The pursuit of excellence is part of the mission of University College Dublin. In sport, the sports scholarship programme reflects the commitment of UCD to aspiring to the highest standards possible.

Sports Scholarships were first introduced at UCD in 1979 by the Soccer Club under the direction of the late Dr. Tony O'Neill. Since the 1990’s the scheme has expanded to include other sports and to date scholarships have been awarded to over 850 students in Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Camogie, Cycling, Fencing, Ladies and Men's Gaelic Football, Ladies and Men's Golf, Ladies and Men's Hockey, Hurling, Rowing, Rugby, Women’s Soccer and Table Tennis.

Some of Ireland’s best known sportsmen and women are former UCD sports scholars including Brian O’Driscoll and Robert Kearney (Rugby), Alan Brogan and Stephen Lucey (GAA), Rena Buckley (Camogie & Ladies Gaelic Football) Derval O’Rourke and James Nolan (athletics), Ciara O’Brien (hockey) and Peter Lawrie (golf).

The aim of the UCD scholarship scheme is to give talented young people the opportunity of developing their sporting career by offering the highest standards in coaching, training, nutrition, strength and conditioning advice, while also completing their chosen course of study. By combining sports participation with academic work in an ideal environment within the University, a safety net is provided for the student and career prospects are, to a large extent, guaranteed. Therefore, career-threatening injuries or illness or some other unforeseen circumstances do not have the same traumatic impact. The individual is encouraged through judicious balancing of the time available to ensure that neither academic nor sporting interests are compromised.

Benefits:

Benefits of the sports scholarship programme may include:

• Access to the UCD High Performance Centre
• Accommodation
• Tuition fees
• Books
• Equipment
• Sport medicine facilities
• Travel to national and international competitions
• Academic support

The value and benefits of each sports scholarship is assessed on an individual basis. The assessments are conducted by UCD Sport, the relevant UCD club and the UCD UCD High Performance Centre. 

Criteria:

Criteria for Awarding Scholarships
There are several important criteria, which must be met - academic qualification for a course must be achieved and the recipient of a scholarship must be prepared to commit him/herself to involvement in the respective UCD sports club. The scholarship student must represent UCD and only UCD in competition. Clubs, which offer scholarships compete at a very high level and have to possess the necessary infrastructural components to facilitate a scholarship award. A satisfactory level of academic and sporting progress is essential, if the scholarship is to be renewed on an annual basis.

Sports Scholarships are intended for persons of outstanding sporting ability.

Further Information:
The Sports Information Office, 
UCD Department of Sport, 
Room 203, 
UCD Sports Centre, 
Belfield, 
Dublin 4. 
Tel. 716 2183