The Edward and Matilda Ryan Award is intended to honor the late Miss Mary Ryan. She was the Professor of Romance Languages at University College Cork from 1909 to 1938. The prize is meant to endow a summer holiday scholarship to study French in France. More than one scholarship may be awarded. They are worth about €2,500. The scholarships are awarded on a yearly basis.
Non-native French speakers must have obtained an aggregate of 180 out of 300 marks in French in the first university examination. The student must be pursuing French to honours degree level in the University. If the student is taking the BCL in Law and French they must obtain an aggregate score of 240 out of 400.