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Undergraduate Study
Scholarships

The Una McDermott travel bursary

Point of contact name: Cara Daly

Point of contact email: [email protected]

Scholarship Overview

The family of Una McDermott have generously established a fund to honour the memory of our colleague, teacher and friend Una McDermott, former Horticulture lecturer in Teagasc and South East Technological University. Una was a great believer in travelling abroad to experience and learn about horticulture and we are pleased and thankful that the Una McDermott Bursary will make that dream a reality for some.

Guidance before getting started on your application

  • Read the terms and conditions; they outline the rules that govern this competitive bursary, but also helpful guidance and inspiration for your application.
  • Only fill in relevant information on your application form and use all the word count available to you.
  • You can save your progress while you are working on the application form but cannot alter your application after submission so make sure all information is correct when submitting.
  • Gather your financial and budgetary details in advance of filling in the application form.
  • Students from year 1, year 2 and year 3 of the Bsc in Horticulture in either Kildalton College (SE506) or the College of Amenity Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens (SE507) are invited to apply for funding to travel abroad to experience, work and learn in a garden, or a horticulture-related company.
  • The fund can also be used to fund attendance at a horticulture-related student conference or meeting, or a short course. The travel bursary can also be used to fund the year 2 work placement as long as the work placement is outside of Ireland.
  • We envisage that students will use the award to fund travel during June, July or August 2025 (or anytime between January - August 2025 for work placement students). However, the evaluation panel may also consider applications for shorter travel periods during mid-semester break, or during the Easter holidays.
  • Read the Terms and conditions.

The application process and subsequent evaluation of applicants is explained in full in the Terms and Conditions, however the following briefly describes the process:

  • Applicants fill in and submit an online form attached with supplementary documentation.
  • Applicants are shortlisted based on their CV, and their personal statements.
  • Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
  • The winner(s) are announced.

Key dates:

  • Closing date for online applications: Sunday, 26th of January 2025 (23:59).
  • Provisional Interview date for shortlisted applicants: 14th of February 2025.
  • Winner(s) will be announced shortly after interviews.

Important Items to remember before completing the online form:

  • Applicants must read the terms and conditions before completing this application form.
  • Read the form carefully and provide only the relevant details.
  • Once you submit your application, you cannot alter your application, or submit additional documentation, therefore applicants are encouraged to gather all the supplementary documentation before completing the online form. Please note, no additional information or supplementary documentation will be accepted by email or any other means.

Checklist – Have all applicable items ready before filling in the online form:

  • Full CV
  • If applicable, letters of agreement from the host specifying the period of time the applicant will be with the host.
  • If the applicant proposes to travel to take up a place on a specialist course, official course details including location, course contact and description of the course must be provided. 
  • A breakdown of the cost of the trip and how the applicant plans on funding the trip. A few examples can be found here, but briefly, you should include what you propose the bursary will cover, and what you will be able to fund yourself. It may include some of the following:
    • Return flight details and costs (screenshots from internet sites showing airline, departure dates and times, baggage cost, VAT and other charges, and total cost).
    • Official quote for accommodation costs while away.
    • Inland transport details and costs (screenshots from internet sites showing bus and train travel details, departure dates and times, and total cost).
    • Benefits offered to the applicant while on the host site (i.e. room and board, wages or allowance etc).
    • Conference or meeting registration cost and conference meal costs.