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St Mary’s Student Heads Stateside

St Mary’s student Joshua Higgins will be setting off to the United States for the opportunity of a lifetime, as part of the prestigious Study USA scholarship programme.

Joshua will spend the next academic year studying at Hanover College, Indiana.
Fifty-two students from across Northern Ireland will be heading stateside as part of the 30th cohort of students selected for the programme, from Northern Regional College, North West Regional College, Queen’s University Belfast, St Mary’s University College, Stranmillis University College and Ulster University, and will spend the next academic year studying in American universities and colleges, across 22 states.

Starting in 1994, the flagship programme was originally designed to assist with the peace process, with the White House providing an endorsement for the programme in 2014 in a letter written by President Bill Clinton.
Since then, the programme, which is managed by the British Council NI, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, on behalf of the Department for the Economy NI, has enabled over 2500 students studying in Northern Ireland to spend a full academic year at one of 140 partner institutions spread across the US from Washington state to Florida, and Nebraska to Texas.

The immersive nature of the programme helps students to develop a broad range of academic and interpersonal skills, as well as a global outlook, which enhances their career prospects when they return to Northern Ireland.

Speaking about the opportunity ahead for this year’s cohort Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, commented:

The Study USA programme is a unique opportunity for an intercultural experience through a year living in the US that greatly enhances the employability skills of the students taking part and helps prepare them for work in a global economy. It’s an honour to be working in partnership with the Department for the Economy again for the 30th year to deliver this life-changing programme for young people in Northern Ireland.

“As well as enhancing their academic capabilities students gain new skills in an international setting, learn from diverse cultural perspectives, build long lasting connections, and develop the intercultural skills and international outlook that employers in Northern Ireland are looking for. Many of the students from previous years have gone on to work for employers in Northern Ireland with US and global links.

“This year our 30th cohort of students will be spread across 22 US states. We know that they will be great ambassadors for Northern Ireland and wish them every success for their exciting year ahead in the US.

Applications for Study USA for 2025-26 will open in September 2024. To find out more about the programme visit https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/opportunities/study-usa

Study USA continues the British Council’s work, building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and English language teaching.

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