UCD Sports Scholarship

Description

A Sports Scholarship is funded by the UCD Sports Department and is offered to a rider in conjunction with the UCD Cycling Club.

History

Sports Scholarships in cycling were first introduced at UCD in 1996/97 when Athletic Union Council Executive, Maoilíosa Ó Dubhthaigh convinced UCD Director Sport, the late Dr. Tony O'Neill and the Sports Development Trust that the Cycling Club was capable of competing at national level and possessed the necessary infrastructural and managerial components to facilitate and invest in cycling as a scholarship sport.

Aims

The pursuit of excellence is part of the mission of University College Dublin. 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

The benefits of a sports scholarship may include tuition fees, if applicable, accommodation, access to the UCD High Performance Centre, books, equipment, sports medicine facilities, travel to national and international competitions and academic support. The value of each Sports Scholarship is assessed on an individual basis.

Eligibility

Sports Scholarships are only offered to students that have met the UCD admission requirements through the CAO system and are enrolled on a programme of academic study at UCD. They are awarded on an extremely selective basis. While all cyclists are welcome to join the Club, Scholarships will only be awarded to those 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. Applicants who have been turned down for a Sports scholarship are encouraged to apply for a Club Scholarship.

Please note that meeting all 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 Sports 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. Sports 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.

Sports Scholarship Application Procedure

Applicants wishing to apply for a scholarship in cycling should complete the general sports scholarship application form. It can be downloaded by following the link to Scholarships from the main UCD Sports website http://www.ucd.ie/sport. Applicants must provide details of their sporting achievements and those who are short listed will be invited to attend an interview with the UCD Director of Sport, the Development Officer & the Cycling Club President. The panel will consider the applicants current level of performance to include frequency and duration of achievement, potential in their sport and the possible contribution to the Cycling Club.

Applications should be sent to ‘UCD Scholarships’, Room 202, The Sports Information Office, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Application deadline

Closing date for application is usually late April. Please check the UCD Sports website.

Assessment

When a Sports Scholarship application is received, it is passed on to the Cycling Club President. The assessments are conducted by UCD Sport, the Cycling Club and the UCD High Performance Centre. The final decision, with regards to sports scholarship awards, rest with the Cycling Club.

Successful Applicants

A successful applicant will be asked to sign a scholarship contract with the Department of Sport and 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

Please contact the UCD Sports Information Office at 01-7162183.