Due to a national shortage, the medical community has expressed urgency in recruiting and training additional medical practitioners. 

The scholarship program, developed to address the shortage, includes partnerships with Queen’s University Belfast, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Ulster University, National University of Ireland, Galway, and the Royal College of Surgeons Dublin. It is focused on underserved students seeking degrees in primary or specialised care, or emerging health care technologies.

Welcoming the news, Professor Pascal McKeown, Head of School and Dean of Education, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Queen’s University is delighted to become a partner of the Ireland Health Care Scholarship Program. 

“We aim to provide our students with an educational experience that is commensurate with the best universities in the world. We wish to ensure that those who have the ability to benefit from such an education should have the opportunity to do so. This is why we are proud to be a part of the Ireland Health Care Program which will support students from the Northwest to fulfil their potential.” 

Padraig Monaghan, Managing Director of Optum Ireland and UK, said: “The United Health Foundation is committed to helping cultivate a modern, diverse health workforce in Ireland. We are honoured to launch this new scholarship program with Queen’s University Belfast.”  

More than €350,000 will support 31 students across the five academic partners. All scholarship students will be paired with a mentor and will participate in community volunteer activities.

The Ireland Health Care Scholarship Program for 2022-23 is open for applications, with application forms available on each of the partnering university websites. The deadline for applications is Friday May 27 2022. 

For further information on scholarships at Queen's, please visit https://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/funding-scholarships/