Intel Ireland is inviting applications from Leaving Certificate students for the Intel Science and Engineering Scholarship. This scholarship is open to current 6th year students who intend studying physical science, engineering or computer science at university in September 2006.

Over the last few years, Intel has increased the number of post graduate scholarships from five to 10 a year as a direct response to the growing need to ensure a pipeline of suitable research postgraduates. Intel will fund one undergraduate scholarship and a number of bursary awards for students from their Link Schools this year. The bursary awards will be awarded to students who do well at the interview. There is now also a scholarship programme organised by Intel Shannon which awards scholarships to women undertaking a science or engineering course.

Dr. Padraig O’Murchú, Intel Higher Education manager says, “We are very much committed to the promotion and support of science and engineering programmes in local schools and we continue to offer a science and engineering scholarship to these schools. I encourage any interested student to contact their career guidance teacher for more information.”

The scholarship award is open to students that apply to degree courses in physical science or engineering that includes an industrial placement. Students applying to all other science or engineering courses will be considered for bursary awards.

The scholarship is worth €8,000, over the course of the four years of the degree course. The successful applicant will have an Intel mentor who will be there to give advice and be a direct link with Intel. The student will also complete his/her industrial work placement in Intel. The bursaries are worth €2,000 and are awarded in the first year of the degree course; these courses may or may not include an industrial placement. Both awards also require that the applicant is available to do four one-hour science talks or mentoring sessions in local schools during the course of their study.

Interested Leaving Cert students intending to study a physical science or engineering course at third level should fill out an application form, which have been distributed in the local schools. Forms should be returned to the career guidance teacher by April 1st.

Each school will then shortlist two students to go forward for first round interview at Intel at the end of April. Following CAO offers, successful candidates will be called for a second round interview in August. The scholarship and bursaries will be awarded to students who are successful at the interview stage and who obtain a place on a degree course in one of the specified areas. If you would like more information about the scholarships please contact Rachel Dennedy on 6067000.

The Link schools are: Colaiste Chiaráin, Leixlip; Confey College, Leixlip, St. Joseph’s College, Lucan; Colaiste Padraig CBS, Lucan; Lucan Community College; St. Wolstan’s Community School, Celbridge; Salesian College, Celbridge; Maynooth Post Primary; Scoil Dara, Kilcock; Scoil Mhuire, Clane; and St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne.

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.