include:
* Fee Waiver and Academic Entry (Additional CAO points)
* Financial Support and Access to TU Dublin High Performance Training facilities
* Academic Mentoring and Career Guidance Support
* Strength and Conditioning and Sports Nutrition
* Performance Skills Workshops and Sports Mentoring
* Physiotherapy
The benefits of each ‘package of support’ are assessed on an individual basis and ranked depending on an athlete’s achievements, potential for development and commitment to represent TU Dublin.
The person to contact is Elite Sport Programme Manager Niamh O’Callaghan - email Niamh.ocallaghan@TUDublin.ie.
UCC (University College Cork): https://sport.ucc.ie/performance/scholarships/sports-scholarships-criteria/
The Sports Scholarship programme application process is now open for 2020/21.
There are two main types of scholarship (note an applicant may only apply for one type of scholarship):
1. UCC Sport Individual Scholarship
2. UCC Core Team Sport Scholarship
The UCC Individual Sport Scholarships are divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. Awards and services for each level of scholarship will be determined by the DSPA. The Individual Sport Scholarship is open to applicants involved in team sports or individual sports other than the core sports.
The UCC Core Team Sport Scholarships covers the following sports each which will have their own specific criteria: GAA, Hockey, Rugby and Soccer. GAA includes Camogie, Gaelic Football, Hurling and Ladies Gaelic Football.
There are a number of sponsored scholarships which will be administered as part of the programme both for Individual and Core Team Sports.
Quercus Sports Scholarship Programme UCC: https://www.ucc.ie/en/quercus/about/sport/
The application process is now open for 2021/22 and you must apply online before February 12 2021 and no late applications will be accepted.
The Quercus Talented Students' Programme is a scholarship programme that supports and promotes excellence in academia, sport, creative and performing arts, active citizenship & innovation/entrepreneurship. This year UCC will be awarding up to 5 Quercus Scholarships for Sport to students registered on an undergraduate/level 8 programme in 2021/22. These students should demonstrate an exceptional level of excellence in their chosen sport.
Students within the programme will benefit from a wide range of academic, financial, personal, and other supports. Scholars may receive a reduced points entry into UCC, but they must achieve at least 85% of the CAO points for the year of entry.
Quercus Sports’ Scholarships can be worth up to €10,500 per year. For more information please contact Michele Power, Sports Manager, at sport@ucc.ie or mpower@ucc.ie.
UL (University of Limerick): https://www.ul.ie/sportsscholarships/
Applications opened on January 1 and the closing date is March 1st 2021 and, again, please apply online and no late applications will be accepted.
Sports scholarships are offered on three levels.
Gold: support towards a training grant, accommodation, registration fee, sports science support, coaching and UL sport arena gym membership.
Silver: support towards a training grant, accommodation, 50% of the registration fee, sports science support, coaching and UL sport arena gym membership.
Bronze: support towards a training grant, sports science support, coaching and UL sport arena gym membership.
Other sport-specific scholarships: All applicants to Sports Scholarships will be automatically considered for these: The Michael Hillary and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarships – this scholarship provides the waiver of campus accommodation fees; the Plassey Campus Company/ Swim Ireland Bursaries; the Paddy Dooley/Rowing Endowment Fund.
For more information on all things sports scholarships in UL, please contact Neasa O'Donnell, Sports Manager, email neasa.odonnell@ul.ie.
NUIG (National University of Ireland Galway): https://www.nuigalway.ie/sports/elitesport/
NUI Galway Elite Athlete Scholarship: The application process will be open from February to the last Friday in March. On the website they state that they are currently updating their sports scholarship application process and will re-launch the programme in February so do keep an eye on this one!
The benefits of being a scholarship holder include:
* A subsistence grant
* Coaching support
* Medical and Physiotherapy support
* Performance Nutrition
* Performance Psychology
* Strength and Conditioning
Performance planning and mentoring.
Each scholarship will be built around the individual’s needs and their chosen sport. In the past NUIG did offer concession points on CAO points for admission to courses. We will have to wait and see what is the position for the 2021/2022 applicant.
For more information, please contact Director of Sport Michael Heskin, email Michael.heskin@nuigalway.ie, or High Performance Sports Lead Feargal O'Callaghan at feargal.ocallaghan@nuigalway.ie.
Maynooth University: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/undergraduate-studies/scholarships/sport-scholarships
Applications to scholarship programmes in MU are now open and the closing date is April 1st.
In 2020, Maynooth University awarded over 150 first year sport scholarships. Some of the benefits they offer are:
* Concession of up to 60 CAO points if required – scholars must meet minimum entry requirements for their chosen degree.
