Club Scholarships

Description

Club Scholarships are funded directly by the UCD Cycling Club. 1 or 2 (standard permitting) Scholarships may be offered in a given year subject to the availability of funds. Following a successful season as a Club Scholar, the Club President may advise the UCD Sports Department to upgrade the rider to a Sports Scholarship status for the following college year.

History

Club Scholarships were first introduced by UCD Cycling Club President, Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh, in 2001/02. He perceived the act of balancing sporting and academic excellence as a considerable challenge in itself and wished to somewhat protect talented riders from the financial strains attached to the sport by directing a portion of the Club’s resources towards elite cyclists.

Aims

The aim of the scholarship scheme is to give talented young cyclists the opportunity of developing their sporting career by offering the highest standards in coaching, training, nutrition, strength and conditioning advice, while also completing their chosen course of study.

Benefits

A Club Scholar will receive a Cycling Ireland licence, a Club jersey and shorts and will have access to Club equipment. In addition, s/he will be given a race entry and travel expense subsidy of roughly €600 to national competitions. The value of each Club Scholarship is assessed on an individual basis. A Club Scholarship would also increase your chances of receiving a U.C.D. Sports Scholarship the following year.

Eligibility

Applications will be considered from registered UCD students who are deemed capable of competing at the highest level. Applicants would be expected to have successfully raced at national level and to have been selected to regional or international teams. Scholarships are awarded on an extremely selective basis.

Please note that meeting the above criteria does not mean automatic acceptance to the Scholarship Programme. The eligibility and selection criteria reflect the evolving nature of the Scholarship Programme and UCD Cycling Club reserves the right to amend the criteria for selection according to the requirements of the scheme.

Criteria for Awarding a Club Scholarships

There are several important criteria which must be met - academic qualification for a course must be achieved and the recipient of a scholarship must be prepared to commit him/herself to UCD Cycling Club. The scholarship student must represent only UCD CC in competition. Club Scholarships are intended for persons of outstanding sporting ability and should a level of academic and sporting progress be attained, may be renewed on an annual basis.

Criteria for Awarding Scholarships

There are several important criteria, which must be met - academic qualification for a course must be achieved and the recipient of a scholarship must be prepared to commit him/herself to involvement in the respective UCD sports club. The scholarship student must represent UCD and only UCD in competition. Clubs, which offer scholarships compete at a very high level and have to possess the necessary infrastructural components to facilitate a scholarship award. A satisfactory level of academic and sporting progress is essential, if the scholarship is to be renewed on an annual basis.

Sports Scholarships are intended for persons of outstanding sporting ability.

Application Procedure

Applicants must forward an up to date cycling curriculum vitae and a letter of application directly to the UCD Cycling Club. Your sporting cv should list your achievements to date and include at least one sports related reference from a club coach/ manager to substantiate your application. The letter of application (of no more than 1 page typed) must briefly state your sporting objectives for the coming season, how the scholarship would help further your cycling career, and why you would consider yourself to be a worthy recipient of a Club Scholarship.

Applications should be sent directly to the Club President, Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh, at ucdcc [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Application deadline

Closing date for application: 31st of December in a given year.

Assessment

Final decisions in regard to Club Scholarship awards rest solely with the Cycling Club. On receipt of an application, the Club President will liaise with Club Vice-President(s) and the Club Captain. Applicants may be called for an interview. The interview panel will consist of the Club President, Club Captain and one other they will judge applicants on their current level of performance to include frequency and duration of achievement, potential in their sport and their likely possible contribution to the Cycling Club.

Successful Applicants

Successful candidates will be requested to sign a contract with the Cycling Club stating that you compete for U.C.D. C.C. only during the Cycling Ireland season. The Club President will appoint a ‘Scholarship Overseer’ to ensure that it is adhered to. You will also be expected to maintain an appropriate level of commitment to UCD CC in intervarsity and other competitions and/or training and contribute to the administration, coaching, promotion and development of the Club as deemed necessary throughout the season. All applicants – successful or otherwise – will be contacted via e-mail during the month of January.

Further information

Further Information is available from the Club President, Vice-President or Captain. See Contacts on the Club website.