Applications open for the Marine Institute’s 2026 Bursary Programme

Applications are now open for the Marine Institute’s 2026 Bursary Programme, which provides third level students with practical work experience at Ireland’s national marine research and development agency. 

The Marine Institute’s Bursary Programme has been operating for over 30 years, providing essential career development and support, and inspiring the next generation of marine scientists and experts. The programme equips third level students with essential skills and necessary experience to become ocean leaders and marine champions of the future.   

The Marine Institute is committed to supporting a culture of high performance. This is driven by our people, whose skills, experience and passion for the marine are crucial to our continued delivery of highly impactful services for government and other stakeholders. The Bursary Programme provides undergraduates with a unique opportunity to meet fellow students from other third level colleges as well as work with experts in their field, helping participants to form future networks in the marine sector. 

The Bursary Programme is aimed at undergraduate students of Universities and Institutes for Higher Education, both National and International. To participate in the programme, undergraduate students must have completed two years of study in a relevant discipline by the beginning of June 2026. 

Glenn Nolan, Bursary Programme Lead and Director of Marine Environment and Food Safety Services said, “For more than 30 years, the Marine Institute Bursary Programme has enabled undergraduate students to develop their skills and strengthen their knowledge of the marine sector. Participating students emerge equipped to make informed decisions early in their studies about the marine and maritime careers they would like to pursue.” 

Successful candidates will work with full time Marine Institute staff on critical work programmes including Marine and Freshwater Fisheries, Oceanography, Machine Learning/AI, Marine Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Marine Spatial Planning, Remote Sensing, Web Development, Socio-economics, and Corporate Services. The bursaries are based at Marine Institute facilities in Oranmore, Co. Galway, and Newport, Co. Mayo.