Ireland Fellows Programme Africa 2025: Fully Funded Master's Scholarships in Ireland

 

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.    Stage 1: Preliminary Application

2.    Stage 2: Detailed Application

3.    Stage 3: Interviews

For more information and to apply, visit the official Ireland Fellows Programme Africa website or contact the relevant Embassy of Ireland.

Apply Here