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Overview
The Ireland Fellows Programme Africa presents a valuable
opportunity for early to mid-career professionals from eligible African
countries. Through this program, participants have the chance to pursue a fully
funded one-year master’s degree at a higher education institution in Ireland.
The primary goal of the programme is to enhance capacity building and foster
leadership development, ultimately empowering graduates to make meaningful
contributions to the development of their home countries while also nurturing
positive and mutually beneficial relationships with Ireland.
Key Benefits
- Full
coverage of programme fees, flights, accommodation, and living costs.
- Duration
of master's programmes ranges from 10 to 16 months, starting in August or
September each year.
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 (refer to the Directory of Eligible Programmes)
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Ireland Fellows Programme Africa
award commencing in 2025, applicants must:
Residency and Nationality:
- ·     Be a
resident national of one of the eligible countries listed above.
Work Experience:
- ·     Have
substantial work experience relevant to the proposed programme of study (2-3
years, depending on the country).
Academic Qualifications:
- ·     Hold a
bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0
scale) awarded in 2013 or later.
- ·     Must
not already hold a master's degree or higher qualification.
- ·     Must
not be currently undertaking or about to start a master's level programme.
Programme Application:
- ·     Apply
to commence a new master's programme in Ireland no sooner than August 2025.
- ·     Select
three programmes relevant to academic and professional background from the
Directory of Eligible Programmes.
Demonstrate Commitment:
- ·     Leadership
abilities and aspirations.
- ·     Commitment
to the achievement of the SDGs within their country.
- ·     Willingness
to contribute to building positive relationships with Ireland.
Additional Requirements:
- ·     Must meet academic and English language proficiency requirements.
- ·     Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme more than once before.
- ·     Be available to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2025/2026.
Invitation-Only Applications:
·     For
certain countries (Angola, Burundi, DRC, Eswatini, Eritrea, Kenya, Liberia,
Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia),
applications are restricted to staff of government departments, NGOs, and
personnel of organizations aligned with Irish Aid's development strategy.
Contact the relevant Embassy of Ireland or employer to confirm eligibility.
Financial Support Scope:
·     Covers
the recipient only; does not include financial support or visas for spouses or
dependents.
Application Process
The application process consists of three stages:
1.  Â
Stage 1: Preliminary Application
2.  Â
Stage 2: Detailed Application
3.  Â
Stage 3: Interviews
For more information and to apply, visit the official
Ireland Fellows Programme Africa website or contact the relevant Embassy of
Ireland.