NORTHERN IRELAND’s Study USA scholarship programme, which has given thousands of students the opportunity to study at colleges and universities across the United States, was celebrated at a special reception in Washington DC recently.
The celebration event took place during the annual conference of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), which represents more than 200 Catholic higher education institutions across the US as well as a number of international universities.
US college presidents and senior leaders gathered with Study USA representatives to reflect on the programme’s history and its continuing role in fostering collaboration between institutions in Northern Ireland and the United States.
Study USA, funded by the Department for the Economy and managed by the British Council, gives further and higher education students in Northern Ireland the chance to spend an academic year studying at American colleges and universities. Established in 1994 to support the peace process, this program has provided scholarships to almost 3000 Northern Ireland students and continues to build academic, professional and cultural connections that last long after students return home.
In recent years, the programme has also welcomed American students to Northern Ireland through the Irish American Scholars programme, helping strengthen cultural and academic ties in both directions.
ACCU President Donna Carroll, who hosted the reception and visited Northern Ireland in September 2025 to mark the 30th anniversary of the programme, said: “Study USA is a wonderful example of how international collaboration can change students’ lives and build lasting connections between our institutions. It is an honour to recognise a programme that not only brings Northern Ireland students to the United States, but also welcomes American students to learn from and contribute to communities in Northern Ireland. These exchanges strengthen our campuses and deepen educational ties between our two countries.”
During the visit, the Study USA team met partner universities across Washington, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as current students taking part in the programme. The universities included DeSales, Alvernia, Misericordia and King’s College in Pennsylvania; the University of Mount Saint Vincent and Manhattan University in New York; and the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. Discussions focused on future student exchanges, joint summer schools, and ways to strengthen institutional partnerships.
Mary Mallon, Head of Education at British Council Northern Ireland, said the campus visits clearly demonstrated the strength and reach of the programme’s partnerships.
She said: “The programme has a long-standing commitment to building connections between Northern Ireland and the United States, and the gathering in Washington, DC was a wonderful opportunity to recognise the 76 ACCU colleges across 26 US states which have hosted a student from Northern Ireland. This visit highlighted the ongoing impact of these exchanges and allowed us to strengthen existing partnerships and discover new ones. Throughout 2026, as the United States commemorates America 250, Study USA will continue to celebrate and strengthen the educational links it has helped foster between Northern Ireland and the US.”
Study USA continues the British Council’s mission to build connection, understanding and trust between people in the UK and worldwide through education, arts and the English language. To learn more about Study USA and the work of the British Council Northern Ireland, please visit our Study USA website: https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/opportunities/study-usa and follow the British Council Northern Ireland on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram .