The First Generation Undergraduate of the Year Award

Are you the First Generation Undergraduate of the Year?

We’re searching Irish universities to find the First Generation Undergraduate of the Year! Are you the first person in your family to attend university? Have you taken the initiative to forge your own path, overcome challenges and make the most of the opportunities available to you?

In partnership with PwC, this award celebrates students who are making their mark through their self-motivation, resilience, curiosity and determination. We’re looking for individuals who work well with others, communicate with confidence and bring their own experiences and perspectives to everything they do.

If you’re proud of how far you’ve come and excited about where you could go next, this is your chance to showcase your potential and be recognised as the First Generation Undergraduate of the Year.

‍Enter if you are:

A current undergraduate student at a university in Ireland
The first generation in your family to attend university
In your first or second year of university
On track to receive a 2.1 degree
Have the right to work in the EU after graduation

Apply

PRIZES

What could you win?

Win a place on PwC’s undergraduate programmes!

The winner will get the opportunity to experience life at PwC first-hand, gaining insight into the work we do and exploring the range of careers available across the business.

You’ll develop valuable business skills, discover more about your own strengths and areas for development, and build connections with people across PwC. It’s a chance to learn, grow your confidence and take your first steps towards a career with PwC.

Apply

WHAT IT TAKES

What makes an award winner?

A winner of the First Generation Award is someone who has shown resilience, determination and excellence in their journey to third-level education. They’ve overcome the challenges and barriers that can come with being the first in their family to pursue higher education, and have used those experiences to build their confidence, shape their ambitions and create their own path.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive, curious and willing to take ownership of their opportunities. They’ll be eager to learn, open to new ideas and confident in bringing their own perspective to the table. They won’t be afraid to ask questions, challenge themselves or step outside their comfort zone.

A strong award winner will also understand the value of working with others. They’ll communicate effectively, build positive relationships and contribute to their teams, while showing the empathy and integrity to support those around them. They may have inspired others, helped open doors for their peers or made a difference within their university or wider community.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who is ambitious about their future and determined to make a difference. Someone who sees challenges as opportunities to grow, embraces change and is ready to use their unique experiences and perspective to solve problems and create positive impact.

Your journey is part of what makes you stand out. We want to hear what you’ve achieved, what you’ve learned and where you want to go next.

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A first-generation student is someone whose parents or guardians did not attend university, even if they have siblings or other relatives who have.

Apply

FROM OUr PARTNER

PwC & the First Generation Undergraduate of the Year Award

At PwC, Social Inclusion encapsulates our goal to support, champion and foster societal equity for all. By supporting equitable opportunities for every person in society regardless of their identity, we believe we can play a role in reducing systemic societal inequalities. This is our third year participating, and we have had the privilege of engaging with and supporting some fantastic students. We look forward to meeting the 2026 candidates and learning more about them.

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.

Deadline:

February

2026

Online tests

Deadline:

February

2026

Submit by

2 February

2026

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 Mott MacDonald.

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 PwC.

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!

‍

Apply