The School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin, is pleased to announce the opening of the 2023 competition for the Maeve Binchy Travel Award. This award, sponsored by the Binchy/Snell family, commemorates Maeve Binchy, her love of travel and her world-celebrated creative writing. The Award, worth €4,000, is open to a student (undergraduate or postgraduate) currently enrolled in UCD’s College of Arts & Humanities. The successful student will use the Award to fund a travel opportunity that will enhance her/his/their creative writing.
Application process
Applicants are asked to submit a combined document (preferably pdf), comprising the following:
(1) one-page document (strict maximum of one page), outlining the reason for applying for the Award and the project/activity that will be carried out if successful;
(2) a sample piece of original writing (strict maximum one page);
(3) a short curriculum vitae (strict maximum two pages).
Applications should be submitted to binchyucdtravelaward@ucd.ie by 5pm, Tuesday 2nd May 2023, and will be reviewed by a specially convened Selection Committee. (Full applications will be acknowledged on receipt at address above and only acknowledged applications are eligible.)
Short-listed candidates will be invited for interview in June.
Criteria:
- Applicants must at time of application be enrolled in a course or module in UCD College of Arts & Humanities; the Award is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the College.
- Travel should take place, circumstances allowing, within the year following the award.
- The successful applicant must provide a detailed written report subsequent to travel, outlining the main achievements and learning during their travel and examples of their creative writing influenced by the travel project/activity. The award holder must provide full receipts for all travel expenses.
- It is expected that the successful applicant will subsequently be available to speak with student groups about their experience of the Maeve Binchy Travel Award.
Queries should be directed to Professor Margaret Kelleher, Chair of the Selection Committee, at (opens in a new window)binchyucdtravelaward@ucd.ie. Please direct all correspondence to this address only.