Deadline: July 28, 2024.

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 Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme is a flagship programme of the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa offered to South African students. The Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme is targeted at early career professionals in South Africa with leadership potential. The scholarship broadly supports leadership for the Sustainable Development Goals, and supporting the development of women’s leadership capacity and women’s participation in STEM are key priorities.  In addition, the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme aims to support students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue Master’s level education in Ireland, and graduates of Universities of Historical Disadvantage and Universities of Technology in particular are encouraged to apply.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Kader Asmal commencing at the beginning of the
academic year 2025 applicants must:

• Be a resident national of South Africa.
• 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 2013 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 2024/25.
• Be applying to commence a new course at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August/September 2025.
• 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 both courses chosen.
• Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.

BENEFITS

The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs. 

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).
• 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

The application process consists of three stages:

Stage 1 – preliminary application: Opens 1 July 2024, closes 28 July 2024

1. A copy of the Stage 1 application form can be found below. This is a short application form which
   allows their selection panel to assess your eligibility under the various criteria of the Programme.
   You can download the Stage 1 application form at Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme — Canon
   Collins Trust.
2. You will be contacted by the Canon Collins Trust 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 23 September 2024, closes 18 October 2024

1. 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.

Stage 3 –English language tests and interviews:

Documentation required:
The Stage 1 process is a preliminary application which seeks information under the headings detailed
below and requires you to submit a scanned copy of the following documents with your application
form:

1. Official identification: either your passport (only the identity page is required), or other official
   identification document if you do not have a passport at this time;
2. Your undergraduate degree award certificate;
3. Final degree academic transcripts. Please also include the explanation of the grading system,
   where provided with your transcript or otherwise available.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL LINK