Young Future Leaders Programme for International Students

Learn, Lead, Level Up!

The Young Future Leaders Programme is a unique opportunity for high school students living outside of Ireland to experience college-level learning, develop essential skills for their future, and connect with peers from around the world - all from the comfort of your home!

Hosted by National College of Ireland (NCI), this award-winning, online programme is designed to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Why Join the Young Future Leaders Programme?

Real College Experience: Get a taste of university life and learn directly from NCI's top professors in an interactive, global classroom setting.
Global Network: Meet and connect with students from across the world and grow your international network.
Develop Essential Skills: Build your knowledge in key areas that will benefit you at college and your future career.
Work Experience: Our award-winning careers team will host supportive sessions sharing useful career tips and advice.
Exclusive Scholarship Opportunities: Stand out from the crowd and become eligible for one of five Young Future Leaders scholarships, each worth €3,000 per year for your degree at NCI! See our FAQs at the end of this page for further information.

Current NCI students are not eligible for this programme.

Programme Overview

As well as being free to attend, students will receive a certificate of participation from National College of Ireland upon successfully completing the programme.

Interactive Connect with students from across the world

Dates November & December 2026

Delivery Fully online sessions

Classes Work experience tips, critical thinking, coding & more

Programme Schedule

Please see the schedule for the Young Future Leaders Programme starting in November 2026.

Note that all classes will be 40 minutes and will take place online.

Class	Host	Date
Public Speaking	Kate O'Brien, PR & Events Executive	11am, Tuesday 10th November
Work Experience Tips	Caroline Kennedy, Head of Career Development & Employability	11am, Tuesday 17th November
Connect Café	Kate O'Brien, PR & Events Executive, and Ana Dos Santos, Digital Marketing Executive	11am, Tuesday 24th November
Intro to Coding	Frances Sheridan, Vice Dean, School of Computing	11am, Tuesday 1st December
Critical Thinking	Max Smyth, Assistant Professor, School of Business & Social Sciences	11am, Thursday 3rd December

Students will also have access to classes on Personal Branding, CV & Cover Letter Prep, Problem-solving and Project Management during the programme.

Register Here

If you are an International student living outside of Ireland who would like to take part in this free online programme, please complete the form below:

Student Testimonials

Learn more about what our students have to say regarding their experience participating in the Young Future Leaders Programme.

FAQs

Find below some frequently asked questions about the Young Future Leaders programme:

Why should I participate?

Real College Experience: Get a taste of university life and learn directly from NCI's top professors in an interactive, global classroom setting.
Global Network: Meet and connect with students from across the world and grow your international network.
Develop Essential Skills: Build your knowledge in key areas that will benefit you at college and your future career.
Work Experience: Our award-winning careers team will host supportive sessions sharing useful career tips and advice.
Exclusive Scholarship Opportunities: Stand out from the crowd and become eligible for one of five Young Future Leaders scholarships, each worth €3,000 per year for your degree at NCI! See our FAQs at the end of this page for further information.

What is happening in the programme?

Delivery: 100% online via Microsoft Teams
Topics: Critical Thinking, Public Speaking, Career Advice and more
Interactive Social Events: Connect Café sessions to help you build relationships with your fellow future leaders!

Eligibility and who should apply?

International Students: Students in their final years of high school who are considering their options for university and want to explore leadership, innovation, and academic life at a global institution.
Domestic Students: Irish Transition Year (TY) students seeking to expand their academic horizons while gaining valuable college-level experience.
No prior experience necessary! Just a passion for learning, growth, and leadership.

Why choose NCI?

National College of Ireland (NCI) is known for its cutting-edge academic programmes, world-class faculty, and a strong focus on student success. By joining the Young Future Leaders Programme, you'll get a first-hand look at what NCI has to offer.

What is the Young Future Leaders Programme Scholarship?

The following scholarship is available for International Students when joining an Undergraduate Full-Time programme from Year 1. All students who receive an offer to study an Undergraduate course at NCI and a participation certificate from the Young Future Leaders Programme are eligible to apply for the YFLP Scholarship.

Students are required to submit a scholarship application form for this scholarship.

Scholarship Name	Amount
Young Future Leaders Programme Scholarship	€3,000 (per year)

How do I apply for the YFLP Scholarship?

International students participating in the programme who successfully obtain their certificate and receive an offer to study at one of our undergraduate programmes can apply for one of five Young Future Leader Programme scholarships. Each scholarship is worth €3,000 annually for your degree at NCI!