Deadline: 25 July 2025, 5:00 PM GMT
The Ireland Fellows Programme – SIDS provides an exceptional opportunity for early to mid-career professionals from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to pursue fully funded master’s-level studies in Ireland. This prestigious initiative is funded by the Irish Government and administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in collaboration with the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) and the Canon Collins Trust.
About the Programme
This fellowship is part of Ireland’s broader commitment under its Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States, launched in June 2019. The initiative strengthens shared international priorities such as climate action, ocean conservation, and sustainable development.
Each year, the programme offers selected candidates the chance to study in Ireland for a one-year master’s degree at a recognized Irish higher education institution (HEI). Depending on the chosen programme, the academic period typically ranges from 10 to 16 months, beginning in August or September.
The programme promotes gender equality, inclusion, and diversity, and seeks to build a cohort of future leaders who can contribute meaningfully to their countries’ resilience and sustainability—particularly in addressing the effects of climate change and advancing the blue economy.
Key Objectives
The Ireland Fellows Programme – SIDS is designed to:
- Foster leadership and professional growth among future change-makers.
- Enhance the capacity of SIDS to tackle pressing environmental and socio-economic challenges.
- Strengthen diplomatic and institutional ties between Ireland and participating island nations.
Participants are expected to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in Ireland toward tangible change in their home countries, while building enduring personal and professional relationships with Ireland.
Academic Fields and Course Eligibility
Eligible academic fields include:
- Climate Change and Environmental Science
- Sustainable Development
- Engineering and Sustainable Technology
- Marine and Ocean Sciences
A full list of approved programmes is available in the official Directory of Eligible Programmes.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the 2026 academic intake, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a national and resident of one of the eligible SIDS countries (they may be a national of one eligible country and reside in another within the same region):
- Africa: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Sao Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles.
- Asia: Maldives, Timor-Leste.
- Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
- Pacific: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
- Possess at least three years of relevant work experience related to the proposed field of study.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (awarded in 2012 or later) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale), equivalent to 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 experience.
- Not already hold, or be currently undertaking, a qualification at master’s level or higher.
- Be applying to begin a new master’s programme in Ireland no sooner than August 2026.
- Demonstrate:
- Strong leadership qualities and future potential.
- A commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their home country.
- A willingness to foster positive international relations with Ireland.
- Select three relevant programmes from the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
- Meet all academic and English language proficiency requirements.
- Have not applied more than once previously to the Ireland Fellows Programme.
- Be available to take up the award for the academic year 2026–2027.
- Understand that only the awardee is covered by the fellowship; dependents and spouses are not financially supported.
What the Fellowship Covers
The fellowship includes:
- Tuition and university application fees.
- Examination and associated academic fees.
- Round-trip economy-class travel between the home country and Ireland.
- Settling-in, book, and study allowances.
- Full accommodation support.
- A monthly living stipend for personal expenses.
- Costs of a student visa application.
Application Process
The application process has three stages:
- Preliminary Application
- Detailed Application
- Interview
Applicants who progress past Stage 2 must complete the Duolingo English Test online. If selected after the interview stage, they will also be required to sit the IELTS exam—unless they already possess a valid IELTS certificate dated 2021 or later that meets the required scores.
Applicants are strongly advised to begin IELTS preparation early, even if English is their first language.
Applications must be submitted online by 25 July 2025, 5:00 PM GMT.
Visit here
For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the awarding organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
