Government of Ireland Fellows Programme 2026 | Fully Funded

Summary:

The Ireland Fellows Program aims to nurture future leaders, to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals, and to build positive relationships with Ireland. 

The Programme is intended to support graduates on their return home, through the skills they develop, to contribute to capacity building in their home countries and to 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.

Benefits:

The award covers

• programme fees,

• flights,

• accommodation and living costs.

Eligible master’s level programmes in Ireland commence in August or September each year and, depending on the programme, will run for between 10 and 16 months.

Eligibilities:

To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2025/26, applicants must:

• Be a resident national of one of the countries listed below:

  Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, 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 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. It must have been awarded in 2013 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 due to start a programme at master’s level or higher in the academic year 2025/26.

• Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2025.

• 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 contributing to building positive relationships with Ireland.

Deadline: Not Specified

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