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.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Casement Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2023, applicants must:

• Be a resident national of Nigeria.
• Have a minimum of two 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 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 in Human Rights relevant to your academic and professional background from the Casement Fellowship 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.
• Meet any relevant procedural requirements of the Government of Nigeria.

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 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.

APPLICATION

Please read the Applicants 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.

If shortlisted after the interview stage, all applicants will be required to take another English language test, normally the IELTS exam, unless they are already in possession of an IELTS certificate that is dated 2021 or later which shows the applicant has achieved the necessary score for the course(s) they intend to apply to.

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