Government of Ireland - HEI Our Rural Future - Rural Development Master Bursary

The Minister for Rural and Community Development launched this new bursary in 2024 to support Masters Students in the area of rural development. The initiative is being rolled out in partnership with other third level colleges and delivers upon a commitment in the five-year rural development policy, Our Rural Future. Two students will be supported with a bursary at UCC with a total value of €20,000 towards fees for the MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives programme at Cork University Business School. The bursary is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DCRD). Selected students will engage with the DCRD and other nominated departments in the formulation of specific research questions focused on advancing the objectives of Our Rural Future and providing an evidence base to aid the development of public policy or support evaluation of specific policy challenges. The bursary recognises the impact of rural development studies and education and demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to supporting research to contribute to the evidence base underpinning national policies relevant to sustainable rural development. The initiative was developed in collaboration with the Higher Education Institution Network which was established by the Department to encourage the wider take-up of rural development research at postgraduate level.