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.

Please note the current programme has now ended, check back in soon for the next intake.

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 October 2025 to May 2026

Delivery Online sessions with Microsoft Teams

Classes Project Management, Public Speaking, Career Sessions & More

Programme Schedule

Classes on the 2025/2026 Young Future Leaders Programme incuded:

Class	Host	Role
Work Experience Tips	Caroline Kennedy	Head of NCI's Careers Team
Study Smarter, Stress Less	Lisa Murphy	Professor, School of Computing
Smart Use of AI & Tech for Education	Victor Del Rosal	Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Computing
Critical Thinking	Max Smyth	Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education & Care
Problem-Solving	Frances Sheridan	Vice Dean, School of Computing
Public Speaking	Kate O'Brien	PR & Events Executive
Brain Health Tips	Dr Michelle Kelly and Dr Fearghal O'Brien	Professors, School of Business & Social Sciences
Project Management	Dermot Bradfield	Professor, School of Business & Social Sciences

Student Testimonials

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

Asma from Algeria "I have enjoyed the programme specially with the way of teaching, I learned new things, new skills and some thoughts that can help me during my journey."

Helen from Singapore "The lessons have been very informative and I have learned a lot from them. This programme has been a great help in teaching me practical skills that I can use in my future workplace."

Justin from India "Thank you for the opportunity and loved every bit of the learning. I look forward to coming over to Ireland and meeting classmates in person."

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: Project Management, 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!