The MSc Global Business Practice runs every 2 years in the Summer i.e. 2023, 2025, 2027, 2029 and so on

No you cannot apply by emailing your CV. All applications must be made via our recruitment platform "Submit" during the application period of the programme. The green application button is on the righthand side of the website.

As per the Bord Bia Scholarships Notice for this programme, the successful candidate must be resident in Ireland or have Irish citizenship. Applicants with citizenship of a limited number of other locations may be considered subject to the availability of placements in those locations, such as: China, Singapore, Japan and Vietnam. In addition, applicants with fluency in other languages may be considered for learning assignment locations such as France, Germany, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands.

We’re looking for graduates from any discipline as long as you have a Level 8 degree on the NFQ Framework and a minimum of 2:1 (expected or attained). Above that, we want graduates that have a passion for the Irish Food and Drink Industry. We’re working for and with food producers that have that passion, so you should too. We also want graduates that are resilient, motivated, hardworking, and team players. 

Depending on your role you might be based in one of Bord Bia's 14 overseas offices in locations as diverse as: New York, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Dusseldorf, Dubai, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo, as well as their Headquarters in Dublin. All international markets learning assignment roles will be based overseas with the remainder based in Dublin in the various sectors. 

A language is mandatory for some of the learning assignment placement locations. These languages include French, Spanish, German, Italian and Chinese. However, we do have lots of roles in Dublin as well as overseas locations that do not require a language e.g. UK, USA, The Netherlands, Sweden and Dubai. 

While there is no rotation of your main learning assignment placement during the programme, graduates will complete two shorter learning assignments during the 2 year programme. This means graduates will report to a different learning assignment manager one day a week for up to 12 weeks to deliver a project. This will occur twice per graduate, and it allows the graduate to experience a different department/sector. This increases graduates’ employability when they’re finished the programme as they have a wider skill set. Much of the assignments in each of the roles vary and students will gain extensive experience in marketing, communications, and insight, amongst others. 

During the assessment centre interview you can express an interest in a particular location, and this will be taken into account but ultimately the decision about where you are placed lies with Bord Bia. 

This programme combines on-the-job experiential learning in the form of learning assignments projects for Irish clients abroad, with a fully funded monthly scholarship bursary, and academic study leading to a Smurfit Executive Development, UCD Michael Smurfit Business School accredited MSc. As this is a fully funded scholarship opportunity by Bord Bia you will not have to pay academic fees to complete the MSc. 

If your learning assignment placement is in an overseas office that requires a visa, UCD Smurfit and Bord Bia can provide guidance for securing a student and/or internship visa. 

Applications are highly competitive for our programmes. As there are limited spaces not everyone can be chosen. We recommend you try reapplying in the next application year, if you still meet the requirements. We further recommend that you check out our other Talent Academy programmes on offer that might be better suited to you or other MSc programmes in UCD.

You will not be guaranteed a full-time position in Bord Bia upon finishing the programme. However, we place a strong focus on your future career and self-development through offering a module on navigating the industry. There a multitude of networking opportunities for you while in your market e.g. trade fairs, food conferences, client engagements to name a few.

We also create a CV booklet of all participants for sharing with the Irish food, drink and horticulture industry towards the end of your programme. With all of this in mind, we hope that with your experience gained on the programme, combined with your critically acclaimed Masters from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business that you will be highly sought after in the Irish Food, Drink and Horticulture Industry. Some participants in the past have been offered roles from their learning assignment market placements. You will be part of a strong alumni network and part of the Bord Bia Talent Academy Alumni network where jobs are posted regularly.