The Ireland Fellows Programme is Fully Funded programe funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Foreign Affairs targeted at eligible Africans to undertake master’s level programmes in Ireland with the programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs fully covered. Applications for the academic year 2024-25 will open on 3 July.
The Ireland Fellows Programme enables early to mid-career professionals from eligible countries, with leadership potential, to benefit from a prestigious, world-class, quality education contributing to capacity building.
The scholarship offers selected students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs. The programme seeks to nurture future leaders, to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals; and to build positive relationships with Ireland.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2023, applicants must:
- Be a resident national of one of the following countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Have a minimum of two or three years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study, depending on the country (see Pages 6 and 7 for details).
- Hold a bachelor’s level academic qualification from an accredited and government-recognised higher education institution, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) – i.e. a first class honour, or second class honour, Grade 1 (a second class honour Grade 2 may be accepted if the applicant has substantial directly relevant work experience). It must have been awarded in 2011 or later (i.e. within the last 12 years).
- Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher. Not currently undertaking a programme at master’s level or higher, or be due to start a programme at master’s level or higher in the referenced academic year
- Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August of the referenced academic year.
- Be able to demonstrate the following: leadership abilities and aspirations; a commitment to the achievement of the SDGs within your own country; and a commitment to contribute to building positive relationships with Ireland.
- Have identified and selected three programmes relevant to your academic and professional background from the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
- Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen.
- Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.
- Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the referenced academic year.
Application:
The Applications for the academic year 2024-25 will open on 3 July. Eligible and qualified applicants for the Ireland Fellows Programme should watch this space for the application instruction (and link) when it’s ready.
