Coillte’s 2026 Forestry Scholarship Deadline Extended

Apply by 6th July for financial support worth up to €20,000

• Deadline extended to Monday 6th July, aligning the scholarship timeline with the CAO Change of Mind submission date, when many students refine their course choices  

• Up to €20,000 available per student to support careers in Ireland’s growing forestry sector 

• Scholarship developed in response to national need for more skilled professionals by 2030 to meet the ambitions of Ireland’s Forest Strategy 

• Applications can be completed online at www.coillte.ie/careers  

15th May 2026: The application deadline for the 2026 Coillte Forestry Scholarship has been extended to Monday 6th July 2026 following feedback from partners across the forestry and education sectors. With many prospective students currently focused on the Leaving Certificate, partners highlighted that an extended window gives people the opportunity to explore forestry as a study and career option post exams, ahead of the final CAO Change of Mind deadline. The extension reflects our shared commitment to ensuring the scholarship is accessible, and to building a diverse and talented pipeline for the future of forestry in Ireland. 

Now in its third year, the Coillte Forestry Scholarship Programme offers recipients up to €20,000 over the course of their forestry degree, alongside paid summer placements and potential career opportunities with Coillte. The scholarship was developed in response to Ireland’s growing need for skilled forestry professionals to support climate action, sustainable timber supply, biodiversity restoration and rural economic development, in line with the ambitions of Ireland’s Forest Strategy. 

The programme supports students enrolling in full‑time undergraduate forestry degrees at University College Dublin (UCD) or South East Technological University (SETU) from September 2026. The scholarship offers €5,000 per year for the duration of the forestry degree, including an opportunity for paid summer placement with Coillte, and, upon successful completion, consideration for future job opportunities within the organisation. 

Speaking about the decision to extend the deadlineMark Carlin, Managing Director, Coillte Forest said: “We know that for many students, the period immediately after the Leaving Certificate is when CAO choices come into sharper focus. By aligning the scholarship deadline with that decision making window, we want to ensure students are considering forestry at the point when course choices are being actively reviewed. 

This extension is informed by feedback from our scholars as well aseducation and sector partners. The extension reflects our shared aim to attract the widest possible pool of talent into forestry.” 

Since its launch in January 2024, Coillte has awarded scholarships to six students studying forestry, helping to strengthen the forestry sector’s pipeline of future talent. In 2025, Coillte saw a 25% uplift in applications year on year demonstrating growing demand for both the scholarship and career opportunities in forestry. 

Applications for the 2026 Coillte Forestry Scholarship Programme are now open until Monday 6th 2025, with full details available online at  www.coillte.ie/careers