Tips for Applicants

Prepare the necessary information and documents for your application

The application form for George Moore Scholars will require information about the course you intend to undertake, your education to date, the objective of your study, why you would benefit from the scholarship, your high-level estimated budget, details of your referees and the following documents:

  • Passport copy
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Your most recent academic transcripts (Please ensure these transcripts include your grades for all years completed in your degree thus far, not just the most recent year)
  • Portfolio (for Visual Artists and optional for other Creative Artists) of no more than 20 pages Ensure you gather these documents well in advance and leave enough time to carefully consider your answers to the long-form questions.

Write for a lay reader

Applicants will need to answer the question “What is the objective of your study?” as part of the application form. Answers should be written for a lay reader, which means: not assuming any background knowledge about your subject area; spelling out in the clearest terms your academic objectives in undertaking the course; and explaining any technical or specialist terms.

Most Master’s degrees are taught. Applicants should explain what they expect to learn, why it would be beneficial to their future career, and why their chosen institution is the best place to deliver this education. Applicants pursuing research-focused degrees should include a summary or their research, again ensuring that it is suitable for the lay reader.

Assessment panels will include senior academics but they may not always have specialist knowledge of your subject area. The assessment panel will also include non-academic members. Writing for the lay reader will ensure your application is jargon-free and help to give assessors a clear overview of the ambitions in undertaking the course.

Personal over perfect

Your application should be personal to you and provide some insight into who you are, why you care about your subject area and how you want to make a difference. It is better to submit a unique application that could only be yours than to rely on AI writing assistants to create an application that does not capture what is unique to you. Communicating in your authentic voice will strengthen your application at each stage of the assessment process, as we are looking for this confidence, authenticity and unique voice in our Scholars.

Tips on choosing a referee

Each applicant needs two referees to provide a written reference for their application. Academic Reviewers and the Selection Panel rely on references to understand how experts in the field view a candidate. Applicants should choose their nominated referees with care.

References need to give a detailed appraisal of the merit of the proposed course, and a reasoned judgement about the applicant’s suitability to undertake it.

You are advised to seek references from academics in your institution who are familiar enough with your work to offer an informed assessment.

Thinking about which referee to nominate? Six tips for applicants

  1. Ask your referees before nominating them. Ask well in advance, and make sure they will be able to upload their reference by the referee deadline of 5 December 2025.
  2. Referees from the island of Ireland or overseas may be selected. Consider naming referees from overseas, if that’s appropriate for your application and they are familiar with your work and your research plans.
  3. Choose referees who you know will have the time to do a good job: a rushed reference is rarely a strong one.
  4. Ensure that referees know what’s required of them. Provide them with as much information about yourself as you can. If possible, arrange to meet them to discuss your application in advance.
  5. At least one of your referees should be an academic referee – most applicants will submit two academic referees. If you feel it would be beneficial to include one reference from an employer as an Early Career Scholar, you are welcome to do so. However, ensure that it is a personal and relevant reference and that is provides information about you that will genuinely strengthen your application. Providing references is an essential part of the application process. Once you submit your application you will be sent an upload link, which you will need to pass on to your referees so they can upload their reference confidentially to the application system.

Tips for referees

You will receive a link from the MindAClient application system once the student for whom you are providing a reference has submitted their application. We would be grateful if you could provide a one-page, considered assessment of the academic (or professional) abilities, qualities and strengths of the student, drawing on specifics where possible (courses, grades, engagement in course or programme, other engagements known to you) to validate your perspective. Please note that not all applicants will be selected for interview, so your reference is important in making the case for the student.

The reference must be uploaded as a PDF to the MindAClient application system using the link you have received from the applicant by 5 December 2025.