Application Deadline: December 31st 2014
Each year, the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme brings suitably qualified candidates from developing countries to undertake postgraduate studies at colleges and universities in Ireland. Further students are supported for courses in their own region. Awards are made in fields such as development studies, rural development, health care, education and law.
Participating Countries
Eligibility
Awards under the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme are targeted at nine participating countries with which Ireland has established development cooperation programmes: Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Palestine, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of one of these partner countries and be residing in that country.
In addition, applicants must be currently employed by an Irish Aid partner organisation and be nominated by that organisation to apply. Potential candidates must obtain leave from their employer to undertake the course and, on completion, are expected to return home, resume their employment and put their qualifications into practice.
Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme applicants must also:
- have a minimum of three years relevant work experience
- be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of their home country
- have identified up to two relevant Postgraduate Diploma or Taught Masters courses in Ireland or within their own region
- be able to take up the fellowship in the academic year for which it is offered
- provide a letter from their employer granting study leave for the duration of the fellowship and guaranteeing that they will be able to return to an equivalent position in the organisation at the end of the fellowship period
- apply using the correct application form and by the stated deadline
Irish Aid Fellowships are not available:
- for Bachelor’s degrees, Masters by Research or PhDs
- for a course on which the applicant has already enrolled or will enrol before awards are notified
- for applicants who already hold a Masters qualification
Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme – Application Process
NOTE: Application for the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme is by invitation, not open call. Irish Embassies and Missions begin inviting applications from partner organisations and Ministries in September of each year. Fellowship eligibility requirements aim to ensure close alignment with Irish Aid’s programmatic approach.
- A guide to courses eligible for Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme awards is available to consult at the Embassy of Ireland in participating countries from September of each year. Embassies will also provide copies of the fellowship application form.
- Once you have obtained the application form, you should read the accompanying notes carefully before completing any of the sections. You should also have identified the postgraduate programme you wish to undertake.
- The deadline for submission of the form is 31st December but earlier submission to the Irish Embassy/Mission is advised.
When returning the form, you will be asked to provide a certified photocopy of several documents. (A certified photocopy is one which has been signed and stamped by an authorised person – such as a Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public, a lawyer or a solicitor, etc – as being true and correct.
The authorised person needs to sign, print their name and position and, if possible, affix an official stamp to all pages of each copy).
Please note that all applications for the Fellowship Training Programme should be submitted directly to the Irish Embassy/Mission, not to ICOS or Irish Aid.
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