Application Deadline: July 25, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Irish Aid Courtney Fellowship. 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.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Courtney Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2026, applicants must:
- Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2026/27.
- Be a resident national of Burundi.
- Have a minimum of three years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study.
- 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 2014 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 2025/26.
- Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2026.
- 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 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.
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 €700 (subject to review);
- Student accommodation arranged and paid for trimesters 1 and 2 (normally September to May), and in trimester 3 a monthly accommodation stipend of €800- €1000 depending on location in Ireland (subject to review).
Applications
Please read the Applicant Guidance Note carefully before completing as eligibility criteria may differ from country to country.
The application process consists of three stages:
Stage 1 Preliminary Application;
Stage 2 Detailed Application;
Stage 3 Interviews.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Irish Aid Courtney Fellowship
