Scholarships
UCD offers three scholarship programmes to help students compete at the highest level while simultaneously attaining a degree from the University.
- Ad Astra Academy Elite Athlete Programme (for elite athletes, i.e. international competition)
- UCD Sport Scholarship (for undergraduate students)
- UCD Graduate Sport Scholarship (for postgraduate students)
Each programme offers supports, facilities and services to students to help them through their sport and study.
Recent rowing members of the Ad Astra Academy include:
- Paul O’Donovan
- LM1x World Champion 2016 and 2017
- LM2x Rio 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist
- LM2x European Champion 2016
- U23 LM1x Bronze Medalist 2013
- Claire Lambe
- LW2x Rio 2016 Olympics finalist
- LW1x National Champion 2014
- David O’Malley
- Senior 4- and Senior 8+ National Champion 2019
- U23 LM2- Gold Medalist 2018
- Senior 4- National Champion 2018
- U23 LM2- Bronze Medalist 2017
- Coupe de la Jeunesse JM2x Double Silver Medalist 2013
- Junior 1x and 2x National Champion 2013
- Andrew Goff
- Senior 4- and Senior 8+ National Champion 2019
- U23 LM4x Silver Medalist 2018
- Senior 4- National Champion 2018
- U23 LM4x Bronze Medalist 2017
- Coupe de la Jeunesse JM4x Double Gold Medalist 2015
- Intermediate 1x National Champion 2015
- Shane O’Connell
- Senior 4- and Senior 8+ National Champion 2019
- Senior 4- National Champion 2018
- U23 LM4x Bronze Medalist 2017
- Junior 4+ National Champion 2014
- Shane Mulvaney
- Senior 4- and Senior 8+ National Champion 2019
- U23 LM2- Gold Medalist 2018
- Senior 4- National Champion 2018
- U23 LM2- Bronze Medalist 2017
- Eimear Lambe
- U23 W4- Silver Medalist 2019
- Senior 2- and Senior 8+ National Champion 2017
- Senior 4- National Champion 2016
- Niall Kenny
- U23 LM4x Silver Medalist 2010
Incoming or returning UCD Boat Club members who are performing at a high level within the sport are welcome to apply for these programmes.
There’s never been a better time to join UCDBC or the Ad Astra Academy. The university has gone from strength to strength and is in the best position it has ever been in regardless of sport or career ambition. I’m happy to call them family and will do so for the rest of my career
— Andrew Goff (@agoff97) January 27, 2019
Joining UCDBC and applying to the Ad Astra Academy was undoubtably the most pivotal decision in my life. For the rest of my career I will be glad I joined. I am delighted to consider myself part of the UCDBC and Ad Astra family. Without them I would not be where I am today.
— Shane O Connell (@soc124124) January 27, 2019
UCD is the place to go to make the step up from junior to under 23.
7 U23 World medals for UCD athletes in the last 2 years. Great coaches, great squad and getting stronger every year.— David O’Malley (@omalley_david) January 27, 2019
Application Windows
| Programme | Applications Open | Applications Close |
| Ad Astra Academy Elite Athlete Programme | November | End January |
| UCD Sports Scholarship | February | End March |
| UCD Sports Graduate Scholarship | June | End July |
Applications are made online via UCD’s SISWeb.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Innovation in Sports at University College Dublin
UCD Innovation video, Innovation in Sports at University College Dublin. “….there is a great buzz about the place…” In this UCD Innovation video, UCD medical student Dora Gorman and UCD physiotherapy student David Campbell, both UCD Ad Astra Elite Sport scholars, speak of the advantages of participating on the UCD Ad Astra programme.