* Priority on-campus accommodation in first year.
* Financial bursary and access to supports.
Snooker, Golf, Rugby, Soccer and GAA specific scholarships available. For Snooker Scholarships please contact Paul Davis, email paul.davis@mu.ie. For the Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship, contact University Golf Manager Barry Fennelly, email barry.fennelly@mu.ie. For Soccer scholarships, contact former professional Barry Prenderville, email barry.j.prenderville@mu.ie. For Gaelic scholarships please contact Jenny Duffy, GAA Development Officer, on jenny.duffy@mu.ie. Finally, for Rugby Scholarships, contact Tom McKeown, Rugby Development Officer, email Thomas.mckeown@mu.ie.
Institutes
For our Institute sectors I will just outline the colleges that are popular with students in the west but please do note that all Institutes in Ireland do have sports scholarship schemes.
Sports Scholarships Scheme: Under the scheme, up to 20 new scholarships and bursaries are awarded each year. The Gold Scholarship Award is €1,750. Catherine McNeilis is the lady in charge and for information you need to email studentsupportservices@itsligo.ie In 2020 the college introduced a 10% points concession scheme. The application form is available online now and the closing date is September 15th. Students who are particularly interested in soccer scholarships in IT Sligo, please email Colm Jinks, FAI Development Officer, at colm.jinks@fai.ie, and for GAA please email Michael Harte, GAA Development Manager, mharte@itsligo.ie.
GMIT Galway Mayo Institute of Technology: https://www.gmit.ie/apply/sports-scholarships
Sports Scholarship Programme. Contact Molly Dunne, Clubs Development Officer, on (091) 742008, email Molly.Dunne@gmit.ie; the GAA Development Manager is Damien Curley, email Damien.curley@gmit.ie.
Information on sports scholarships in GMIT for 2021/2022 season will be uploaded shortly.
LYIT Letterkenny Institute of Technology: https://www.lyit.ie/Study-at-LYIT/Fees-Grants-Scholarships/Scholarships
New Entrant Sports Scholarships: These scholarships are targeting students who are competing at a high level in one of the following field sports: Gaelic Football (men/ladies), Hurling, Soccer (men/ladies) and Basketball (men/ladies) at present the value of a New Entrant Scholarship is €1,000, paid in instalments. In 2019/20, 16 New Entrant Sports Scholarships were awarded to students.
Full-Time Sports Scholarships: Any existing and registered full-time students who have demonstrated the ability to progress their sporting endeavours for the institute are entitled to apply for the full-time sports scholarship. At present the value of the Full-Time Sports Scholarship is €1,500, €1,000 or €500, depending on the type of scholarship awarded (Full or Development). In 2019/20, the Institute awarded 55 Full-Time Sports Scholarships. For information on all sports scholarships, please contact Paddy Gallagher by email at paddy.gallagher@lyit.ie.
AIT – Athlone Institute of Technology: https://www.aitsport.ie/sports-scholarship-application/
The early application closing date is April 6th. The late application closing date is September 6th.
Sports Scholarship Scheme: Under the scheme, 23 Gold and 73 Academy scholarships were awarded for the 2020-2021 academic year. The scholarship now operates on two levels.
Gold Scholarship: is worth up to the value of €4,000 in supports.
Academy level scholarship includes supports up to the value of €2,500.
Elite Sports Persons Entry Scheme (Points Waiver Scheme).
AIT has in place, for all its undergraduate degree courses, an academic entrance scheme for elite sportspersons. Several places are reserved for outstanding candidates who have reached a very high standard of sporting achievement. The person to contact for more information is David McHugh, email davidmchugh@ait.ie.
General information
Remember, participation in programmes will usually be reviewed and assessed annually. To progress in the programme. Scholars will be expected to demonstrate continuing exceptional achievement in their talent area, and satisfactory academic performance.
During these Covid times it is difficult to showcase athlete’s ability this year as many national and international competitions were cancelled. However, you can focus on your achievements in other years
Connnacht GAA Student Bursary Awards: https://connachtgaa.ie/news/connacht-gaa-student-bursary-awards-2020/
If you have any problems with any of these please do email me at adettegallagher@gmail.com or ring.adette@itsligo.ie.
Adette Ring, BSocSc, PgDipCEG, is Head of Careers Service in IT Sligo.
Adette has been providing career guidance to students in the west for the past 20 years and Adette is very familiar with the sports scholarship application process in Ireland as her two eldest children are currently in receipt of sports scholarships. Her son Conor Gallagher is a recipient of the Ad Astra Sports Scholarship in UCD and her daughter Maeve Gallagher is a recipient of the Quercus Scholarship in UCC.