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The Ireland Healthcare Graduate Medicine Scholarship, supported by the United Health Foundation and Optum Ireland, will provide two scholarships of €25,000 paid in four instalments of €6,500 for each year of the four-year degree programme.

Students with a home address in Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland, who are applying for our Graduate Entry Medicine programme, starting in August 2024 are eligible to apply.

Priority will be given to candidates who are the first in their family to attend university and/or who have a home address in the ‘North West City Region’ of Donegal and Derry and Strabane Council areas.

Scholarship funding to be used towards tuition fee.


Key Dates

  • 17 April 2024 -  Applications open (2024 entry offer-holders will receive a link to apply directly to their inbox)
  • 27 May 2024 -  Applications close
  • 03 June 2024 - Panel reviews applications and decisions made
  • 04 June 2024 - Successful candidates informed
  • 06 June 2024 - Candidates confirm acceptance of scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the scholarship you must:

  • hold Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland residency status
  • hold an offer for the Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme starting in August 2022 and have met the academic entry criteria
  • be eligible for Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland tuition fee status at Ulster University
  • have an annual household income of £30,000/€34,000 or less based on the median annual earnings (Oct. 2022)

Essential Criteria

  • You hold an offer for the UU MBBS course

    You meet this criterion if you hold a Conditional Firm (CF) offer for the MBBS course starting in August 2024.

    You do not need to submit evidence, the School of Medicine will confirm you meet this criterion.

  • You are eligible for Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland fees status

    You meet this criterion if:

    • you are eligible for NI fee status
    • you are eligible for ROI fee status

    You do not need to submit evidence, the School of Medicine will confirm you meet this criterion

  • A resident of Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland

    You meet this criterion if, at the start of the MBBS programme in August 2024, you:

    • hold Northern Ireland (NI) residency status or have lived in NI for 3 years
    • hold Republic of Ireland (ROI) residency status or have lived in ROI for 3 years

    Proof of address

    You can provide evidence of your home address by providing a letter that includes your name and address such as:

    • utility bill
    • bank statement
    • rent/mortgage statement
    • driving licence
    • payslip
    • NHS card
    • benefits letter.

    If you have settled status, please also provide evidence of this and further details.

  • You experience financial barriers or have a low household income at the point of entry to the course

    You meet this criterion if, at the point of entry to the MBBS course in August 2024, your household income is:

    Evidence of income

    Please provide details of your current income and how you anticipate it will change when you commence the course.
    Where possible you should provide household income should be evidenced by providing the following.

    NI applicants

    NI applications must provide evidence of:

    • a P60 for the tax year 2022-23
    • a photocopy of a recent (within last 3 months) payslip
    • a recent income support document e.g. evidence that
    • receipt of Income Support or Working Tax Credits, or another benefits document.
    • a photocopy or screenshot of your wage slip which will confirm the level of pay and number of hours worked.

    ROI applicants

    ROI applicants should provide equivalent documentation.

Additional Criteria

Additional consideration will be given to those who meet any of the following criteria: