Economy Minister is encouraging A Level
and Level 3 Extended Diploma students to consider applying for
the 2025 All Ireland Scholarship Scheme.
The annual scholarships, first offered in Northern Ireland in
2009, are funded by businessman JP McManus and provide financial
assistance to top-performing students from low-income households
who intend to take up full-time undergraduate courses in the
coming autumn. The value of each scholarship is £5,500 per annum
for the duration of their undergraduate degree programme.
Recognising the opportunities afforded by the scholarships,
Economy Minister Dr said: “Education can be
life-changing but many students face a real financial burden. By
providing financial support these scholarships will help remove
that barrier and open up opportunities to more people. To date
351 students from the north have been awarded a scholarship and
it is great news that 25 more are now available.”
Taylor McGrath-McAllister, a second-year Natural Sciences student
at Homerton College, University of Cambridge said: “The
All-Ireland Scholarship has been a huge help in easing the
financial burden of moving to England for university. It covers
most of my rent which takes away a lot of the stress around
money, especially in an expensive city like Cambridge. But the
scholarship is more than just financial support. There's a great
community of alumni behind it with plenty of opportunities to
connect and network.”
Second year student Elizabeth Poucher, who is studying Medicine
at Queen's University Belfast, commented: “Based on my results my
school teachers encouraged me to apply for the scholarship and I
am so grateful that they did. It was easy to apply and winning
this scholarship has definitely eased the financial stress of
university and allows me to have more time to focus on my
studies. I would encourage everyone who is eligible to apply for
a scholarship and in the weeks coming up to the exams put the
extra effort in to getting the best results you can.”
The 25 Northern Ireland scholarships will be awarded to the top
19 performing ‘A' level students in grant aided post primary
schools and the top six performing Level 3 Extended Diploma
students in the further education colleges.
Applicants must have been in receipt of the Educational
Maintenance Allowance at the time of examination and due to
commence an undergraduate degree at a university or further
education college in September / October 2025.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 4pm on Thursday
28 August 2025.
Further information and details on how to apply are available
from nidirect at www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/all-ireland-scholarships and
the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
at ccea.org.uk/news/2025/march/all-ireland-scholarship-scheme-2025 .
