The scholarship programme for the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School has opened to applications, with a €100,000 fund at stake.

The Aspire programme is offering up to three MBA and nine MSc scholarships to graduates, funding 50 per cent of the course fees.

The scholarships are awarded by a selection committee, chaired by former Paddy Power chief financial officer Cormac McCarthy.

This is the seventh year of the programme,which was established in 2010 as the result of an anonymous €500,000 donation made as a contribution to the recovery of the Irish economy, and was specifically intended to help those who may have thought the business school was beyond their means.

Almost 70 people have been helped by the programme since it began.

“At UCD Smurfit School our primary purpose is to educate future business leaders who will have a profound impact on society,” said ProfCiarán Ó hÓgartaigh, dean of UCD Business. “This scholarship programme defines us as a school, and adds to our experience and that of our students. UCD Smurfit School stands for equality of opportunity and talent.”

Applications are being accepted until April 29th.