The Shackleton Scholarships Launch

Advance Your Career in Sustainability with The Shackleton Scholarships

Three scholarship places available for the 2025/26 academic year, covering 90% of EU fees for the UCD MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability. Open to individuals with a strong commitment to sustainability.

UCD Innovation Academy is pleased to announce The Shackleton Scholarships. Three scholarship places will be available for the academic year 25/26 which will fund 90% of EU fees for the UCD MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability for the successful applicants. The scholarships will be awarded based on the individual’s demonstrable commitment to sustainability. The UCD MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability is a unique masters programme that combines sustainability knowledge with design skills, ensuring students are ready to apply their learning in real time with real impact on the vital field of sustainability.

The award is named for Irish polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, whose name is also given to one of our active learning spaces, the Shackleton Lounge. It embodies UCD Innovation Academy’s spirit of exploration, adaptability and teamwork.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed based on: 

1. Previous demonstrable commitment to sustainability. This refers in particular to the applicant’s interest, motivation and intent concerning sustainability in practice. This might include, but is not limited to, some of the below: 

• Min. 1 year work experience in an area related to the SDGs
• Min. 2 years volunteering in an area related to the SDGs or extracurricular commitment to the SDGs (e.g. active membership of a university sustainability society)
• Leading or supporting a significant project related to the SDGs, min. duration 3 months
• Undertaking additional training in the SDGs (e.g. academic qualifications, professional qualifications, microcredentials, workshops)
• Publications (academic or popular, physical or virtual) pertaining to the SDGs
• Any other activity related to the SDGs, e.g. organisational ambassadorial role or conference delegate role

      2. The impact applicants seek to achieve (based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals) through participation in the MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability. 

      3. The successful applicant will take on an ambassadorial role for the MSc for approx. one year from Sep 2025 to Sep 2026 and their suggestions for what this might encompass, and their aptitude for this, will be taken into account.

Application Guidelines:

• Prospective applicants should first apply to the MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability and follow the standard application process.
• Scholarship applications should be submitted to innovation.academy@ucd.ie with the subject line: Shackleton Scholarship Application | NAME OF APPLICANT
• Scholarship application should include an up to date CV that documents your relevant experience (two page max) and a letter of motivation tailored for the scholarship application (two page max) and addressing the three key areas of the selection criteria along with any other information as deemed appropriate.
  • Note this letter should be a separate document and distinct from the standard motivational letter required as part of the overall application documents for the MSc.

Terms and Conditions

• Applicants must be resident in Ireland for at least one year at the time of application. Evidence of residency will be required in the form of utility bill or bank statement.
• Applicants must meet the standard eligibility criteria for the MSc.
• The student must commence the programme in the academic year applied for. If the student declines their offer the scholarship cannot be retained in the event of reapplication for the same academic year. If the students defers their place, the scholarship cannot be retained for the next academic year.
• Full time enrolment, attendance, and completion of assignments are required to retain the scholarship award.
• In the event of withdrawal, inactivity, suspension, or dismissal from the university, the student will not retain the scholarship. If the reasons for withdrawal or inactivity are medical, the student may appeal in writing to retain their scholarship and must provide supporting documentation (e.g. doctor’s letter). 
• Students must not be in receipt of any other scholarship or Government grant scheme.

Evaluation Criteria

• An evaluation panel comprising UCD Innovation Academy senior leadership will review applications.
• Potential awardees will be ranked based on an assessment of the three criteria. 
• If needed, a competitive interview process will take place.

Unit contact details:

innovation.academy@ucd.ie, ph: 01 716 2065