Deadline: July 26, 2026.

The Ireland Fellows Programme is a fully-funded scholarship opportunity open to professionals from eligible developing countries to study at Master’s level in Ireland’s world-renowned Higher Education Institutions, offered by the Irish Government. The Ireland Fellows Programme aims to nurture future leaders and develop in-country capacity to achieve national Sustainable Development Goals. In Tanzania, the programme has supported hundreds of individuals over the past 45 years to further their education and professional careers.

In 2023, sixteen Ireland Fellows from Tanzania and Burundi went to Ireland to pursue Master’s degrees. Here, they share their experiences of their time in Ireland studying in the areas of Public Health, Business, Climate, Gender and Human Rights; and how they intend to contribute to their communities after the completion of their studies.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Courtney Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2027, applicants must: 

• 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 2026/27. 
• Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2027.  
• 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. 
• Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2027/2028.

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).
• 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

Applications are by invitation only. This means that fellowships are restricted to the staff of government departments and NGOs which work in partnership with Irish Aid, and to personnel of organisations that are aligned with Irish Aid’s development strategy in their country which have already been identified by the Embassy of Ireland. Applications from outside these partnerships will not be eligible. To find out if you are eligible to apply, please contact the Embassy of Ireland, Tanzania at TanzaniaFellowships@dfa.ie, or your employer. 

Find more information on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE