Deadline: Ongoing
Applications are open for the Irish Aid Seán MacBride Fellowship 2025-2026. 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.
Seán MacBride was a former Minister for External Relations in Ireland and also served as the UN High Commissioner for Namibia during an important period in Namibia’s history pre-independence. Mr. MacBride was also a leading jurist and human rights activist. In celebration and in memory of the contribution of Seán MacBride, and towards deepening the links between Ireland and Namibia, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs – through the Embassy of Ireland in Lusaka – is offering one fellowship for master’s degree level study in Ireland in the areas of international relations, conflict resolution, human rights and international law.
This scholarship has been established as part of a broader range of initiatives and engagements to further strengthen collaboration and cooperation with the Government of Namibia across a range of mutual interests.
Scholarship
- 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.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Seán MacBride Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2025, applicants must:
- Be a resident national of Namibia.
- Have a minimum of two years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study.
- Be working with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, the Ministry of Justice (including the Office of the Judiciary), the Ministry of Defence or the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Protection in Namibia.
- 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 programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 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 Sections C and D of the 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 2025/2026.
Application
Read the Applicant 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
All applicants who are selected to progress after the second stage will be required to sit an online Duolingo English Test. 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 2023 or later which shows the applicant has achieved the necessary score for the course(s) they intend to apply to. Early preparation for the IELTS exam is strongly advised, even for native English speakers.
For more information, visit Irish Aid Seán MacBride Fellowship.
