Deadline: August 28, 2019
Eligibility: residents national of one of the following countries: Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia
Benefits: fully-funded one-year master’s program at a prestigious higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland
Description
The aims of the Ireland-Africa Fellows Program are to nurture future African leaders, women and men, to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals, and to build positive relationships between Ireland and Africa.
Through the program, early career professional women and men, with leadership potential, from eligible countries will avail of relevant postgraduate study opportunities in Irish higher education institutions.
On completion of their studies, graduates will have acquired relevant skills and knowledge and be better capacitated and positioned to influence the advancement of national social, economic and development priorities.
Fostering women’s leadership capacity will be a priority. On return, graduates are expected to resume work and put their acquired skills into good use for the benefit of their home countries
Studying at postgraduate level in Ireland offers a unique opportunity to join programs that are driving innovation and changing lives worldwide.
Applicants can choose from almost 200 postgraduate programs specially selected to enhance capacity in line with stated country development goals and the strategy of the Irish Embassy.
The range of courses includes development studies, gender studies, climate related rural development, health care, education and strategic management.
Eligibility
– Have a minimum of two or three years’ relevant work experience (this can include internships and volunteering positions), depending on the country (details provided in the application form).
– Be a resident national of one of the following countries: Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique,Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
– Hold a bachelor’s level academic qualification from an accredited and government-recognised higher education institution, with a minimum grade point average of 75% – i.e. a first class honour, or second class honour, Grade 1 (in some cases a second class honour Grade 2 may be accepted).
– Be applying to commence a new course at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August/September 2020.
– Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher.
– Be able to demonstrate leadership abilities and aspirations, as well as commitment to the achievement of the SDGs within your own country.
– Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for both courses chosen.
– Have identified and selected two relevant courses from the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme Directory of Eligible Courses.
– Must not have applied for any Irish Aid Fellowship programme on more than one previous occasion.
– Be in a position to take up the scholarship in the academic year 2020/2021.
In addition, applications in some participating countries are by invitation only. Please see page 4 of the Applicant Guidance Note for details.
Apply
Please read the Applicant Guidance Note carefully before completing as eligibility criteria may differ from country to country.
The application process consists of three stages:
Stage 1 Preliminary Application;
Stage 2 Detailed Application;
Stage 3 Interviews.
All applicants who are selected to go forward to second stage will be required to sit an IELTS exam, unless they are already in possession of an IELTS certificate that is dated 2018 or later at the time of application which shows the applicant has achieved the necessary score for the course they intend to apply to. Early preparation for the IELTS exam is strongly advised, even for native English speakers.
More information at the official website HERE.
