About
The UCD Ad Astra Academy, includes two Olympians – a modern pentathlete and a sailor, ten GAA scholars, eleven Ireland Rugby scholars, three of whom were Ireland u20 Six Nations Rugby squad members, and one of whom holds three Heinekin Cup medals, six members of the national womens' senior Hockey squad, two World Championship rowers, three members of the Irish womens' Soccer squad, six members of the UCD Mens' Soccer team – one of whom is a member of the Senior Irish team, four world-class middle distance athletes, two golfers and three swimmers.
A range of support including subsidised fees and accommodation on campus is provided., In addition, academic mentoring, physiotherapy and medical, nutritional and fitness monitoring, sports psychology and strength and conditioning is available, all delivered by highly professional, qualified staff.
The Academy offers flexible admission arrangements acknowledging that dedication to sport may potentially have prevented applicants from getting the CAO points they would otherwise be capable of achieving. As a result, conditional offers to successful applicants are given pending the achievement of subject and grade requirements.
Some Benefits of the UCD Ad Astra Academy - Elite Athlete programme
- Flexible entry to the applicant's programme of choice*
- Individualised academic support and mentoring
- Financial Assistance against fees and/or living costs
- Subsidised place in UCD accommodation guaranteed
- Sport Science Monitoring
- Programme workshops/master classes with the Institute of Sport and Health
- Sport medicine/Physiotherapy support
- Travel to national and international competitions
- Physiological and biomechanical monitoring
- Strength & conditioning, and priority gym access
- Stipend (currently €1,000 pa)
- Sports nutrition
- Sport psychology
- Free access to UCD sports facilities and relevant sports clothing
- Individualised career advice on completion of programme
(*advanced conditional offer is dependent on minimum academic standards to be communicated to student at interview).
