Bursary supports are available to successful applicants, based on merit.

Receive expert coaching to help you reach your competitive best

Avail of our outstanding high performance training and fitness facilities as a sport scholar.

Set and achieve your goals with academic support, career guidance, academic coaching and peer mentorship.

Work with a DCU Dual-Career Mentor to balance your elite sporting commitments and studies.

Maximise your performance with personalised strength and conditioning programmes.

Fuel performance and recovery with personalised nutrition plans. 

Manage and prevent injuries with access to athlete therapy clinics and injury management supports. 

Compete for DCU in national university competitions and European and World University Competitions (based on selection).

Receive priority access to on-campus accommodation*.

* Availability is limited, and students are responsible for accommodation fees. Applications must be submitted through DCU Accommodation at www.dcuaccommodation.ie to be considered.

CAO Points Concession is an academic entry scheme for performance athletes at undergraduate level. A number of academic places offering a CAO points concession are reserved for outstanding candidates who have achieved a very high level of sporting performance and who are committed to continuing to develop their sporting and academic careers. Successful applicants who have presented all relevant entry requirements and met the sports assessment criteria may be eligible for a points reduction of up to 25 points below the CAO points cut-off for the programme they have applied for. To be considered for this entry scheme, applicants must achieve a minimum of 300 points.

Sport Scholarships is a post-entry support programme that gives a student a number of benefits to assist them to successfully manage their sporting and academic commitments. Sports Scholarships are intended for persons of outstanding sporting ability.

Yes, you can apply for both the CAO Points Concession and the Sport Scholarship programmes.

The CAO Points Concession programme is specifically for CAO applicants entering the first year of an undergraduate programme at DCU. All CAO undergraduate applicants who apply will automatically be considered for both the CAO Points Concession and the Sport Scholarship programme.

All other applicants will be considered for the DCU Sport Scholarship programme only.

Applications are by an online application form.  Applications for programmes for the 2025-2026 academic year will open on the 1st of February 2025 and the closing date for receipt of applications is the 1st of May 2025 at 5 pm. There is one application form for CAO Points Concession and Sport Scholarships. Upon application, you will need to indicate if you wish to be considered for one or both of these programmes. Please note the CAO Points Concession and Sport Scholarships are separate programmes. If you choose to apply for both programmes your application will be assessed separately and you will be notified of the outcome in each programme separately. 

To apply for the DCU Sports Scholarship programme athletes must fulfil the general eligibility criteria as listed below. Information on what sports are considered is available in the next section.

• Applications will be considered from current students and also from prospective students. In order to be considered for a sport scholarship prospective students must meet the DCU admission requirements through the CAO system and must enrol on a programme of academic study at DCU. Current students must show academic progression and maintain a satisfactory academic standard throughout the duration of their course.
• Only sports recognised by Sport Ireland will be considered. Please visit the Sport Ireland website at www.sportireland.ie for a list of recognised sports.
• Only sports whereby DCU has a respective sports club and sporting discipline will be considered.  To view the list of DCU Sports Clubs visit www.dcuclubsandsocs.ie
• Maintain an appropriate level of commitment to the DCU sports club in your sport, in intervarsity and other competitions and/or training.
• Contribute to the administration, coaching, promotion and development of the DCU club.

We accept applications for our focus sports: Athletics, Gaelic Games, Rugby and Soccer. Additionally, we welcome applications from athletes in other sports who have achieved Junior or Senior International standards, competed at National, European, World Championship, or Olympic levels, and are part of a high-performance squad with their National Governing Body of Sport (NGB). 

Applicants in other sports should note that: 

• Only sports recognised by Sport Ireland will be considered. Please visit the Sport Ireland website at www.sportireland.ie for a list of recognised sports. 

• Only sports whereby DCU has a respective sports club and sporting discipline will be considered.  To view the list of DCU Sports Clubs visit www.dcuclubsandsocs.ie

Please note the following:

• Meeting all the criteria below does not mean an automatic offer of a CAO Points Concession and/or Sport Scholarship.
• The eligibility and selection criteria reflect the evolving nature of CAO Points Concession and Sport Scholarships, and DCU reserves the right to amend the criteria for selection according to the requirements of the scheme.
• DCU reserves the right to set the definition of performance and the sport-specific eligibility criteria to reflect the performance level of athletes based at the University.

You can make an application in more than one sport.  You only need to submit one application and detail the information for all your sports. 

Please note Sport Scholarships are only offered in one sport and students are expected to commit to the respective DCU Sports Club in which their Sport Scholarship is offered.

You cannot edit or amend your application after submission, however, if your achievements have significantly changed or improved after submission please list these and email them to Molly Moran, DCU Sport Scholarship and Performance Manager at molly.moran@dcu.ie 

The personal statement is an opportunity for you to make your application stand out and to add any other information that you feel will support your application such as your academic aims, how a DCU Sport Scholarship would benefit you and how you will impact sport in DCU.

You need to provide the contact details for two referees. Please note you do not need to provide written references at this stage in the application process. One referee should be from your National Governing Body of Sport and the second referee should be from your Coach, Manager or Teacher. 

For GAA applicants one referee should be from your Intercounty Manager or County Board, and the second referee should be from your Coach, Manager or Teacher.

Please note DCU may contact the referees and/or the National Governing Body of Sport, High-Performance Manager and/or Team Coach to verify an applicant's sporting achievements.

The deadline for receipt of online applications for CAO Points Concession and Sport Scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year is the 1st of May 2025 at 5 pm. Late applications past the deadline will not be accepted. Sport Scholarships are offered on an annual basis so if you miss the deadline you can apply each year that you are a student at DCU.

For CAO Points Concession
Applicants who have applied through the CAO and who have submitted a CAO Points Concession application form by 1st May will be assessed during May and June. Applicants will receive an e-mail communication with the outcome of their CAO Points Concession application from DCU Registry before the 1st of  July 2025. Those deemed eligible will progress in the assessment process. 

Eligible applicants are made offers through the CAO at round one in August. This academic entry scheme and any potential offer of a place at DCU through CAO does not include an offer of a Sports Scholarship.

Ineligible applicants will not proceed further in the application process. Ineligibility for this specific scheme does not prevent an applicant from progressing with their application through the CAO for assessment based only on their qualifications.  

For Sport Scholarships
Sport Scholarship applications are assessed during May and June. Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email from DCU Sport before the 1st of July 2025.

Eligible candidates will advance to the next stage, with their applications re-assessed in August, considering whether they have accepted an offer for a course at DCU. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to attend Sport Scholarship interviews, which will be held in early September.

Ineligible applicants will not proceed further in the application process.

The outcome of both CAO Points Concession and Sport Scholarship applications will be communicated by e-mail using the e-mail address listed in the application form.