Scholarships

Fields of study

The objective is for George Moore Scholars to undertake a master's degree in any disciplinary area during the tenure of the award. George Moore Scholars will be individuals who are judged to be likely to have a significant positive impact in a field that will add value to our society, economy and environment. 

This is evaluated on the basis of academic achievement to date but also on the evidence of involvement in activities, whether paid, voluntary or community-based, that have contributed to your development as an individual and your understanding of the unique contribution you can make.

The George Moore Scholars programme will give particular consideration to applicants who reflect the following values:

  1. Distinctive intellectual curiosity focused on a specific global challenge
  2. A willingness to take appropriate risks in setting and pursuing educational objectives
  3. Originality in approach and ambition
  4. A willingness to transcend conventional disciplinary boundaries to address the identified challenge.

Geographical focus

The George Moore Scholars programme supports applicants interested in studying in the US, Canada, Europe or the UK. 

Higher Education Institution

It is more important that applicants consider the excellence of the department or research centre they wish to undertake their master's degree in, than the overall international ranking of the institution.

Value

George Moore Scholarships are high-value and cover most of the cost of studying abroad including higher education fees, research, travel, visa, health insurance and other key living costs. Applicants will be required to provide a detailed annual budget with verifiable sources of cost estimates for each category of projected expenditure. As US-based programmes are the most expensive, Scholars may not be awarded the full amount of their budget. As a guide, those applying to US institutions are normally awarded at least 70% of the cost. However, this is dependent on the overall cost and duration of the programme.

Many applicants are able to secure additional funding from the higher education institution from which they receive an offer. This year, Scholars secured almost 1m in additional funding, from their host institutions, once it was confirmed they had received a George Moore Scholarship. In the US, some institutions match fund private awards. There are also programmes like Erasmus Mundus for European Master's programmes, which can be combined with a George Moore Scholarship. We encourage applicants to explore any possible sources of additional support, and to connect with George Moore Scholars alumni to support their research.

Applicants may also apply for support to undertake a Master's degree in a European university. However, it must be a public university (not a private institution) and financial support to study in Europe will mainly focus on non-tuition costs, such as accommodation, living, and other study expenses, as most European Master's degrees have low tuition costs. The programme will include tuition costs for successful candidates but it is likely these costs will not exceed €5,000 and the total per annum award will be in the region of €20,000. 

Duration

Applicants may apply for financial support to cover a Master's degree of one or two year's duration. Applicants must apply for full-time Master's programmes, based in the country of the higher education institution providing the programme. Part-time or distance learning programmes are not funded. Applicants may apply for dual Master's programmes, which take place in two or more locations.

Citizenship and residency status

  • Applicants will normally be Irish citizens, or UK citizens of Northern Ireland.
  • Applicants will have completed at least 70% of their education on the island of Ireland. 
  • If an applicant has completed at least 70% of their education on the island of Ireland, and undertaken their primary degree in the UK (not NI), they may apply.
  • EU citizens who have completed at least 70% of their education on the island of Ireland may apply. Applicants will have completed their primary degree on the island of Ireland. 
  • Non-European Economic Area citizens resident in Ireland / Northern Ireland must have permanent leave to remain by the closing date for applications, 22 November 2024.
  • George Moore Scholarships are tenable for 1-2 years.
  • Scholarships are non-renewable.

If you are completing your application and you run into difficulty, please check the website in full to see if you can find an answer to your query. You may also reach out to George Moore Scholars on LinkedIn to see if they can help you with your query. We strongly advise applicants to sign up for a live information session, where you can ask your questions and hear directly from Scholars. If you are still unclear about an aspect of the application, please email: info@georgemoorescholars.ie.