Criteria for assessing applications

Our President’s scholars will be individuals of outstanding ability who have demonstrated his/her leadership through any of the following areas:

• Creating new ideas in science and technology (e.g. young scientist), business (i.e. young entrepreneurs programme) or social innovation (i.e. Gaisce awards)

• Making a difference in a community, academic, social or cultural activity

• Showing an extraordinary capacity for academic or scholastic endeavour

• Showing extraordinary service in support of social change (i.e. volunteering on social project)

• Providing inspiration or being a role model for peers

Conditions

A number of terms and conditions apply:

• Applicants must be domiciled in Ireland

• Each individual can submit only one application

• Scholarship applicants can only apply for a course on the list of eligible courses (listed on the second tab)

• Applicants must list the course as one of their choices on their CAO application

• Successful applicants will be offered a place in Round Zero and accept that place via normal CAO channels cao.ie

• Should the successful applicant be eligible to be offered a place in Round Zero under any other WIT scheme, the applicant will be offered the highest preference listed course

• Successful applicants may be required to meet minimum course entry requirements

• After accepting their offer via the CAO, successful applicants will only receive the Scholarship if they accept and register on the course they were offered under the Scholarship programme

• Successful applicants must register as per the instructions issued by the Institute’s Admissions Office in August of year of entry

• Successful applicants will not be entitled to use the WIT First Year Transfer process. To do so will nullify the Scholarship

• If a scholarship holder withdraws from the course for which they have registered or does not continue throughout the year to meet the attendance and other requirements for the course, including examination entry, they may be required to repay scholarship funds they have already received

The application process has four stages.

Stage 1

Make a CAO application by Thursday, 1 February 2019 (5.15pm), choosing the WIT course preference. You cannot apply for the scholarship unless you have applied to the CAO and have chosen a WIT course.

Stage 2

Apply for the WIT President's Scholarship before Monday, 1 April 2019 (5.15pm) using the online form on this webpage. Please note that if you wish to change your CAO course preference, you can use the CAO's online facility to amend course choices up until 1 March 2019 at 5.15pm

Your application will require the following information:

• Contact details

• Chosen discipline area and course of study

• Summary statement: A 300 word submission stating why you meet the criteria to be a President's Scholar. Submissions must NOT exceed 300 words

• Academic performance to date: A certified record of your most recent academic performance (e.g. Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate, official school end of term exam results). Personally typed results will not be accepted

• Support documentation: This is not a pre-requisite but you can upload additional documentation to support your submission. This could be a project, a poster, video, webpage, essay, presentation, an app etc. You can upload or link to this information through our online application form 

Stage 3

Following WIT's assessment process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to proceed to Stage 3 of the Scholarship programme. This will take place in WIT and will involve shortlisted candidates presenting their case to an expert panel.

Shortlisted candidates will be advised of the date and location of the Stage 3 assessment directly but it's expected to be in late April.

Stage 4

The five successful candidates will be issued their offer via CAO in Round Zero in early August and will also be notified directly by WIT. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by WIT at the same time.

WIT President's Scholarship 2019 Application Form

Who do I contact with questions?
Ms Mary Hartley, President's Office on [email protected] or Tel: 051 302015.

If the minimum entry level grades/points are not achieved, will the student be eligible for the Scholarship?
Yes, in the case of individuals completing their Leaving Certificate this year as the scholarship will be awarded in Round Zero, before Leaving Certificate results are issued.

If an applicant is offered their first CAO choice course for WIT, will they not have the option of receiving offers from other higher educational institutions?
If they receive an offer of a scholarship from WIT and it is their first choice on the CAO, they can't receive a higher offer from another institution. If they receive an offer of a scholarship from WIT which is not their first choice on the CAO, they can receive an offer from another institution in Round 1 or subsequent rounds. If they accept that offer, they will lose the WIT scholarship.

Do applicants receive their offer in advance of Leaving Certificate results?
Yes, they will recieve their offer in Round Zero.

Is the Scholarship aligned to one WIT course?
No. Please see the list of eligible courses on the second tab of this webpage.

Are all courses eligible for the scholarship?
All CAO courses are eligible. Please see the list on the second tab of this webpage.

Is the Scholarship open to non-Leaving Certificate applicants?
The scholarhip is only open to students who have completed their Leaving Certificate, although it's not necessary to have completed it this year. Please see the section on Criteria.

What support documentation is required for initial application?
The only required documentation is past academic performance. Additional documentation can be added if you wish. This could be anything you feel will support your application.

What is required for Stage 3 assessment?
Each candidate will be invited to the Institute for interview by leading academics in their chosen discipline area.

When will the Scholarship holder receive the bursary?
The bursary will be paid over two instalments per year of the registered courses.