Academic
UCD offers an extensive range of scholarships, awards and prizes to current students as they progress through their studies. University Scholarships are awarded to acknowledge the highest-achieving students at each stage of their degree programme. Awards and prizes are typically presented on the basis of performance in a subject or module and may consist of a monetary award, book voucher or medal. Many of such awards are made possible by bequests and gifts that have been generously donated to the University over the years.
College Prizes and Awards
University Scholarships
Ad Astra Scholarships
Ad Astra Academy Academic Scholars
The Ad Astra Academy is an initiative designed to recognise and nurture exceptional students in academia, sports and the performing arts. The UCD Ad Astra Academic programme is looking for students who have a proven record of academic excellence and a desire to continue to achieve at the highest level. Students on the Ad Astra Academy Academic Scholarship benefit from a scholarship, mentoring and a range of tailored supports. These include a €3,000 bursary for each year they are a member, guaranteed on-campus accommodation (scholars pay for this themselves), the support of a dedicated academic mentor, a programme of workshops and seminars by academics, distinguished alumni and guest speakers throughout the year to develop the scholars’ academic, personal and leadership potential, the opportunity to undertake an elective module in stage two called
Ad Astra Professional & Personal Development, networking and development opportunities, access to the Scholars' Room, team building events
Each year up to eighteen scholarships are awarded to current undergraduate students across the University based on academic achievement at the end of stage one. The scholarships are awarded across all UCD programme areas.
The individual programme areas will nominate a small number of their top performing students who have a minimum GPA of 3.68. The Academy will then contact these students at the end of July/start of August and invite them to apply to the Academic Programme. Please note, you cannot apply directly to the Academy for an academic scholarship as a current student of UCD. You must receive an invite from the Academy to apply. It is your programme area that nominates students who are eligible to apply.
Minimum eligibility criteria are listed below and further programme specific criteria may apply:
The individual programme areas will nominate a small number of their top performing students who have a minimum GPA of 3.68. The Academy will then contact these students at the end of July/start of August and invite them to apply to the Academic Programme. Please note, you cannot apply directly to the Academy for an academic scholarship as a current student of UCD. You must receive an invite from the Academy to apply. It is your programme area that nominates students who are eligible to apply.
Minimum eligibility criteria are listed below and further programme specific criteria may apply:
- A minimum stage GPA of 3.68 is required.
- The student must have obtained 60 graded ECTS and meet the progression requirements of their programme
Ad Astra Academy Performing Arts Scholars
The Ad Astra Academy is an initiative designed to recognise and nurture exceptional students in academia, sports and the performing arts. The Academy believes that young classical performing vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as actors, playwrights and directors who may have decided not to pursue a performance-related degree, but who have exceptional talent, should be given the opportunity to continue to train and perform at the highest level within the university environment. Applications are encouraged from top performing students who wish to continue to develop their artistic talents while at the same time pursuing a high-quality academic experience. The Ad Astra Performing Arts scholars benefit from a scholarship, mentoring and a range of tailored supports including a €3,000 bursary, guaranteed on-campus accommodation (scholars pay for this themselves), the opportunity to work with experienced performance professionals in seminar and workshop settings, the opportunity to participate in modules specific to their artistic pursuits, access to expert training, access to the Ad Astra Academy Performing Arts Studio, the support of a dedicated academic mentor, opportunities to perform live and access to the Scholar's room.
The Ad Astra Academy is an initiative designed to recognise and nurture exceptional students in academia, sports and the performing arts. The Academy believes that young classical performing vocalists and instrumentalists, as well as actors, playwrights and directors who may have decided not to pursue a performance-related degree, but who have exceptional talent, should be given the opportunity to continue to train and perform at the highest level within the university environment. Applications are encouraged from top performing students who wish to continue to develop their artistic talents while at the same time pursuing a high-quality academic experience. The Ad Astra Performing Arts scholars benefit from a scholarship, mentoring and a range of tailored supports including a €3,000 bursary, guaranteed on-campus accommodation (scholars pay for this themselves), the opportunity to work with experienced performance professionals in seminar and workshop settings, the opportunity to participate in modules specific to their artistic pursuits, access to expert training, access to the Ad Astra Academy Performing Arts Studio, the support of a dedicated academic mentor, opportunities to perform live and access to the Scholar's room.
Current students must apply before January 31st of the year of entry. Full details, including how to apply, can be found at the Ad Astra website here.
UCD Ad Astra Academy Elite Sports Scholars
The Ad Astra Academy is an initiative designed to recognise and nurture exceptional students in academia, sports and the performing arts. The UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports programme supports students who are competing and succeeding at the highest sporting levels. Ad Astra Elite Sports scholars regularly represent Ireland on the international stages. The Academy aims to maximise the potential of their elite sports scholars in their sporting and academic endeavours whilst studying at UCD. The Ad Astra Elite Sports scholars benefit from a scholarship, mentoring and a range of tailored supports including a €3,000 bursary, guaranteed on-campus accommodation (scholars pay for this themselves), academic mentoring, physiotherapy, nutritional and fitness monitoring, sports psychology, strength and conditioning, the latter taking place in their own High Performance Gym, under professional supervision and access to the Scholar's room.
The Ad Astra Academy is an initiative designed to recognise and nurture exceptional students in academia, sports and the performing arts. The UCD Ad Astra Elite Sports programme supports students who are competing and succeeding at the highest sporting levels. Ad Astra Elite Sports scholars regularly represent Ireland on the international stages. The Academy aims to maximise the potential of their elite sports scholars in their sporting and academic endeavours whilst studying at UCD. The Ad Astra Elite Sports scholars benefit from a scholarship, mentoring and a range of tailored supports including a €3,000 bursary, guaranteed on-campus accommodation (scholars pay for this themselves), academic mentoring, physiotherapy, nutritional and fitness monitoring, sports psychology, strength and conditioning, the latter taking place in their own High Performance Gym, under professional supervision and access to the Scholar's room.
Current students must apply before January 31st of the year of entry. Full details, including how to apply, can be found here.
Contact the Student Desk
Ground Floor, Tierney Building, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. T: +353 1 716 1555 | Location Map(opens in a new window)www.ucd.ie/askus