Applications for the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme is now open to international students with leadership potential to undertake a Master’s study at any higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. The programme usually run for between 10 and 16 months in Ireland, commencing in August or September each year is Fully Funded by the Ireland Government with the aim of nurturing future leaders, building institutional and professional relationships between nations with Ireland.

Scholarship Description

The Ireland-Africa 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. It offers selected students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland commencing in August or September each year, and depending on the programme, will run for between 10 and 16 months.

The Ireland Fellows Programme is intended to promotes gender equality, equal opportunity, and welcome diversity. It also aims to nurture future leaders; to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals; and to build positive relationships with Ireland by supporting graduates who on their return home, through the skills they develop, contribute to capacity building in their home countries and become one of the next generation of leaders in their respective fields. It is also envisaged that they will contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.

Award Benefits

The award is fully funded to cover programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs.

See Also:

• Malaysia International Scholarship (Government Funded)
• Scotland Government Scholarships without IELTS
• YSEALI Professional Fellows Programme, USA

Level and Areas of Study

Master’s Programme in any discipline.

Place of Study

Higher Institutions in Ireland

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Countries: Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Eligible Courses: Eligible courses are in areas such as agriculture, health, education, human rights, computer science, engineering, business and more.

Candidates Eligibility: To be eligible for an Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme award commencing at the beginning of each academic year, applicants must:

• Be a resident national of one of the eligible countries.
• Have a minimum of two or three years substantial work experience that is directly relevant to their proposed programme(s) of study, depending on the country.
• Hold a bachelor’s level academic qualification from an accredited and government-recognised higher education institution, awarded 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 current academic year.
• Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August of next academic year.
• Be able to demonstrate: 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 2025/2026 academic year.

Applications therefore, are by invitation only in the eligible countries. This means that fellowships in these countries are restricted to the staff of government departments and NGOs which work in partnership with Irish Aid, and to personnel of organisations that are aligned with Irish Aid’s development strategy in their country which have already been identified by the Embassy of Ireland.

Check Also:  DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Master’s Scholarships, Germany

Application Procedure

How-To-Apply: Eligible applicants for the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme should please read the Applicant Guidance Note carefully before completing as eligibility criteria may differ from country to country. Application Forms are available under the Application Information on the official page.

The application process consists of three stages:

• Stage 1   Preliminary Application;
• Stage 2   Detailed Application;
• Stage 3   Interviews.

All applicants who are selected to progress after the second stage will be required to sit an online Duolingo English Test. If shortlisted after the interview stage, all applicants will be required to take another English language test, normally the IELTS exam, unless they are already in possession of an IELTS certificate that is dated 2023 or later showing the applicant has achieved the necessary score for the course(s) they intend to apply to.

Application Deadline: The deadline to submit applications is 28 July.

Website and Application Link