The McAleese scholarship includes a cash award of €1,000. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to apply for the position of DCU Student Ambassador (paid position) from Year 2 of their studies. 

• Applications are now open
• Applications Close: 20th August 2025
• Number of scholarships available: 2 (each worth €1,000)

Restrictions

• Successful applicants who withdraw from DCU by the closing date for Withdrawal Free Fee Tuition will not be eligible to receive the McAleese Scholarship.
• The scholarship cannot be deferred to a future academic year. 

Entry Criteria

• Applicants must meet DCU minimum entry requirements and specific course entry requirements outlined here. [Scroll down to ‘General Certificate in Education (United Kingdom and Overseas)]
• Winners will be selected based on their personal statement.

Entry Requirements/Eligibility

• Applicants should be a citizen of Northern Ireland with a permanent home address in Northern Ireland.
• To be eligible, applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office before the normal closing date for applications, February 1 at 5.15pm, or before the late closing date for applications, May 1 2025 at 5.15pm. See: www.cao.ie for further information.
• In addition, students must submit the online application form below before 20th August which includes a personal statement. Applications received after this date will not be processed.
• The personal statement should explain why the applicant should receive the scholarship, and the reasons for choosing DCU and the course of study.
• McAleese Scholarship recipients must be prepared to engage with events, marketing, and social media as an ambassador for DCU during their studies and as an alumni.

How to Apply

• Applicants must have completed the application process for a DCU course through the Central Applications Office, fulfilled all the necessary admissions requirements, be made an offer of a DCU course, accepted their offer, registered as a DCU student and paid the relevant fee by specific deadlines outlined in correspondence.
• McAleese Scholarship recipients will be selected based on their personal statement. 

Results

Successful and unsuccessful Scholarship applicants will be contacted by 1^st Oct 2025. The monetary award will be provided in November 2025 after the closing date for Withdrawal Free Fee Tuition (see Restrictions above).

The scholarship provides €2,000 reduction in tuition fees – if the programme is part-time over two years, the €2,000 reduction remains the same and is not applicable to Year 2 of a part-time degree. 

Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, requiring a minimum of a 2.1 Honours (or equivalent) in an undergraduate degree. Scholarship winners will be selected on academic merit and their personal statement explaining why the applicant should receive the scholarship, and the reasons for choosing DCU and the course of study.

Successful applicants will have the opportunity to work as a DCU Student Ambassador (paid position) during their studies. 

• Applications Open: 21^st October 2024
• Applications Close: 20^th August 2025, 5pm
• Number of scholarships available:  €2,000 x 1

Entry Requirements/Eligibility for the PG McAleese Scholarship

• To be eligible, applicants must be a citizen of Northern Ireland, have completed the application process to the programme of their choice through the Student Application Portal, fulfilled all the necessary admissions requirements and accepted their offer and paid the deposit by the deadline.
• Scholarship winners will be selected on academic merit and their personal statement.
• Personal statements will be judged by the Director of Student Recruitment (or nominee in her absence) and 2 other DCU staff (tbc).

Results

• If there are more applicants who have met the grade requirement for the Scholarship than available scholarships, the decision on awarding the scholarship will be make based on the Personal Statement.
• Once a student has met the requirements of the Scholarship, made an offer, registered and paid their fees for a DCU postgraduate programme of study, Student Recruitment will notify the successful and unsuccessful applicants by email by 1^st October 2025.
• The confirmation email will outline that the Scholarship will entitle the student to a €2,000 fee waiver off their programme of study which will be taken off second semester fees. If the student is undertaking a part-time programme, the €2,000 reduction is for Year One only and is not applicable to Year Two fees.
• There will be no feedback available to unsuccessful applicants.

Conditions of Scholarship

• Scholarships are open to all DCU postgraduate taught applicants for a full-time or part-time programme who is a citizen of Northern Ireland.
• The personal statement should explain why the applicant should receive the scholarship, and the reasons for choosing DCU and the course of study.
• If a successful applicant is eligible for another DCU scholarship (such as 10% Masters reduction or Merit Scholarship), DCU will automatically apply the scholarship/reduction of whatever one offers the highest reduction.
• The scholarship cannot be deferred to a future academic year.
• The fee waiver will be applicable to Second Semester fees only. If a student withdraws during Semester 1, the scholarship will not be applicable.
• McAleese Scholarship recipients must be prepared to engage with events, marketing, and social media as an ambassador for DCU during their studies and as an alumnus.

For more information email postgraduaterecruitment@dcu.ie