Application Deadline: July 31, 2022
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, equal opportunity, and welcomes diversity.
The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders; to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals; and to 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 generation 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.
Eligibility
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 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.
Eligible Countries:
Namibia
Eligible Courses:
Eligible postgraduate programmes in the areas of international relations and conflict resolution are available in Section C of the Ireland Fellows Programme Directory of Programmes.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Seán MacBride Fellowship Programme 2023/2024
