Application Deadline: August 1st 2021
The Irish Aid Courtney Fellowship was set up in 2004 to commemorate the late Archbishop Michael Courtney, the Irish-born Papal Nuncio to Burundi, who was murdered in 2003.
Each year it provides sponsorship for a student from Burundi to study in Ireland for the MPhil in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Information on eligibility is set out below.
Applications for the fellowship are initially handled by Concern Worldwide Burundi on behalf of the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania, accredited to Burundi, and awards are funded through Irish Aid’s Fellowship Training Programme.
The scholarship award covers course fees, required flights, accommodation, monthly allowances, insurance and other incidental expenses. Study commences in September each year.
All applicants who 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 the MPhil in International Peace Studies. Early preparation for the IELTS exam is strongly advised, even for native English speakers.
Eligible Countries: Burundi
Eligible Courses:
MPhil in International Peace Studies Programme at Trinity College Dublin
Eligibility
To be eligible for The Irish Aid Courtney Fellowship, an applicant must:
- be a citizen of Burundi and be residing in Burundi
- have achieved the necessary academic standard to be accepted onto the MPhil in International Peace Studies Programme at Trinity College Dublin and not already hold a Masters in the area of Peace Studies
- have a minimum of three years relevant work experience.
- be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of Burundi.
- 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.
In addition, all candidates for study at an Irish Higher Education Institute must demonstrate their skills in academic English via the IELTS test and must either:
- provide an original copy of a previous test result – IELTS (minimum 6.5) – certificate dated September 2019 or later, or
- obtain a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 if shortlisted (see www.ielts.org for IELTS details)
An applicant will not be considered further in either of the following circumstances:
- They already hold a master’s qualification.
- They have applied for an Irish Aid Fellowship on two or more previous occasions without being awarded a fellowship. (Cases where an applicant withdrew from the process previously may be considered if there were exceptional or unforeseen circumstances for withdrawal in that instance).
- They are currently working, or it is anticipated that they will work in the future, at our embassies or at headquarters. Those personnel who have worked with any of our embassies/missions in the past must allow a full year before becoming eligible to apply for a fellowship.
All successful applicants will be required to sign a commitment to return to their home country within 14 days of completing their studies in Ireland.
Contact
The accredited embassy for the Courtney Fellowship is the Embassy of Ireland in Tanzania.
Please note that all applications are handled in the first instance by Concern Worldwide Burundi and applications should not be submitted directly to Trinity College Dublin, the Embassy of Ireland Tanzania or Irish Aid.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Irish Aid Courtney Fellowship 2022/2023