Ireland-Africa Fellows Program in Ireland, 2027-2028

The Ireland Africa Fellows Program is now accepting applications for the 2027/2028 academic year. It is a fully funded one-year master’s program in Ireland for early-to-mid-career professionals from 24 African countries. The Irish government pays for your tuition, flights, accommodation, living costs, and even your visa fees. The goal is not just to give you a degree, but to send you home with the skills to actually make a difference in your country.

You need a bachelor’s degree from 2015 or later with at least a 3.0 GPA (or equivalent). You also need two or three years of relevant work experience, depending on your country. You cannot already hold a master’s degree. And you must be applying to start a new program in Ireland no sooner than August 2027. English language testing is mandatory, and shortlisted candidates will take the Duolingo English Test, unless their chosen university does not accept it, in which case they must sit for IELTS in January 2027.

The application process has three stages: a preliminary application, then a detailed application if you are shortlisted, and finally interviews. In some countries (Burundi, DRC, Eswatini, Eritrea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, and Zambia), applications are by invitation only and restricted to staff of government departments and NGOs that work with Irish Aid. If you are not already in one of those partnerships, you cannot apply in those countries. Check with your local embassy of Ireland to see if you are eligible.

Program Details

• Host institutions: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Ireland (full list below).
• Eligible countries: Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Fields of study: Agriculture, health, education, human rights, computer science, engineering, business, and more. See the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: One academic year (10 to 16 months, depending on the programme).
• Target group: Early‑career professionals from eligible African countries with leadership potential.

Ireland Africa Fellows Program Benefits

The fellowship is fully funded by the Irish government and covers:

• Full tuition fees (paid directly to the host institution).
• Economy flights to and from Ireland.
• Accommodation and living costs (monthly stipend).
• Visa application fees and Irish residence permit fee.
• Medical and travel insurance.
• A settling-in allowance to cover items needed on arrival.
• A completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period.

The fellowship covers the recipient only. Financial support or visas for spouses or dependents are not included.

Eligible Host Institutions (2027/2028)

Below is the list of Irish universities, institutes of technology, and colleges where you can hold this fellowship. Your chosen programme must be from the Directory of Eligible Programmes.

• Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – Galway/Sligo/Letterkenny
• Dublin Business School (DBS)
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• Griffith College (GC) – Dublin/Cork/Limerick
• Independent College (IC) – Dublin
• Mary Immaculate College (MIC) – Limerick
• Munster Technological University (MTU) – Cork/Kerry
• Maynooth University (MU)
• National College of Art and Design (NCAD) – Dublin
• National College of Ireland (NCI) – Dublin
• South East Technological University (SETU) – Waterford/Carlow
• Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
• Technological University Dublin (TUD)
• Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) – Athlone/Limerick
• University College Cork (UCC)
• University College Dublin (UCD)
• UCD Michael Smurfit Business School
• University of Galway (UG)
• University of Limerick (UL)

Ireland Africa Fellows Program Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Ireland Fellows Programme Africa starting in 2027, applicants must:

• Be a resident national of one of the eligible countries listed above.
• For Burundi, also check the Courtney Fellowship page.
• For Nigeria, also check the Roger Casement Fellowship page.
• For Namibia, see the Seán MacBride Fellowship page.
• For South Africa, see the Kader Asmal Fellowship page.
• For Zambia, also check the Frank Ferguson Fellowship page.
• For African SIDS (Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea‑Bissau, Mauritius, Seychelles, and São Tomé and Príncipe), see the Ireland‑SIDS Fellows page.
• Have a minimum of two or three years’ substantial work experience directly relevant to your proposed programme(s). Check page 8 of the Guidance Note for country-specific requirements.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, awarded in 2015 or later, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), i.e. first class or second class honours Grade 1. A second-class honors grade of 2 may be accepted with substantial directly relevant work experience.
• Not already hold a master’s degree or higher. Not currently undertaking a master’s programme or due to start one in 2026/27.
• Be applying to commence a new master’s program in Ireland no sooner than August 2027.
• Demonstrate leadership abilities, a commitment to the SDGs, and a commitment to building positive relationships with Ireland.
• Have identified and selected three relevant programs from the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
• Understand the academic and English language requirements for all chosen programmes.
• Not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.
• Be able to take up the fellowship in the 2027/2028 academic year.

How to Apply for the Ireland Fellows Programme Africa

The application process for the Ireland Africa Fellows Program has three stages. Read the Applicant Guidance Note carefully before starting, eligibility criteria may differ from country to country.

Stage 1 – Preliminary Application

Complete the Stage 1 Application Form (available as a Word document – download here). This is a short form that allows the selection panel to assess your eligibility. Submit it to the relevant Embassy of Ireland in your country before the deadline. You will be contacted once decisions have been made.

Stage 2 – Detailed Application

If your Stage 1 application is successful, you will be invited to complete a more detailed application form, including submission of all required documents.

Stage 3 – Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. You will also need to submit your English language test results. If you do not yet have them, shortlisted candidates will take the Duolingo English Test. If your chosen course or HEI does not accept Duolingo, you must take IELTS in January 2027.

Key Documents

• Stage 1 Guidance Note (PDF)
• Stage 1 Application Form (Word)
• Directory of Eligible Postgraduate Programmes 2027‑2028 (PDF)

The deadline to submit an application for the first stage is July 26, 2026. For more details on the Ireland Africa Fellows Program, please visit the official page.