- DEADLINE July 31, 2022
Fully Funded
The Ireland Fellows Programme enables early to mid-career professionals from eligible countries, with leadership potential, to benefit from a prestigious, world-class, quality education contributing to capacity building. It offers selected students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs. Eligible master’s level programmes in Ireland commence in August or September each year and, depending on the programme, will run for between 10 and 16 months. The Ireland Fellows Programme promotes gender equality, and equal opportunity, and welcomes diversity.
The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders; develop the in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals, and build positive relationships with Ireland.
The Programme is intended to support graduates on their return home, through the skills they develop, to contribute to capacity building in their home countries and to become one of the next generations of leaders in their respective fields. It is also envisaged that they will contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.
The Government of Ireland is working with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in Namibia to provide capacity building in the area of international relations/conflict resolution.
Seán McBride was a former Minister for External Relations in Ireland and also served as the UN High Commissioner for Namibia during an important period in Namibia’s history pre-independence. In celebration and in memory of the contribution of Seán McBride, and towards deepening the links between Ireland and Namibia, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs – through the Embassy of Ireland in Lusaka – is offering one fellowship for master’s degree level study in Ireland in the areas of international relations and conflict resolution.
This scholarship has been established as part of a broader range of initiatives and engagements to further strengthen collaboration and cooperation with the Government of Namibia across a range of mutual interests.
The Ireland Fellows Programme is fully funded by the Irish Government and is offered under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Programme aligns with the Irish Government’s commitments under Global Ireland and the national implementation plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, A Better World: Ireland’s Policy for International Development, and Ireland’s International Education Strategy. The programme is managed by the relevant Embassy responsible for eligible countries. Programme implementation in Ireland is supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).
Benefits
Ireland Fellows Programme awards are fully funded. The award includes the payment of academic fees; visa application fees; medical and travel insurance; economy flights to and from Ireland; and the Irish residence permit fee. Allowances include the following:
- A settling-in allowance towards items needed on arrival in Ireland;
- A completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period;
- A monthly living stipend of €650 (subject to review);
- Student accommodation is arranged and paid for trimesters 1 and 2 (normally September to May) and in trimester 3 a monthly accommodation stipend of €650-€850 depending on location in Ireland (subject to review).
In addition, the Ireland Fellows Programme features many extracurricular, training and volunteering opportunities to help you make the most of your experience in Ireland.
Eligibilities
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Seán MacBride Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2023, applicants must:
- Be a resident national of Namibia.
- Have a minimum of two years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study, depending on the country (see Pages 6 and 7 for details).
- Be working with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in Namibia.
- Hold a bachelor’s level academic qualification from an accredited and government-recognised higher education institution, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) – i.e. a first-class honour, or second class honour, Grade 1 (a second class honour Grade 2 may be accepted if the applicant has substantial directly relevant work experience). It must have been awarded in 2011 or later (i.e. within the last 12 years).
- Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher. Not currently undertaking a programme at master’s level or higher, or be due to start a programme at master’s level or higher in the academic year 2022/23.
- Be applying to commence a new programme at the master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2023.
- Be able to demonstrate the following: leadership abilities and aspirations; a commitment to the achievement of the SDGs within your own country; and a commitment to contribute to building positive relationships with Ireland.
- Have identified and selected three programmes relevant to your academic and professional background from the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
- Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen.
- Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.
- Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2023/2024.
The Fellowship covers the recipient only. Financial support or visas for spouses or dependents are not included within the scope of the programme.
Eligible Regions: Namibia
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process consists of three stages:
- Stage 1 – preliminary application: Opens 4 July 2022, closes 31 July 2022. A copy of the Stage 1 application form can be found below. This is a short application form which allows our selection panel to assess your eligibility under the various criteria of the Programme. You can download the Stage 1 application form at: https://www.irishaidfellowships.ie/sites/default/files/are-youeligible/ireland_fellows_programme_macbride_2023-24_stage_1_application_form.docx You will be contacted by the Embassy once final decisions have been made and informed whether you have been successful or unsuccessful at Stage 1. Please do not otherwise contact the Irish Embassy during this period.
- Stage 2 – detailed application: Opens 5 September 2022, closes 25 September 2022. If your Stage 1 application is successful, you will be invited to move on to Stage 2 of the process and complete a more detailed application form including the submission of all required documents. (Please see note on page 9 which provides details of all stage 2 requirements.)
- Stage 3 –English language tests and interviews: (Please see note on page 10 which provides details of all stage 3 requirements).
- Applications should be submitted by email to the Embassy of Ireland, Zambia at the email address: [email protected]
- The application form can be submitted as a Microsoft Word (.docx) file or as a PDF.
- Copies of supporting documentation (listed below) should be in PDF format and should be submitted as separate attachments (i.e. the passport and transcript cannot be scanned into a single PDF file).
- Please use the following format when naming each of the documents to be attached: – Your Name, – Passport, – Your Name, – Undergraduate degree certificate, – Your Name, – Academic Transcript.
Your application will not be valid unless copies of these documents are included.
- Official identification: either your passport (only the identity page is required) or another official identification document if you do not have a passport at this time.
- Your undergraduate degree award certificate.
- Your undergraduate degree academic transcript. Please also include the explanation of the grading system, that was provided with your transcript or otherwise available.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2022 (7 Days Remaining)
