Scholarship Programme for Asylum seekers and Refugees

Academic year scholarships

The University Language Centre provides English language tuition, academic support and teacher training in the field of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

The Language Centre is offering four sponsored places on courses each year that will directly or indirectly have a positive impact on the educational or career prospects of asylum seekers and refugees living in the Cork area.

Scholarship: one year’s free tuition. Students have the full support and access to services within UCC.

Please note:

The course in 2025-26 will run from 25 August 2025 to 5 June 2026.

The application deadline is 1 August 2025.

Interviews will take place 13-22 August 2025.

Course Dates

Course Dates for 2025-26

Scholarship starts: 25 August 2025

Application deadline: 01 August 2025

Scholarship duration: 25 August 2025 - 05 June 2026

Application Process

There are four scholarships available:

2 x ENGLISH FOR WORK AND LIFE (GENERAL ENGLISH)

2 x ACADEMIC ENGLISH

Each scholarship consists of 20 hours per week of English language tuition. Classes are held from 9.00 – 13.00, Monday to Friday.

Students have the full support and access to services within UCC, as university students.

Applicants must complete an application form and if shortlisted will be invited to an informal interview and English language assessment.

Applications for the following courses are welcomed from asylum seekers and refugees whose status in Ireland has not been determined and who are not eligible for typical social welfare entitlements.

For more information contact infolang@ucc.ie and lauren.french@ucc.ie

Apply here:

Sanctuary Scholarship Application Form 2025-26

Details and Selection Criteria

Full-time Intensive

English for Work and Life – General Track

01/08/25

Education level – NFQ Level 4 or equivalent

English language skills - B1 (Intermediate) or above.

Skilled / professional career history and/ or specific career goal.

Priority will be given to candidates with a proven track record of successful study, training, volunteering, coaching or work.

Applicants will be asked to explain why studying English in a university setting will be of particular help in supporting them to progress in their chosen job or field. Specific achievable goals as to how this scholarship will help are required for applicants to be successful.

Full-time Intensive English – Academic Track

01/08/25

Education level – NFQ Level 5 or equivalent

English language skills - B1+ (Intermediate) for undergraduate pathway, B2 (Upper Intermediate) for post-graduate pathway

Long or short-term educational plan – third level (University)

Applicants will be asked to explain why studying academic English in a university setting will help enable them to progress on their chosen academic pathway.

Priority will be given to candidates with a proven track record of successful study, training, volunteering, coaching or work.

Specific achievable goals as to how this scholarship will help are required for applicants to be successful.

Shortlisting Process

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview for each track (English for Work and Life and Academic). Interviews and assessments will take place after making an appointment with the tutor through infolang@ucc.ie

Applicants should complete the application without help from others or from AI. Errors in the English language will not be penalised.

We will be shortlisting students based on the content and presentation of their written applications.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. The interviews are relaxed and informal to give everyone the best chance to succeed. Candidates will be given a short language assessment at the same time.

Any unsuccessful candidates will be eligible to apply in the next round of applications.

IT Requirements

All students need:

to bring to class a fully-charged laptop
A reliable internet connection is required (this is provided by UCC for on-campus students).
to download Microsoft Teams to your laptop before starting your course (download from here.

Please note that a laptop is a device that is suitable for study purposes and students who use another device such as a tablet will not be able to access some functions. A smartphone is not considered to be a suitable device for study purposes.

If you need any further information or have any questions, please contact infolang@ucc.ie

Language Centre

Lárionad Teanga

Main Office, G36, O'Rahilly Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland