Companies and organisations throughout Ireland support CAFRE in many ways. One method that directly helps students is through participation in the Bursary Awards and Scholarship Programme. The support companies offer to our students demonstrates their commitment and recognition of the value CAFRE students supply to the industry.
Bursary Awards, are open to all first year students studying on Higher Education courses at Enniskillen, Greenmount and Loughry Campuses. Fifty-four Bursary Awards were presented to CAFRE Higher Education students, each with a cash award of £1,500, with a total value of £81,000. were presented to successful applicants in Semester 2 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The Scholarship Programme, offers second year degree students not only the opportunity to compete for £2,500 of financial assistance, but additionally to secure one year of paid work placement with the sponsor company. Ten scholarships with placement opportunities were presented to degree students for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Agriculture Bursary and Scholarship Awards
The 2025-26 Industry Support Programme awarded £31,500 to students studying Agriculture programmes at CAFRE. Twenty companies presented Bursary awards to students. They included Abbey Autoline, Ai Services, Bank of Ireland, Calor Gas Ltd, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland, Dale Farm, Danske Bank, Fane Valley, Genus ABS, Gibson Trust, Irish Farmers’ Journal, John Thompson and Sons Ltd, Lakeland Dairies, Lantra, Livestock and Meat Commission, National Sheep Association NI, Tyrone Farming Society, Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Ulster Grassland Society and Yara.
Additionally, three second-year students were presented with Scholarship awards from the ABP Food Group, Fane Valley Stores and Pilgrim’s Europe.
Equine Bursary and Scholarship Awards
The Industry Support programme at Enniskillen Campus awarded £24,000 to Equine students pursuing Certificate of Higher Education, Foundation Degree, and Bachelor’s Honours Degree courses.
Sixteen companies presented awards to students which included Coolmore Stud, Danske Bank, Derrinstown Stud, Downpatrick Racecourse, Gerry Dilger Foundation, Godolphin , Horse Racing Ireland, Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Juddmonte Ireland, Pearse Lyons Ace Foundation, Show Jumping Ireland, The Irish Field, The Vaughan Trust, Tinnakill House Stud, Tyrone Farming Society and Ulster Carpets. To view the article and photographs, click here.
Food Bursary and Scholarship Awards
As part of CAFRE’s Industry Support Programme Food students benefitted from £35,500 of bursaries and scholarships. This generous financial support from Agri-Food businesses was specifically offered to students studying on Ulster University validated Bachelor’s Honours Degree and Foundation Degree courses at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus, Cookstown.
Twelve companies presented Bursary awards to students which included; Avondale Foods, Bank of Ireland, Dale Farm, Danske Bank, Fane Valley, Henderson Group, Kerry (Omagh), Lakeland Dairies, Leprino Foods, Mackle Petfoods, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association and Tyrone Farming Society. Twelve first year students studying Food degree courses, received a combined total of £18,000 in Bursary awards.
Additionally, seven second-year students secured Scholarship awards generously supported by Avondale Foods, Dunbia, Lakeland Dairies, Mackle Petfoods and Water Technology. The Scholarship competition combines a financial payment of £2,500 with the opportunity to complete a paid work placement year within the business.
Horticulture Bursary Awards
Bursaries valuing £7,500 were presented to Horticulture degree students studying at Greenmount Campus. Awards presented by Bulrush, Ideverde, The Gibson Trust, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and the Ulster Farmers’ Union.
If you are involved in a business and would like more information on our student bursary and scholarship programme please Email: cafreenquiries@daera-ni.gov.uk