The Northern Ireland Assembly is set pay students at one university to continue into post graduate studies covering both tuition and living costs. 

The assembly has decided to pay students to do post graduate degree course in Politics at Queens Univeristy Belfast in a bit to boost students in the areas of civil service and politics. The move was described by Queens Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Gregson as ground breaking. 

30 Students from Queens Univeristy Belfast will be receiving a £500,000 fund to gain work experience in Stormont. 

10 Students a year will receive a bursary of £15,000 towards a masters course in legislative studies and practice, the bursary will cover their fees and leave £11,000 for living costs. It is thought to be the first course of its kind in the UK or Ireland. 

The course will entail; three months spent in three of the assembly’s business areas, an original piece of research with the subject to be agreed with the assembly and academic modules to be completed on campus at Queens. 

William Hay, speaker for the assembly referred to the course as a “wonderful opportunity for students”. 

Continuing, “Our society can only benefit if young people have an insight into the way that democracy works. This programme will not only help the participants to gain such understanding, it will also provide them with the tools to participate more fully in the political sphere. It will also give them experiences that will inform their future careers.” 

Professor Peter Gregson said, “It will provide the opportunity for tomorrow’s leaders to develop their knowledge of practical politics in a legislative setting, equipping them with a set of analytical, intellectual, organisational and communication skills that will better equip them for the job market.”

He continued, “The MA will marry the ‘chalk board’ study of politics with the ‘chalk face’ of real world politics,”

Applicants for the course will be required to have at least a 2.1 Honours degree at undergraduate level in politics, European studies, international studies, philosophy or another relevant subject.

The deadline for applicants is 5 June 2009, and short listed applicants will be interviewed during the week commencing the 22 June 2009.