Ireland Fellows Programme Africa 2026/2027 for early to mid-career professionals (Fully Funded Study in Ireland) – Opportunities For Africans

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Application Deadline:

Applications are actually open for the 2026/2027 Ireland Fellows Programme Africa. The Ireland Fellows Programme allows early to mid-career professionals from eligible nations, with management potential, to profit from a prestigious, world-class, high quality training contributing to capability constructing. It presents chosen college students the chance to undertake a completely funded one-year grasp’s stage programme at a better training establishment (HEI) in Ireland. The award covers programme charges, flights, lodging and dwelling prices. Eligible grasp’s stage programmes in Ireland start in August or September annually and, relying on the programme, will run for between 10 and 16 months.

The goals of the Programme are to nurture future leaders; to develop in-country capability to obtain nationwide SDG targets; and to construct constructive relationships with Ireland.

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: 

Eligible programs are in areas comparable to agriculture, well being, training, human rights, laptop science, engineering, enterprise and extra, and are listed in a Directory of Eligible Programmes.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Africa award commencing at the start of the educational yr 2026, candidates should: 

• Be a resident nationwide of one of many nations listed under: 

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 and Zimbabwe. 

• For Burundi, please see each this doc and the Courtney Fellowship web page. 
• For Nigeria, please see each this doc and the Roger Casement Fellowship web page. 
• For Namibia, please see the Seán Mac Bride Fellowship web page.
• For South Africa, please see the Kader Asmal Fellowship web page.
• For Zambia, please see each this doc and the Frank Ferguson Fellowship web page.
• For African SIDS (Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sao Tomé and Príncipe), please see the Ireland-SIDS Fellows web page. 
• Have a minimal of two or three years’ substantial work expertise that’s straight related to your proposed programme(s) of study, relying on the nation (see Page 8 for particulars). 
• Hold a bachelor’s stage tutorial qualification from an accredited and government-recognised larger training establishment, with a minimal grade level common of three.0 (4.0 scale) – i.e. a firstclass honour, or second class honour, Grade 1 (a second class honour Grade 2 could also be accepted if the applicant has substantial straight related work expertise). It should have been awarded in 2014 or later (i.e. throughout the final 12 years). 
• Not already maintain a qualification at grasp’s stage or larger. Not presently enterprise a programme at grasp’s stage or larger, or be due to begin a programme at grasp’s stage or larger in the educational yr 2025/26. Candidates from Senegal should maintain a minimal of a Senegalese Masters 2 with 2-3 years related work expertise. A Senegalese Masters 1 with vital related work expertise could also be thought-about.
• Be making use of to start a brand new programme at grasp’s stage in Ireland no prior to August 2026. 
• Be ready to display the next: management skills and aspirations; a dedication to the achievement of the SDGs inside your individual nation; and a dedication to contribute to constructing constructive relationships with Ireland. 
• Have recognized and chosen three programmes related to your tutorial {and professional} background from the Directory of Eligible Programmes. 
• Have a transparent understanding of the educational and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen. 
• Must not have utilized to the Ireland Fellows Programme on a couple of earlier event. 
• Be in a place to take up the Fellowship in the educational yr 2026/2027. 
• In addition, purposes are by invitation solely in the next nations: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Eritrea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia. This implies that fellowships in these nations are restricted to the workers of presidency departments and NGOs which work in partnership with Irish Aid, and to personnel of organisations which are aligned with Irish Aid’s improvement technique in their nation which have already been recognized by the Embassy of Ireland. Applications from exterior these partnerships won’t be eligible. To discover out in case you are eligible to apply, please contact the relevant Embassy of Ireland or your employer. 

The Fellowship covers the recipient solely. Financial assist or visas for spouses or dependents should not included throughout the scope of the programme. 

Benefits

• Ireland Fellows Programme awards are absolutely funded. The award consists of the fee of educational
• charges; visa application charges; medical and journey insurance coverage; financial system flights to and from Ireland; and
• the Irish residence allow payment. Allowances embody the next:
• A settling-in allowance in the direction of objects wanted on arrival in Ireland;
• A completion and departure allowance on the finish of the study interval;
• A month-to-month dwelling stipend of €700 (topic to evaluate);
• Student lodging organized and paid for trimesters 1 and a couple of (usually
• September to May), and in trimester 3 a month-to-month lodging stipend of €800-
• €1000 relying on location in Ireland (topic to evaluate).
  

Application Process:

The application course of consists of three phases:

• Stage 1   Preliminary Application;
• Stage 2   Detailed Application;
• Stage 3   Interviews.

All candidates who’re chosen to progress after the second stage shall be required to sit a web based Duolingo English Test. If shortlisted after the interview stage, all candidates shall be required to take one other English language take a look at, usually the IELTS exam, except they’re already in possession of an IELTS certificates that’s dated 2023 or later which exhibits the applicant has achieved the mandatory rating for the course(s) they intend to apply to. Early preparation for the IELTS examination is strongly suggested, even for native English audio system.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Ireland Fellows Programme Africa