Getting into college isn’t easy, but it’s even harder to get into some colleges. A prestigious college like the National University of Ireland, however, doesn’t just have a reputation for academic excellence – it also has an award system in place to help ensure every student can get the help they need to succeed at their institution.
To be specific, National University of Ireland Merit Scholarships are available to students who have earned strong GPAs and shown great promise in leadership activities throughout high school.
SEE: How to Apply for the University of Westminster Vice-chancellors Scholarships
NUI Galway
The NUI Galway Foundation awards annually over 500 National University of Ireland (NUI) merit-based bursaries and scholarships. The scholarships aim to recognise academic excellence at NUI Galway.
Those in receipt of an undergraduate level scholarship or bursary receive a financial award towards their living costs on a full-time undergraduate course in 2021/22.
This includes a maintenance allowance, paid in three equal instalments throughout each semester, with additional payments for eligible students with dependents.
Students awarded a postgraduate research scholarship will receive payment for up to three years towards living costs on their programme as well as, where applicable, free fees.
The NUI Galway Foundation also offers bursaries and scholarships in conjunction with other bodies, including private companies and charities.
All awards are subject to satisfactory academic progress and maintenance of good conduct. The Foundation reserves the right not to award an award or reduce/withhold payments if it is deemed that these conditions have not been met.
For more information about NUI Galway’s merit-based scholarships, please visit here.
NUI Maynooth
To apply for a NUI scholarship, you should first look at your college website to find out what is required. Once you have applied through your college, it will be added to a central database, with both Irish and international applications accessible to all colleges involved in NUI.
Each institution will then make its own assessment based on entry requirements as well as academic achievements, taking into account any specific priorities each school has.
If you think you have been unsuccessful in getting a NUI scholarship contact their office for more information about other scholarship opportunities.
You can also find out if your chosen college offers any scholarships, as some colleges will offer scholarships to students who meet certain criteria, such as coming from a particular area or studying a specific subject.
You may also be eligible for other scholarship opportunities offered by third parties. For example, you could be eligible for an overseas scholarship in your country of origin or a scholarship offered by an individual organisation or sponsor in Ireland.
The Irish Government has set up StudyPortals – an online portal where you can search for international student funding opportunities that match your profile and preferences.
StudyPortals is a free service provided by Education in Europe that helps students find information about all available financial aid opportunities at European higher education institutions and companies worldwide.
It’s always worth checking with Education in Europe what other funding options might be available to you while you’re applying for NUI merit scholarships at NUI Maynooth.
How to Apply for a NUI Scholarship
To apply for a NUI Scholarship, you will need to be a full-time third level student studying one of a wide range of eligible degree programmes in any one of four Colleges within NUI. Please check with your college office for further information on how to make an application.
Applications should be submitted by 31st March each year. A limited number, of merit-based partial scholarships, may also be available for postgraduate students who meet all other eligibility criteria. For more information on these please contact your College directly through their website.
