The Dr. Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship

All candidates with entrepreneurial experience in the Irish market, who successfully gain admission to the Trinity MBA are eligible to be considered for a scholarship. 

We encourage applicants to showcase their achievements, experience and potential throughout their MBA application. Scholarships are awarded on merit, based on a comprehensive assessment by the Trinity MBA Admissions Committee, which recognises candidates of exceptional calibre. Trinity Business School reserves the right to withhold scholarships where the required standard is not met. Scholarship decisions are final, and further correspondence regarding outcomes cannot be accommodated. 

To apply for a Trinity MBA scholarship, complete the ‘Finance and Scholarship’ section of the online MBA application. Scholarship consideration is available to candidates who successfully apply to the Trinity MBA and satisfy the programme’s admissions requirements. 

Both MBA applications and scholarship awards are assessed on a rolling basis. With limited programme places and scholarship funding available, early application is strongly recommended. 

Eligibility and Application 

1. Scholarship Funding and Basis of Award

The Trinity MBA Merit Scholarship is funded by Trinity Business School and awarded on a competitive, merit-based basis. All awards are subject to the eligibility requirements, selection criteria and Terms and Conditions set out below. 

2. Eligible Programmes

The scholarship is open to successful applicants who have secured admission to one of the following Trinity Business School programmes: 

• Full-time MBA 
• Executive MBA 
• Flexible Executive MBA 

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of their chosen programme to be eligible for scholarship consideration. 

3. Eligibility of Incoming Students

Scholarships are awarded exclusively to incoming students before the commencement of their MBA programme. 

Applications for scholarship consideration must be submitted as part of the initial MBA admissions process and cannot be made after a student has commenced their studies. 

Students enrolled in the Executive MBA or Flexible Executive MBA are not eligible to apply for a new scholarship before commencing their second year of study or at any subsequent stage of their programme. 

4. Application Requirements and Rolling Awards

Only complete scholarship applications submitted through the prescribed MBA application process will be considered. 

Scholarship applications are reviewed and awards are made on a rolling basis (annually in line with the academic year) until the available scholarship funding has been allocated. 

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required information and supporting documentation are submitted. Early application is strongly recommended, as scholarship funding is limited and may be exhausted before the commencement of the academic year. 

5. Scholarship Selection Criteria

Scholarship recipients will be selected on merit following a holistic assessment of their MBA application. 

The Trinity MBA Admissions Committee will evaluate each candidate's overall qualifications, academic and professional achievements, experience, leadership potential and suitability in determining scholarship awards. 

Trinity Business School reserves the right not to award a scholarship where no applicant is deemed to meet the required standard. 

Scholarship Decisions and Acceptance 

6. Selection Authority and Finality of Decisions

All scholarship decisions will be made by the Trinity MBA Admissions Committee. 

Applicants will be notified of the outcome within two weeks of the relevant Committee decision. 

All scholarship selection and award decisions are final. No further correspondence or appeals concerning these decisions will be considered, except for appeals relating to scholarship reinstatement following a documented medical interruption, as provided for under Clause 16. 

7. Acceptance of Scholarship Offers

Successful applicants must formally accept their scholarship offer by the deadline specified in the scholarship offer notification issued by the Trinity MBA Admissions Committee. 

It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure that acceptance is communicated in accordance with the instructions provided. 

Failure to formally accept the scholarship offer by the specified deadline will be deemed a rejection of the offer, and the scholarship will lapse. 

8. Declining Admission and Subsequent Applications

Where an applicant declines an offer of admission accompanied by a scholarship award, the associated scholarship offer will automatically lapse. 

Applicants who subsequently reapply for admission will not retain any previously awarded scholarship and must be considered afresh under the scholarship arrangements applicable to their new application. 

Scholarship Value and Application to Tuition Fees 

9. Application of Scholarship Funding

Scholarship awards will only be applied as a deduction against the recipient's MBA tuition fees and will be reflected in the student's University account. The award cannot be used for any other means.

For the Full-time MBA, the scholarship deduction will be applied before programme registration, which ordinarily takes place during July and August ahead of the programme's commencement in September. 

10. Executive MBA and Flexible Executive MBA Funding Allocation

For recipients enrolled in the Executive MBA or Flexible Executive MBA, the total scholarship award will be allocated equally across the two years of study. 

Fifty per cent of the total scholarship value will be applied to the recipient's tuition fee account before the commencement of Year One. 

The remaining fifty per cent will be applied before the commencement of Year Two, subject to the recipient maintaining eligibility under these Terms and Conditions. 

The allocation of scholarship funding across two academic years does not constitute a separate scholarship award for Year Two. 

11. Restriction on Combining Scholarships

The Trinity MBA Merit Scholarship cannot be combined with any other tuition fee scholarship. 

Recipients may not hold this scholarship concurrently with another TCD scholarship awarded towards MBA tuition fees.

12. Non-Transferability

Scholarship awards are non-transferable and apply exclusively to the MBA programme specified in the scholarship offer letter. All scholarships are strictly a tuition fee reduction and cannot be transferred to cover any other costs or redeemed in cash.

A scholarship awarded for one MBA programme cannot be transferred to another programme without the prior written consent of the Trinity MBA Admissions Committee. 

13. Deferral of Scholarship Awards

Scholarship awards cannot be deferred to a future academic year or intake. 

A scholarship is valid only for the programme and intake specified in the relevant scholarship offer letter. 

Continued Eligibility and Withdrawal 

14. Enrolment and Attendance Requirements

Recipients must maintain continuous enrolment in their designated MBA programme, in accordance with the prescribed mode of study, and fulfil the applicable attendance requirements throughout the period for which the scholarship is awarded. 

These requirements apply equally to recipients enrolled in the Full-time MBA, Executive MBA and Flexible Executive MBA, taking account of the respective programme structures. 

Failure to maintain the required enrolment or attendance status may result in the withdrawal of the scholarship, subject to the provisions concerning documented medical interruptions under Clause 16. 

15. Loss of Scholarship Eligibility

A recipient will lose eligibility for the scholarship if they: 

• Withdraw from or cancel their enrolment in the MBA programme; 
• Become inactive or cease to maintain the required enrolment status; 
• Enrol on a basis that does not comply with the prescribed requirements of their MBA programme; 
• Are suspended from the University; or 
• Are dismissed from the University. 

Where the change in enrolment status results from a documented medical interruption, the recipient may seek reinstatement of the scholarship in accordance with Clause 16. 

16. Medical Interruptions and Scholarship Reinstatement

A recipient whose enrolment is interrupted for medical reasons may submit a written appeal to the Trinity MBA Admissions Committee requesting reinstatement of their scholarship. 

The appeal must be supported by appropriate documentation confirming the medical circumstances and interruption of studies, including relevant medical evidence where applicable. 

Following confirmation of the medical interruption, the Trinity MBA Admissions Committee may approve reinstatement of the original scholarship award. 

Reinstatement is subject to the Committee's review and approval but is not dependent on the availability of scholarship funding in the academic year in which the student resumes their studies. 

Scholarship Recipient Responsibilities 

17. Participation in School Promotional and Ambassador Activities

Scholarship recipients are expected to support the promotional and engagement activities of Trinity Business School and the Trinity MBA programme, both during their studies and following graduation as members of the Trinity MBA alumni community. 

Such participation may include, but is not limited to: 

• Attending MBA recruitment events and open evenings; 
• Engaging with prospective MBA applicants; 
• Participating in interviews or providing testimonials; 
• Contributing to MBA blogs, publications or other communications; and 
• Supporting other reasonable promotional or ambassador activities requested by Trinity Business School. 

Recipients are expected to act as ambassadors for Trinity Business School and the Trinity MBA programme on an occasional basis, as reasonably requested by the School. 

Acceptance of Terms and Conditions 

18. Agreement to Terms and Conditions

By submitting an application for the Trinity MBA Merit Scholarship (via the online MBA application) the applicant acknowledges and agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. 

Recipients who accept a scholarship award are expected to comply with the applicable Terms and Conditions throughout their period of study and to fulfil the ambassadorial expectations outlined in Clause 17 during their studies and as alumni. 

If you have any questions please contact thetrinitymba@tcd.ie