The Difference Maker Undergraduate of the Year Award
Are you The Difference Maker Undergraduate of the Year?
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We’re searching Irish universities to find the Difference Maker Undergraduate of the Year! In partnership with Chartered Accountants Ireland, we’re celebrating students who are making a positive difference in the world around them. Whether you're creating change in your local community, making an impact on campus or championing a cause you believe in, we want to hear your story. We're looking for students who take initiative, challenge the status quo and turn their ideas into action. If you're passionate about making things better and already taking steps to create positive change, this could be your chance to stand out and have your impact recognised.
Enter if you are:
- A penultimate or final-year undergraduate student at an Irish university, studying any degree discipline.
- Making a positive difference, whether through volunteering, charity work, student societies, community projects, social movements or other initiatives.
- A domestic or international student studying in Ireland.
PRIZES
What could you win?
A Career Kick Starter Package from Chartered Accountants Ireland!
As the Difference Maker Undergraduate of the Year, you’ll receive:
- 1-to-1 mentoring with a Chartered Accountants Ireland member working in a sector related to your interests or the positive change you’re making. You’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable career advice, build your network and learn from their experience.
- €1,000 or £1,000 towards your degree, helping to cover costs such as tuition fees, accommodation or travel.
It’s your chance to celebrate the difference you’re making, build valuable connections and get support as you take the next step towards your future career.
WHAT IT TAKES
What makes an award winner?
We’re looking for students who are passionate about making a difference and already taking action to create positive change. Whether you're making an impact in your local community, championing a cause at university or tackling a wider societal challenge, we want to hear about the difference you're making and what inspires you.
Your impact could take many forms. Perhaps you're raising awareness of mental health, championing gender equality, supporting access to education, promoting sustainability or bringing people together in your community. You might have started your own initiative, volunteered with a charity, led a student society or found a creative way to tackle an issue you care about.
Our winner will be someone who:
- Turns ideas into action – You don't just recognise problems; you take the initiative to do something about them and find ways to make a positive difference.
- Shows passion and commitment – You genuinely care about your chosen cause and are dedicated to creating meaningful, lasting change.
- Demonstrates resilience and determination – You're willing to overcome challenges, adapt when things don't go to plan and keep working towards something you believe in.
- Inspires and supports others – You use your voice, skills or experiences to bring people together, raise awareness or encourage others to get involved.
- Makes a tangible impact – You can demonstrate how your actions have made a difference, whether that's helping one person, improving your local community or contributing to change on a larger scale.
You don't need to have changed the world to be a Difference Maker. What matters is your commitment, the action you've taken and the positive impact you're already having. We want to hear your story, understand what motivates you and discover what you hope to achieve next.
Looking for inspiration? Explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . These 17 global goals cover everything from tackling poverty and inequality to improving education, protecting the environment and promoting wellbeing. You could already be contributing to one or more of them without even realising it!
If you're passionate about creating positive change and ready to show us the difference you're making, this could be your chance to stand out as the Difference Maker Undergraduate of the Year.
FROM OUr PARTNER
Chartered Accountants Ireland and the Difference Maker Undergraduate of the Year Award
Chartered Accountants Ireland is Ireland’s leading professional accounting education and membership body representing over 39,000 members in over 100 countries and educating 6,600 students in the prestigious ACA/CPA qualification, a globally recognised business leadership credential.
Chartered Accountants are influencers, problem-solvers, change-makers. They work around the world, in every industry, leading change and making a tangible difference to businesses, economies and society. We want to champion the ‘Difference Makers’ at 3rd level - students who are making a impact in their own ways.
How do I win?
Register Online
To apply, you’ll need to:
- Register for the Undergraduate of the Year Awards
- Complete two SHL assessments: a personality questionnaire and a situational judgement test.
Deadline: 12pm (midday), Monday 25 January 2027.
Online tests
Submit by
25
January
2027
Remember, please make sure you allow enough time to complete all assessments before the deadline.
If you’re successful in progressing to the next stage, we’ll be in touch by 26 February 2027 with details of what happens next.
Assessment centre
If you successfully pass the initial application and screening stage, your application will be reviewed by Chartered Accountants.
From there, you could be invited to take part in networking, interviews, an assessment centre or other activities designed to help you showcase your skills and get to know Chartered Accountants.
Full details will be given to successful students.
Grand final
Made it to the final? Congratulations!
The final shortlisted students will be invited to join us at the Undergraduate of the Year Awards ceremony on 7 April 2027, where we’ll celebrate their achievements and reveal the winner of each award.
Could you be taking home the trophy? Good luck!
