The annual award available through the All Ireland Scholarship Scheme has risen to £5,850, with eligible high-achieving students from lower-income backgrounds being urged to consider the programme as examination results are issued.
The increase takes the value of the annual scholarship from £5,500 to £5,850. The Department for the Economy announced the change in an appeal to top students to apply as the results period begins for those completing school-level qualifications.
The scheme is funded by the JP McManus Trust and is aimed at students who combine high academic achievement with a low-income background. The increased figure is the annual award identified by the Department, rather than an indication that every student receiving results will qualify.
The Department said that 376 students from Northern Ireland have benefited from the scholarship since the scheme began. That total reflects the scheme’s Northern Ireland beneficiaries over its lifetime, rather than the number of awards available in any one academic year.
Across the island of Ireland, the scheme has awarded more than €51 million, according to the Department. The figure covers the programme’s awards across the island and is reported separately from the present annual award level for successful students in Northern Ireland.
The announcement comes as candidates receive AS and A-level results, when many students will be considering their next steps in education. The Department’s message was directed at prospective applicants who may meet the scholarship’s stated focus on academic achievement and lower-income backgrounds.
Students considering the scheme should check the current eligibility and application requirements with the scheme administrator. The Department’s announcement confirms the new annual award value and the scheme’s broad target group, while individual applications remain subject to the programme’s rules.
The £350 increase means the scholarship’s yearly value is higher than in the previous arrangement. For Northern Ireland students who meet the relevant conditions, the scheme remains part of the support available through a programme funded by the JP McManus Trust.