UCD Smurfit School Aspire Scholarship Programme Celebrates 10-year Milestone
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School today launched the tenth year of its Aspire Scholarship Programme which provides talented graduates from across the country with financial support to advance their professional goals through a postgraduate qualification from Ireland’s leading business school.
To date almost 100 graduates have benefitted from the programme and many alumni have gone on to establish their own business ventures or are employed in leading companies such as Google, McKinsey, Citi, KPMG, PwC, Accenture, AIB, Paddy Power Betfair, Avolon, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Facebook, among others.
The Aspire Scholarship Programme was established in 2010 after the financial crisis in order to support the recovery and development of future Ireland. Aspire Scholarships help high-potential candidates unlock their unique talent, drive, and potential to become future business leaders. The scholarships are specifically for individuals who demonstrate the ambition to study at UCD Smurfit School, but who require some financial assistance to complete their chosen Masters Programme.
Fifty-percent funding is available for nine MSc scholarships and three MBA scholarships for the 2019/20 academic year.
Applications can be made online at www.smurfitschool.ie before Friday, 10th May, 2019.
Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean, UCD College of Business said at the launch of the 2019 Aspire Scholarship Programme: “Ten years on, we can see that the opportunities made possible through the Aspire Scholarship Programme are truly life changing for the recipients. The scholarship fund has already enabled almost 100 students to complete the programme and take an active role in having a positive impact in the world of business. The initiative represents an extraordinary gesture of belief by the donor in the calibre of Ireland's graduates, as well as the resilience of this country and we are delighted to celebrate this significant 10-year milestone. Passionate and ambitious students interested in pursuing a UCD Smurfit School MSc or MBA programme, but who may need support in funding tuition, are encouraged to apply before May 10.”
Romy Bolger, MSc Food Business Strategy 2019, Carlow, said: “The Aspire Scholarship meant the difference between swamping myself with student debt and completing my studies at Smurfit in financial comfort. Outside of the monetary reward, the Aspire Scholarship gave me a boost of self-confidence that I had the potential to make a difference in my chosen industry.”
Ciarán Reilly, EMBA 2016, Aspire Alumni President and Pricing Analyst at Avolon, said: “I was very motivated to undertake an MBA at a top international Business School as I felt it would open up a range of exciting new career prospects for me. The Aspire Scholarship Programme not only allowed me to undertake the Smurfit MBA by providing me with some financial assistance, it also presented a series of unexpected opportunities beyond the MBA itself. In addition to helping me change my career direction, Aspire has introduced me to a unique and diverse alumni network of individuals who are willing to support and help each other in advancing their careers and other business ventures. I am very grateful to have been awarded the scholarship and would recommend that aspiring MSc and MBA candidates consider applying for this year’s programme”.