University scholarship for Russellstown computer science student

A 24-year-old Mullingar woman who entered Maynooth University as a mature student last Autumn admits that she found the adventure less daunting than she anticipated when she discovered that remarkably, three of her former school friends from St Finian’s were embarking on the same journey.

“It’s nice to know others there the same age as you, because some of the younger students are interested in socialising, but we are just anxious to get home!” says Sandra Pilszak, from Russellstown who is studying for a bachelor’s degree in computer science, while her friends are studying different degree subjects.

As well as finding she had a set of ready-made friends in Maynooth, Sandra’s return to college as a mature student has also been eased by a grant from the registered charity Uversity.

“Without it, I just would not have been able to afford to go there,” says Sandra.

While Sandra works part-time, it would be pretty much impossible to fund all the costs involved.

“The scholarship gives me roughly €400 a month – but a monthly ticket to Maynooth costs €241.”

It may have taken Sandra a bit longer than some students to determine the direction in which she wished to go in life – but she is loving the course she was accepted for, and dreams of one day maybe even getting to work for Google, especially if that gave her the chance to work on the development of self-drive cars.

Born in Poland, Sandra transferred to school in this country while in 4th Class.

Prior to her Leaving Cert, Sandra suffered from depression, and while by her exam year she was recovering well, she just didn’t know what she wanted to do.

“So I got a job and decided to try over time to figure it out,” she recalls.

As it happens, that job was with C&F in Collinstown.

“Many of the older people there told me that like me, they had gone in ‘for a year’ to figure things out – and they were still there.”

Sandra later got jobs waitressing, and temping in Dunnes Stores - but kept the advice of her C&F colleagues firmly in mind, and so went to the Women’s Community Projects in Mullingar to study business for a year.

“While doing that course I found out about software development,” she says, crediting a tutor on the business course with introducing her to that field, which she discovered she loved.

That prompted her to undertake a two-year software development course with FAS in Garrycastle in Athlone, which saw her receive a Level 5 in the field, and left her keen to study the subject further.

The Uversity “Higher Education Scholarships For Adult Learners” is what made Sandra’s current progression a real option.

Sandra works part-time as well as receiving the grant, and is delighted at the way things have come together for her.

Uversity’s scholarships provide multi-annual financial support for recipients to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree for the first time in participating third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Scholarships can be in any subject area and are tailored to recipients’ financial circumstances to cover the costs associated with higher education.

Uversity is currently accepting applications for its 2020/21 Higher Education Scholarships For Adult Learners until March 1 2020. Uversity’s scholarships are intended to remove financial barriers so adult learners can unlock their potential and realise their ambitions.

Applicants must be 23 years and older, a citizen of an EEA member state or Switzerland resident in Ireland or Northern Ireland for 3 years or more by 1st January 2020. They should be returning to higher education after a break from education of 3 years or more or have recently completed a higher education progression / preparation course. Successful applicants must apply to and be offered a place on a Bachelor’s Programme for 2020/21 in participating institution(s) on the island of Ireland.

Applications must be submitted online with the candidate’s biographical and contact details, education and employment to date, a motivation statement and details of two referees.

All applications will be reviewed by Uversity for eligibility and may be shortlisted for interview. Successful candidates will be notified by 1st July 2020.

To date Uversity has awarded 49 Scholarships to pursue Bachelor Degrees at 18 higher education institutions on the island of Ireland. 35 Scholars in studying in the Republic of Ireland and 14 Scholars are in Northern Ireland.