DCU announces University of Sanctuary scholarships for 2025/26

Five postgraduate taught part-time or full-time Master’s scholarships are available for refugees and international protection applicants who are not eligible for state support. This brings to 68 the total number of DCU Sanctuary scholarships awarded to date for DCU programmes. 

Announcing the scholarship programme for 2025, the President of DCU, Professor Daire Keogh, said;

“We are extremely proud of our University of Sanctuary programme and delighted to play our part in enabling the awardees to upskill to postgraduate degrees and enhance their employment opportunities. The University always strives to foster a spirit of inclusion and welcoming to refugees and international protection applicants as they attempt to rebuild their lives in Dublin and Ireland, and this scholarship programme is a vital element of this commitment."

The University of Sanctuary programme was established to offer a place of welcome, hospitality and support to students who are refugees or have experience of the international protection system. Throughout the year, several events take place across the University to learn what it means to be seeking Sanctuary and to promote awareness of Sanctuary initiatives. 

DCU's University of Sanctuary coordinator, Karina Curley, emphasised the difference the scholarship makes to the awardees;

“The scholarship is life-changing, opening up new opportunities and offering hope amid very challenging circumstances. The students are inspirational and show amazing resilience and determination to succeed in their studies”.

The scholarship application process will open on Monday, 14 April and close on Friday, 20 June at 5pm. Further details and the application form are available on the DCU University of Sanctuary webpage. 

It is important to note that applicants must have a firm DCU programme offer to be eligible for a scholarship. For more information, contact sanctuary@dcu.ie.