Fully Funded Ireland Fellows Programme in Ireland for Master

Eligibility Criteria

• 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

• Acceptable Course or Subjects: Courses in agriculture, health, education, human rights, computer science, engineering, business, and more as listed in the Directory of Eligible Programmes.

• Admissible Criteria: Applicants must:
  • Be a resident national of an eligible country
  • Have at least 2–3 years of relevant work experience (varies by country)
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or higher, awarded in 2014 or later
  • Not hold or be undertaking a master’s or higher-level qualification
  • Be applying for a new master’s starting in August/September 2026
  • Demonstrate leadership, commitment to SDGs, and an intent to build ties with Ireland
  • Choose three eligible programmes from the official directory
  • Meet the academic and English language requirements
  • Not have applied to this programme more than once before
  • Be able to take up the fellowship in 2026–27
  • In certain countries, applications are by invitation only (e.g., Burundi, Kenya, Uganda) – applicants must be affiliated with Irish Aid partner organizations

Offered Benefits

Successful applicants will receive:

• Full tuition fee coverage

• Return airfare

• Accommodation and monthly living allowance

• Health insurance

• Support for study-related travel within Ireland
  Note: The award does not cover family members or dependents.

Application Process

The application process involves three stages:

1. Preliminary Application

2. Detailed Application

3. Interview

4. English language testing is normally through the International English Language Test (IELTSwww.IELTS.org). IELTS examines competency in the English language across reading, writing, speaking and listening. Most HEIs require a score of 6.5 overall, but some require a higher overall score, or specific scores within each band. The Ireland Fellows Programme Directory of Eligible Programmes will indicate the levels required for each programme. It is the applicant’s responsibility to be aware of the IELTS score required for all the programmes selected.