Scholarship Award

We give away a total of €8,000 each year in Student Scholarships!

People First Credit Union is committed to providing its members with valuable financial services. We recognize that third-level education can be a financial burden on students and their families, we want to help reduce the financial strain of registration fees, rent, travel, bills, books etc.

Scholarship Structure

Main Draw
7 × €1,000

School Scholarships

One €1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student who sat their Leaving Certificate this year (2026) in each of the seven secondary schools within the People First Credit Union common bond.

  • St Mary's CBS Portlaoise
  • Portlaoise College
  • Scoil Chríost Rí Portlaoise
  • Dunamase College Portlaoise
  • Heywood Community School
  • Athy College
  • Ardscoil na Trionóide
&
1 × €1,000

Open Members' Scholarship

This scholarship is open to:

  • Members attending a secondary school outside our common bond.
  • Members who did not complete the Leaving Certificate this year but are entering third-level education for the first time this year..
  • You must be a member of People First Credit Union.
  • You must be residing in our common bond.
  • You must be commencing an eligible third-level course in Autumn 2026.

Terms and Conditions

  • This is the official application page for the People First Credit Union Scholarship Award. Only applications submitted through this page will be considered.
  • The closing date for applications is 1st December 2026. People First Credit Union reserves the right to extend this date.
  • Applicants must be active members of People First Credit Union.
  • Applicants must reside in our common bond.
  • Only one application per student will be accepted.
  • Applicants must have sat the Leaving Certificate and must be commencing an eligible third-level course or similar Level 5 course in Autumn 2026 for the first time.
  • The course must have a minimum duration of one year. People First Credit Union reserves the right to determine whether a course qualifies for the award.
  • Successful applicants may be required to provide proof of course acceptance and attendance.
  • The draw will be conducted at People First Credit Union offices by an appointed panel of staff and supervised by credit union management.
  • Winners will be announced at or before the People First Credit Union AGM and will also be contacted by telephone, email, or letter.
  • The scholarship recipient (or a nominated representative) must attend the presentation ceremony to accept the award. Failure to attend may result in the scholarship being awarded to another applicant.

 

Application Form

If the above link doesn't work, please click here to access the form.

Past Winners

2025/26 Winners
  • Liam Maher - St. Mary's CBS
  • Nathan Lam - Portlaoise College
  • Sarah Murrell - Scoil Chriost Ri
  • Szymon Trela - Dunamase College
  • Grace Foxe - Heywood CS
  • Robyn Dwyer - Ardscoil na Trionoide
  • Maita Phairah - Athy College
2024/25 Winners
  • Rian Maher- St. Mary's CBS
  • Sorina Stratu- Portlaoise College
  • Tara Ring- Scoil Chriost Ri
  • Sadhbh Bergin- Dunamase College
  • Ava Churchouse- Heywood CS
  • Oisin O'Donohue- Ardscoil na Trionoide
  • Elizabeth Byrne- Athy College
2023/24 Winners
  • Molly O' Rourke - Heywood Community School
  • Gary Young O' Shea - St. Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
  • Gracious Adebiyi - Scoil Chríost Rí
  • Oisin Grufferty - Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy
  • Naomi Grant Akande - Portlaoise College 
2022/23 Winners
  • Sinead Larkin – Scoil Chriost Rí Portlaoise
  • Laura Vesey – Heywood Community School
  • Gloria Okafor – Ardscoil Na Trionoide
  • Cúán Tilson – Portlaoise College
  • Jason Alade – St Marys CBS