The Online application process applies to the following Awards:
Japan, Mexico, Youth Activist-Vermont, Ecuador:

It should take at least 30 – 40 minutes to complete the online application process. The Online system now allows you to create an account, SAVE and come back to your application process when you have all your reference information ready

You can upload your videos, images and reference files when you have them ready!
The new application process for EIL Explore allows you to take your time and submit the best application you can!

Friday noon, December 1st 2023 – get a receipt of postage for all documents posted. (Unfortunately this deadline is not flexible)

If you are posting your application documents close to the deadline (beginning of December ), as well as posting the original in an An Post office, please email a copy of the full application to [email protected] or to your ACCESS/Mature/University of Galway Alive officers if you apply for an ACCESS/Mature/University of Galway ALIVE Award – This will secure that your application was received on time. Make sure to get a postal receipt from the Post office. If your original copy does not arrive by post, your emailed application will not be considered.

EIL Explore has opportunities for under 18 years and over 18 years old. Check out Which one’s for me for the full list.

Check out Which one’s for me. There are awards for people who are under 18 years and over 18 years old.

EIL Explore supports you to travel independently. You will have pre-departure support, administrative support and a local co-ordinator abroad. Most winners fly alone, with exception of the Youth Activist participants who travel as a group.

Yes, you can. There are many EIL Explore awards that do not require prior foreign language experience. However you will need to be willing and enthusiastic about participating in a basic language course while you are abroad. EIL Explore is about learning through cultural immersion in a new community. Communication is a very important part of culture, of which language is only one aspect.

No. If you can not travel for the required award duration (e.g Mexico = 8 weeks) please do not apply this year. Maybe next year you might have greater availability.

There is no set ‘size’, the quality of the Action at Home is the most important.
Participants have a variety of skills and capacities and this is why there is a choice of Action at Home types to suit people with different interests (Explore, Connect or Voice).  It is YOUR project and you decide how you will share your experience abroad with your community on your return. Most importantly, your Action at Home needs to convey your learning and reflection on your experience, and illustrate the community you shared it with.
Generally speaking, a simple project done well is best

Previous travel experience is not required. For many past participants it was their first time on an airplane 🙂 All winners are supported pre-departure and while abroad to travel independently around the world. This might be your chance to push your boundaries and see more of the world.

All winners are supported throughout their experience by a personal staff-partner, a past participant mentor and the EIL Explore coordinator. While abroad, all of these people are still available to the winner in addition to their 24 hour local coordinator on the ground in that country. As a winner you will receive a pre-departure workshop (in Ireland) and an arrival orientation (in the host country) briefing you on what you need to know locally as well as all emergency contacts. Many winners live with host families, who are great sources of support and help. There is also an EIL 24 hour Emergency Phone number if needed.

There is some flexibility. Most participants work closely with the office to fix dates (June – Aug 2024) that suit them with regards university and work commitments. Some awards have fixed dates, these include: Vermont & Youth Activist (end of June-first week of July) & Secondary School in Europe (late Aug – Dec).

Depending where you are travelling, you may need vaccinations. We recommend checking your destination country on www.tmb.ie. All winners requiring vaccinations receive a contribution to the reimbursement of these costs.

Many winners (e.g. Ecuador, Japan, and Secondary School) will live with host families while abroad. This offers them the unique cultural experience of living in the community as well as genuine family support. Other winners stay in residential accommodation with other participants (e.g Vermont). They get to live with participants from many different countries and provides them with great peer support system.

For Access and Mature, and University of Galway Alive Awards, these winners will work closely with EIL Explore staff to identify an available country and project that is of interest to them.
For Secondary School in Europe, the destination country depends on availability of countries that speak your European language of preference.

All winners are supported throughout their experience by a personal staff-partner, a past participant mentor and the EIL Explore coordinator. While abroad, all of these people are still available to the winner in addition to their 24 hour local coordinator on the ground in that country. They would receive an pre-departure workshop (in Ireland) and an arrival orientation (in the host country) briefing them on living abroad, coping with homesickness, what they need to know locally as well as all emergency contacts. Many winners live with host families, who are great sources of support and help. There is an EIL 24 hour Emergency Phone number also if needed.

Yes. You can apply for any award you are eligible for. However, it is very clear when reading applications to see which one has received the most attention and careful consideration. If you are applying for more than one, please make sure the quality doesn’t slip.

