Am I Eligible?

Successful applicants will:

• Meet the minimum entry requirements (matriculation) of their desired undergraduate/level 8 programme, while currently registered students will need to have attained higher honours in their end of year examinations to be eligible. Applicants do not need to be pursuing a related programme to be deemed eligible.

• Be able to provide evidence of sustained engagement in Active Citizenship and have demonstrated significant impact through a regional or national profile for leadership in active citizenship. Evidence of:

- Leadership;

- Sustained commitment and;

- A discernible outcome or impact in one or more of the following domains of active citizenship: Volunteering, Advocacy, Community Engagement, Social Regeneration, Social Entrepreneurship would be required.

• Have exhibited excellence and the potential to develop that excellence in their chosen field with recognition at regional, national, or international level for their Citizenship efforts. One-off demonstrations of Active Citizenship will be insufficient to be deemed eligible for this Award.

• Be expected to act as ambassadors for UCC and the Quercus Programme in terms of their participation in their chosen field.

Where there are equivalent levels of excellence applicants deemed able to contribute most to UCC will be selected.

Please note that the Quercus Scholarships are open to students currently registered in, or applying for, any undergraduate/level 8 programme offered by UCC. Please also note an applicant will only be able to take up a Scholarship after accepting an offer of a place at University College Cork through the CAO or the International Office.

Scholarship Benefits

The five strands of talented students within the programme will benefit from a wide range of academic, financial, personal, and other supports. Scholars may receive a reduced points entry into UCC, but they must achieve at least 85% of the CAO points for the year of entry. Each talented student will begin the programme with a one-to-one meeting with the Director of the Quercus Programme. This meeting will involve an assessment of the student’s needs, following which an individual programme plan will be developed and agreed for the forthcoming year. Individual programme plans will endeavour to ensure that participation in the Talented Students Programme will lead to a broadening of students’ full spectrum of talents.

These benefits may include:

• Reduced CAO points entry (if required)

• Campus Accommodation

• Waiver of €3,000 Student Contribution Fee

• Bursary

• Life Coaching

• Participation in Quercus Lecture Series

• Individualised career advice

• Academic Mentor

• Active Citizenship Mentor

• Invitations to relevant networking events

• Flexible academic arrangements

• Participation in relevant workshops/master classes. Each scholar’s participation in the programme will be reviewed and assessed annually.

How do I apply?

To apply for a Quercus Scholarship you must:

• Be either a registered undergraduate University College Cork student or applicant for an undergraduate/level 8 programme at UCC in 2025/26. (Note: applicants also need to make their degree programme application separately, e.g. through the CAO or through the International Office for Non-EU applicants).
• Read the Active Citizenship Terms of Reference & Memorandum of Understanding.

Please read the Application Instructions carefully.

Any applicant looking for feedback on their application and/or to make a complaint about the Quercus application process, please read the following document Feedback & Complaints Policy.

The application process for 2025/26 opens on Friday, November 1st 2024 and will close at 4:30pm on Tuesday, February 4th 2025.

For any queries please email quercus@ucc.ie.