Scholarship Opportunities available for GPA members at South East Technological University

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) along with South East Technological University (SETU) are delighted to announce details of a number of scholarship opportunities for inter-county players on both the Carlow and Waterford campuses of SETU.  This announcement further strengthens the support available to players to develop off the field of play and builds on the existing partnership which has proved very successful for a number of years.

Opportunities at SETU Waterford Campus

SETU Waterford Campus will continue to provide five annual scholarships through their Business School.  The designated programmes include scholarships for:

• Master of Business Studies (MBS)
• MSc in Digital Marketing and the Executive MBA programme
• Masters by Research (considered on a case-by-case basis)

In addition, two new annual scholarship opportunities have been agreed with the Department of Sport and Exercise Science. The designated programmes include scholarships for any full time or part time Postgraduate/Masters courses available.

Opportunities at SETU Carlow Campus

SETU Carlow Campus will continue to provide two annual postgraduate scholarships.  The postgraduate scholarship, will be available across 34 postgraduate programmes of study at SETU Carlow Campus, from Higher Certificate to Masters level, across six academic departments: engineering: science; computing and data science; business; digital marketing and design; humanities and social sciences. A full list of the eligible courses is available here.

Speaking on the scholarship announcement GPA CEO Tom Parsons said; “It is fantastic to be able to make these, potentially life-changing, opportunities available to our members.  One of our key pillars is development and we could not fulfil our objectives were it not for our relationships with third level educational institutions across Ireland.  So, on behalf of our members, I want to give a heartfelt thanks to the South East Technological University for their support of inter-county players. 

“To the teams on both the Waterford and Carlow campuses who have made these scholarships possible, they will make a real difference in the lives of our members.”

Prof Denis Harrington- Head of Department of Graduate Business SETU Waterford said; “We are pleased again to offer GPA scholarships to eligible postgraduate business students. The scholarships provide opportunities to talented sportspersons to further their studies as well as extending their personal and professional development at the SETU School of Business. Past recipients have contributed fully to the scholarship programme, mentoring and supporting younger students as well as attending school and institutional networking events. We are delighted that these opportunities will be available again this year for incoming students.”  

Dr Cíara Losty, SETU Waterford Course Leader for the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology said; “We are delighted to be able to offer these scholarships for the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Waterford Campus, to GPA members.  Supporting inter-county players in their academic goals, and pursuing their further education is a key objective of our department.  A huge thank you to the GPA and SETU for collaborating and making this happen. We look forward to welcoming GPA members onto our programmes.”

David Denieffe Vice-President for Academic Affairs SETU said; “We in the South East Technological University recognise the relationship between academic performance, health and wellbeing and in acknowledgement of this are delighted to continue this successful partnership between the GPA and the University. This collaboration highlights our combined commitment to the holistic development of student athletes by supporting them to fulfil their academic and sporting potential.”

Players who have any queries on these scholarship opportunities should contact the GPA’s Education Manager Karen Thorpe – karen@gaelicplayers.com.

The following are the deadlines by which applications must be received:

• SETU Carlow Campus – Wednesday 10^th, August
• SETU Waterford Campus Department of Sport & Exercise Science – Friday 12^th, August
• SETU Waterford Campus Business School – Friday 19^th, August