AerCap Holdings N.V., together with the University of Limerick, today announced that two first-year students – Clara Mohally and Leyla Hascan – have been awarded the AerCap Women in Aviation Scholarship for 2026.
Clara Mohally a native of Rathcormac, County Cork, is studying Aeronautical Engineering, while Leyla Hascan from Limerick, is currently studying Financial Mathematics. Both students were selected through a rigorous application process that assessed their academic achievements and passion for aviation.
Now in its seventh year, the scholarship provides a bursary of €5,000 per year throughout the four-year programme, along with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the aviation leasing industry through summer work, mentorship and an eight-month internship at AerCap. In 2026, the scholarship programme was expanded to include two additional undergraduate degrees – BSc in Financial Mathematics and BSc in Engineering – alongside Aeronautical Engineering.
“We are very pleased to have extended the AerCap Women in Aviation Scholarship programme to include two additional courses in 2026,” said Deirdre Norris, Vice President, Human Resources at AerCap. “Through this initiative, we aim to encourage more women to pursue STEM-related courses, strengthening the pipeline of diverse, highly skilled talent essential to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Ireland’s aviation industry. We very much look forward to welcoming both Clara and Leyla to AerCap for their internships.”
Sarah Hartnett, Director of Development at the University of Limerick Foundation added: “We are deeply grateful to AerCap for their continued commitment to empowering the next generation of women in STEM and aviation. This scholarship not only provides financial support for talented students like Clara and Leyla, but also opens doors to invaluable industry experience that can shape the trajectory of their future careers. The University of Limerick Foundation is proud to partner with AerCap on a programme that has a truly transformative impact on our students and on the wider aviation sector in Ireland.”
