African American Irish Diaspora Network Scholarship

The successful candidates must be a graduate of Howard University.

The successful candidates must meet, at a minimum, the UCD Smurfit School eligibility criteria for the MSc programme or the Full-Time MBA programme. 

The UCD Smurfit School Admissions Team retain the right to decide on the awarding of the scholarships. 

Candidates Key Attributes:

• A citizen of the USA and a graduate of Howard University
• Demonstrates leadership and excellence in both their curricular and non-curricular activities.
• The candidate should also demonstrate a desire to learn and make an impact on the world around them in their applications essay. 

One MSc Scholarship will be focused on merit and one MSc on needs based. 

The scholarship awardees will be required to become  a UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Scholarship Brand ambassador and to engage in mentoring of potential MBA/MSc candidates, attending recruitment/alumni events and attend the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Scholarship Award Event or be featured on the UCD Website.

Successful applicants may also be required to engage in social media campaigns of the School.

Successful candidates must be able to demonstrate an excellent academic record.

There is no separate application process for this scholarship, but potential candidates need to email smurfit.admissions@ucd.ie and confirm that the candidate would like to  apply for the Scholarships. All successful applicants for the full-time MBA or the MSc programmes who meet the eligibility criteria and have met the deadlines noted below will also be considered.

Documentation / information required includes:

• Official Transcripts enclosed for each College/University attended
• Current Professional Resume/CV
• Two Letters of recommendation. (note the form will be generated by the application system). One Academic based. One Professional/Work Experience based
• Responses to two essay questions provided on the application form
• GMAT/GRE is required for MBA application and may be required for Master’s application depending on the program.
• Interview required for MBA Programmes, MSc in International Management (CEMS). MSc in Marketing Practice. Kira interview for MSc in Finance, MSc in Project Management. 

1.  This Scholarship is open to all Howard Students and Alumni except employees of UCD or Howard University , and their associated affiliated or subsidiary companies, and their immediate families, agents, or anyone connected with this competition.
2. The competition is open to all candidates who have already applied directly to UCD Smurfit School for August 2025
3. The Scholarship will be awarded to the candidate deemed to be of the highest calibre by the UCD Smurfit School. UCD Smurfit School reserves the right not to award the Scholarship prize if no candidate of the required calibre is identified. The decision is final, and any further correspondence will not be entered into.
4. Candidates must hold  a university degree and for the MBA candidates must have a minimum of three years' professional experience, the required minimum score or above on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Executive Assessment (EA), and two references, normally from current and/or former employers and/or colleagues.
5. The winning candidate will join a choice of the 1-year full-time MBA, or a full -time Specialist MSc Programme.
6. Scholarship consists of bursary of €16,000  for either one-year full-time MBA or MSc programme.
7. The competition is not open to recipients of any other UCD Smurfit Business School  or Howard University scholarships being awarded by UCD Smurfit School. 
8. The successful scholar must agree to participate in the following: promotional activities, articles, events and any other ad-hoc promotional activity.  
9. The successful candidate will be the UCD Smurfit Business School and Howard University Scholarship brand ambassador. 
10. Deadline for submission of MBA /MSc programme applications by May 10th 2025
11. The scholarship winner must have taken and secured the relevant minimum GMAT/EA test entry score by 1st May 2025
12. Candidates must be available to commence the MBA/MSc  programme by the end  of August 14th 2025
13. Scholarships cannot be deferred to a future academic year.
14. No cash alternative.
15. No substitutions allowed.
16. Candidates may only be in receipt of one scholarship, from either an external provider or UCD.
17. By entering you are deemed to have accepted the rules and terms & conditions of the competition.
18. UCD  Smurfit School Scholarships are not applicable to courses in UCD Smurfit Executive Development, UCD Belfield campus or programmes run in conjunction with UCD Belfield including the MSc in Biotechnology and Business, MSc in Biotherapeutics and Business and MSc in International Law and Business.

If you would like more information on this scholarship or our MSc programme, please contact UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School on smurfit.admissions@ucd.ie or phone +353 1 716 4321