If you were shortlisted but did not win in previous years, yes, you can apply again. All the learning you have done in the last 12 months can only strengthen your application. Many past winners won on the second, even third, attempts. However, if you have already won an award with EIL (Explore, Travel Awards or Global Awareness Programme), you are not eligible to apply again.

Yes, as long as the passport you do have is valid and you are a permanent resident in Ireland you are eligible for an EIL Explore award.

At shortlisting, there is no extra marks for format, so choose whichever suits you best. The quality of your answers is more important than the format. It is important to note that your ‘Why choose me’ personal statement and your Reference/Nomination form are equally important for selection purposes.

Yes! Have a look through the range of projects, as well as some blogs for inspiration on other ideas for projects.

Check out a good example of good each type of project – Explore – Connect – Voice

It is compulsory to attend the interview day in person. If shortlisted, and you can not attend, your interview place will be given to the next suitable candidate. If you know now that you are not available on this date, we recommend that you consider applying next year instead.

After the deadline, all eligible applications are reviewed in January by different members of the EIL Network and by recruiting partners (e.g. Foroige, Future Voices Ireland, University of Galway ALIVE etc.). EIL network members include staff, board members, and past award winners. A shortlist is created, and participants notified. Interviews are held in Dublin in February. In March/April, the winners are notified.
Check out How it’s assessed for more details.

A successful participant is required to complete the following:

• Put effort and time into your preparation for the award and required documentation
• Return all completed documentation required by EIL Explore in full and in a timely manner
• Attend the Interview day in Dublin.
• Attend one of the two Induction Days in Cork or Dublin
• Participation at the Pre-Departure Workshop and Post-programme Debriefing
• Respond to all communication with EIL Explore promptly
• Design, roll-out and submission of an Action at Home Project your return

The Pre-departure Workshop is organised by the office on a date that is considered suitable for all candidates. It is usually the last weekend of May. Check out the Timeline for an overview of the whole process.

We recommend that you research the specifics of your chosen award. Make sure to know exactly what you are applying for, take the time to think about your motivations and what you think it makes you the best candidate for an Explore award.
Further preparation might include asking yourself questions about your own community and how you will apply the experience to become a better global citizen. It might also be interesting to research the culture of your destination, being careful to consider that you are not travelling there as a tourist. These blogs & news items might be helpful.

In March/April. Check out the Timeline for an overview of the process.

Prior to booking flights, there is some flexibility. Most winners work closely with the office to fix dates that suit them with regards university and work commitments.
However some awards have fixed dates, these include: Youth Activist (end of June – first weeks of July) & Secondary School in Europe (late Aug – Dec).

After booking flights, any changes that need to be made will be at the participant’s own expense.

The Action at Home is the central part of this award. If an Action at Home is not completed or is of poor quality*, the participant will not be deemed to have completed the programme. They will not receive certification for the award, and will not be invited to participate in further opportunities with EIL. They will not be able to use EIL Explore on their CV or receive a written reference from EIL Explore into the future.

*Participants will have the assistance and feedback of the EIL Explore Co-ordinator when both developing and assessing the quality of their project.

The Induction Day is organised by the office to formally recognise your participation on the EIL Explore programme and meet the EIL staff.
Winners will be expected to attend one of the dates held in Cork OR in Dublin.

*Please note that there are two dates in two different cities to give you an option of which one is your preference for attending..

Check out How it is assessed for further details on the process

Early December – We recommend a receipt of postage for all documents posted (Unfortunately this deadline is not flexible).

You can find details of all important dates and deadlines on Need Help.

• For ACCESS, each Access office can nominate its 5 preferred nominations.
• For MATURE STUDENTS, each Mature Student office can nominate its 5 preferred nominations.
• For all other awards, a nominator can nominate as many applicants as they choose. (e.g Secondary School in Europe, Youth Activist etc)

Check out Timeline for an overview of the EIL Explore process. You can find details of important dates and deadlines on Need Help.

All winners are supported throughout their experience by a personal staff-partner, a past participant mentor and the EIL Explore coordinator. While abroad, all of these people are still available to the winner in addition to their 24 hour local coordinator on the ground in that country. They would receive a pre-departure workshop (in Ireland) and an arrival orientation (in the host country) briefing them on what they need to know locally as well as all emergency information. Many winners live with host families, who are great sources of support and help. There is an EIL 24 hour Emergency Phone number also if needed.

Yes, of course! Please contact us on [email protected]. You can also reach us by phone Monday-Friday 9.00-5.30 on 021 4551535