Alex Greaney
Twelve women have cause to celebrate as they become Think Again Scholars at University College Dublin. The objective of the new Think Again Scholarship programme is to reach out to mature women who are distant from education who want to study part-time or full-time for a degree.
Women from low-income households, lone parents, those with a disability, members of ethnic minorities – to mention but a few groups – face additional challenges if they wish to study at third level. The UCD Access and Lifelong Learning Centre is asking these women to ‘think again’ about taking that big step to attend UCD by helping them overcome the challenges.
The program has been made possible by a generous private donation and is funded through the UCD Foundation. It is intended to foster academic excellence by covering costs related to the scholar’s programme of study and funding a wrap-around support mechanism during the course of study.
For many, attending Higher Education is about stretching meagre resources to the limit and in a time of high inflation that stretch has become increasingly tougher. UCD has estimated that the average cost of going to college in Ireland now stands at just under €14,000 a year. The Think Again Scholarship allows an additionally challenged cohort of women the opportunity to unlock their potential, flourish, and grow at university and will eventually start a meaningful and rewarding career and return as a positive force in their communities.
“The scholarship was an amazing gift for me. It was like I had passed exams that I didn’t even sit yet. It will help me concentrate on my studies without always thinking about money”. Leona Rogers, who is now studying a BSc in Nursing Children’s & General – Think Again Scholar 2023.
UCD Access and Lifelong Learning (ALL), is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable learning experience for every student. It provides information on the various pathways that can be taken into UCD and delivers supports to assist those on their educational journey. Supports include, disability, academic, and financial supports.
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