Scholarship: Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme Scholarships for Developing Countries (Africa, Asia and Palestine)

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Irish Aid:
Fellowship Training Programme 

Course(s) Offered: Relevant fields
Course Level: Graduate (masters, PGD, trainings, internship, fellowships)
Provider: Government of Ireland
Country to Study in: Any country (Ireland, Applicant home region)

Scholarship Description
Every year, the Government of Ireland offers the Irish Aid's Fellowship Training Programme for suitably qualified candidates from developing countries to undertake postgraduate studies at colleges and universities in Ireland or within their own country's region.

The Fellowship Training Programme offers study fellowships for candidates to further their education in areas relevant to Irish Aid programme objectives. The Programme is closely aligned to Irish Aid's partner country priorities and will support capacity building within key organisations in those countries.

Awards are made in fields such as development studies, rural development, health care, education and law with the aim of supporting and enhancing the contribution recipients can make to Irish Aid's partner organisations. Fellowship recipients are committed, on completion of their training, to return home to resume work and put their acquired skills into practice for the benefit of their home country.

Eligibility 
Fellowship eligibility requirements aim to ensure close alignment with Irish Aid's programmatic approach. To be eligible, applicants must

• be a citizen of one of Irish Aid’s partner countries (i.e. Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia), or of Cambodia, Kenya, Liberia, Palestine, Myanmar, Rwanda or Zimbabwe.
• be resident in that country.
• have achieved the necessary academic standard to be accepted onto a Master’s degree course in a higher education institution in Ireland or within their own region.
• be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of their home country.
• have identified relevant college courses in a higher education institution in Ireland or within their own region. For study in Ireland, you must select courses from the Irish Aid Directory of Eligible Postgraduate Courses
• be applying to commence a new qualification and not be seeking funding for a course they have already commenced or which will begin before fellowship awards have been notified.
• be able to take up the fellowship in the academic year 2018/2019.
• provide a letter of reference from their employer and a completed Employer Endorsement Form.

For study in Ireland, applicants must also:

• be able to demonstrate skills in academic English by achieving an appropriate score on a recognised test (IELTS 6.5)
• contact the Irish Embassy to confirm that the courses they have chosen from the Directory of Postgraduate Courses accord with the Embassy's priorities in their country (see contact information below).

Eligible groups
Citizens of countries listed above

Participating Institutions
Accredited colleges and universities in Ireland or within the candidate's country region

Fields of Study
Relevant Masters programmes in Ireland and regionally. A directory listing suitable courses for study in Ireland is available to applicants, covering programmes in up to 12 subject areas

Number of awards
Not specified, may vary

Sponsorship duration
Whole period of the study programme. Depending on the Masters course, scholarships will run for between 10 and 16 months

Scholarship benefits
The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) provides support for the management and administration of the Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme. The scholarship award covers course fees, required flights, accommodation (for out of country study), monthly allowances, insurance and other incidental expenses. 

Method of Application
The Application Form and Directory of Postgraduate Courses are both available for download by ticking the box found on the official website. [Applicants from Tanzania should email TanzaniaFellowships@dfa.ie to request the list of courses they are eligible to apply for.] Applications will not be considered for this fellowship unless all eligibility criteria are met. You should carefully check that you can meet the criteria before requesting application information. 

Applications must be made both for the 'Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme' and the 'chosen course'. These are separate application processes. 

It is important to visit the official website (link to it is below) for complete information before you apply.

DEADLINES:
Eligible Masters programmes in Ireland commence in the period August to September each year. The closing date for receipt of applications to the Embassy of Ireland in the participating countries will vary by country but usually 30 November each year

PLEASE NOTE:
Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s programme of assistance to developing countries since 1974. The Fellowship Training Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of development partner organisations in countries benefiting from Irish Aid support through the provision of higher education study opportunities.

Application Deadline: Varies per country
Open to International students: Yes

More Scholarship Information and Application (Irish Aid Fellowship Training Programme)
More Scholarship Information and Application (Irish Aid Programme)