Application Deadline: 30 November, 2018.
The Fellowship Training Programme was Irish Aid’s first scholarship programme, begun in 1974. Since that time, it has brought suitably qualified candidates from developing countries to undertake Masters degrees at universities and colleges in Ireland, with further students supported for similar courses in their own region.
Awards are made in fields such as development studies, rural development, health care, education and law with the aim of supporting and enhancing the contribution recipients can make to Irish Aid’s partner organisations. Fellowship eligibility requirements aim to ensure close alignment with Irish Aid’s programmatic approach.
The scholarship award covers course fees, required flights, accommodation (for out of country study), monthly allowances, insurance and other incidental expenses. Eligible Masters programmes in Ireland commence in the period August to September each year and, depending on the course, scholarships will run for between 10 and 16 months.
To be eligible, applicants must
- be a citizen of one of Irish Aid’s partner countries (i.e. Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia), or of Cambodia, Kenya, Liberia, Palestine, Myanmar, Rwanda or Zimbabwe.
- be resident in that country.
- have achieved the necessary academic standard to be accepted onto a Master’s degree course in a higher education institution in Ireland or within their own region.
- be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of their home country.
- have identified relevant college courses in a higher education institution in Ireland or within their own region. For study in Ireland, you must select courses from the Irish Aid Directory of Eligible Postgraduate Courses
- be applying to commence a new qualification and not be seeking funding for a course they have already commenced or which will begin before fellowship awards have been notified.
- be able to take up the fellowship in the academic year 2019/2020.
For study in Ireland, applicants must also
- be able to demonstrate skills in academic English by achieving an appropriate score on a recognised test (IELTS 6.5)
- contact the Irish Embassy to confirm that the courses they have chosen from the Directory of Postgraduate Courses accord with the Embassy’s priorities in their country (see contact information below).
All applicants who apply to study in Ireland and 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 less than 12 months old 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.
Relevant Masters programmes in Ireland and regionally. A directory listing suitable courses for study in Ireland is available to applicants, covering programmes in up to 12 subject areas.
Before finalising your course choices and submitting your application, please confirm with the relevant Irish Embassy that they remain fully satisfied that the courses you have chosen from the Irish Aid Directory of Eligible Postgraduate Courses accord with the Embassy’s country priorities. Embassy contact details are available below.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme 2019/2020