Laois student awarded prestigious Coillte scholarship

THE Coillte scholarship, launched in January 2024, offers up to €20,000 – €5,000 a year – to students who plan to pursue a career in forestry through third-level education. The eligible courses are run from UCD and SETU ‒ agricultural science at UCD and the bachelor of science in forestry, level 7 and 8, at SETU.

This year’s winners were announced on Wednesday 17 December ‒ Olivia Black (Dublin), Oisín McGuinness (Kilkenny) and Evan McSpadden, the Laois winner, who has started studying forestry at SETU.

"I’m really enjoying my first semester at SETU, especially the hands-on and practical elements of the course. The scholarship has taken a lot of pressure off and I’d encourage anyone who enjoys the outdoors and wants a practical career to apply,’’ the Laois winner said.

At the same time the recipients were revealed, Coillte opened applications for its 2026 Forestry Scholarship Programme. The application process is in three stages ‒ an initial application form with a deadline of Friday 1 May, followed by a video submission and then a final interview. Since its January 2024 launch, six students have received the scholarship, with Coillte reporting a 25 percent year-on-year increase in applications.

In addition to the bursary, each scholarship winner will have the opportunity to work in Coillte for every summer of their degree and, upon the successful completion of third-level, they will have the option to join Coillte full-time.