Sport
Sports
About
At University College Cork, we believe in creating an environment in which academic excellence can be combined with opportunities for personal development. One of the most important ways our students further their personal development is by taking part in the wide range of sporting activities on offer here. Our students are amongst the most active in the country in the fields of sport and, therefore, we are pleased to announce that we will be awarding up to 5 Quercus Scholarships for Sport to students registered on an undergraduate/level 8 programme in 2025/26. These students should demonstrate an exceptional level of excellence in their chosen Sport and will have been selected by the Scholarship Panel for a Quercus Scholarship.
The Scholarship can be renewed for subsequent years subject to the Scholar meeting the requirements of the Sports Retention and Discontinuation Document and progression to the next level of study in their academic programme.
Scholars will be expected to act as ambassadors for UCC in terms of their participation in sporting activities and in their participation in activities designed to promote the Quercus Programme.
The act of balancing academic achievement, sporting excellence and personal development remains a challenge for talented Irish sports people. Through the Quercus Talented Students’ Programme, UCC is committed to enhancing the academic and sporting achievements of young sports men and women in the country, as well as making a positive impact on the future of Irish Sport.
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.
- Participate in a sport recognised by Sport Ireland.
- Be able to provide evidence that they are competing at the highest available level in their chosen sport and have identifiable potential for further improvement.
- Be expected to act as ambassadors for UCC and the Quercus Talented Students’ Programme in terms of their participation in their chosen sport.
Where there are equivalent levels of excellence applicants deemed able to contribute most to UCC and to UCC Sport will be selected. UCC also reserves the right to select scholars based on their strategic importance to sport in UCC.
Please note that the Quercus Scholarships are open to students applying for, and currently registered in, any undergraduate/level 8 programme offered by UCC.
Please also note that 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
- Invitations to relevant networking events
- Flexible academic arrangements
- Participation in relevant workshops/master classes
- Sports Mentor
- Support to compete nationally and internationally
- Sport Medicine/Physiotherapy support
- Physiological monitoring and feedback
- Nutrition advice
- Strength training and conditioning
- Performance analysis
How do I apply?
To apply for a Quercus Scholarship you must:
- Be either a registered undergraduate UCC student or applicant for an undergraduate/level 8 programme at University College Cork 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 Sports Terms of Reference.
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 will open on Friday, November 1st 2024 and will close at 4:30pm on Tuesday, February 4th 2025.
For any queries please email quercus@ucc.ie