What is the Ireland Fellows Programme?
The Irish Government offers a number of fellowship programmes to students from developing countries to undertake full-time study at Master’s level at an Irish higher level institution. The programme focuses on courses that build capacity to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals in the Fellow’s home country.
Overview
Providing early career professionals, with leadership potential, opportunities to undertake a Master’s course in an Irish higher education institution.
Applications are now open for the 2027/2028 Ireland Fellows Programme Africa.
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:
Agriculture, health, education, human rights, computer science, engineering, business and more, and are listed in a Directory of Eligible Programmes.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2027, applicants must:
- Be a resident national of one of the countries listed under Eligible countries
- 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 Page 8 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 2015 or later (i.e. within the last 12 years).
- Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher (Note: Candidates from Senegal should contact the Embassy of Ireland in Dakar; Candidates from Liberia should contact Embassy of Ireland in Monrovia on this – see Page 7). 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 academic year 2026/27.
- Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2027.
- 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 Ireland Fellows Programme
- 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 academic year 2027/2028.
Benefits
Ireland Fellows Programme awards are fully funded. The award includes the payment of academic fees; visa application fees; medical and travel insurance; economy flights to and from Ireland; and the Irish residence permit fee. Allowances include the following:
- A settling-in allowance towards items needed on arrival in Ireland;
- A completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period;
- A monthly living stipend of €700 (subject to review);
- Student accommodation arranged and paid for trimesters 1 and 2 (normally September to May), and in trimester 3 a monthly accommodation stipend of €800- €1000 depending on location in Ireland (subject to review).
Visit Official Web Page to Begin Application
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