The Department for the Economy has announced up to £1.8m funding to provide bursaries for 100 students to undertake a master’s degree in either Queen's University Belfast or Ulster University in 2021/22.
Each student will have their fees paid and receive a £10,000 payment, funded through the Department’s Postgraduate Award Scheme, which currently pays the course fees and support payment for around 729 postgraduate students studying each year.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: “This new initiative for bursaries to enable 100 students to take up extra master’s course places is particularly welcome, as it is being announced during Northern Ireland’s centenary year.
“The funding will help provide the critical skills that we need as part of our response to the Covid pandemic, and will contribute to laying the foundations for economic recovery in Northern Ireland," she continued.
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“100 students will be funded to undertake a one year taught master’s course in 2021/22. Under the existing terms of the Department’s Postgraduate Award Scheme at least 85 of the places will be available to Northern Ireland and Great Britain students, with up to 15 being available to international students, reinforcing Northern Ireland’s attractiveness as a place to study and work.
"These new bursaries will support the skills policy objectives set out in my 10X Vision for the Northern Ireland economy, by contributing to the development of a strong and relevant pipeline of skills.
“I am confident that this initiative, along with other measures in the Department’s Economic Recovery Action Plan, will place the Northern Ireland economy on a strong footing as it moves forward into its next 100 years.”
Further details will be announced in due course.
