Apply now for the Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme

Applications are currently being accepted for the Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme. This initiative allows early to mid-career professionals from eligible countries, who show leadership potential, to receive a top-tier education that contributes to capacity building.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to pursue a fully funded one-year master’s level program at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. The scholarship covers program fees, airfare, accommodation, and living expenses. Eligible master’s programs in Ireland typically start in August or September each year and last between 10 and 16 months, depending on the specific program.

The Ireland Fellows Programme – SIDS is part of the Government’s commitment to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), showcasing the diverse areas of collaboration between Ireland and SIDS, as well as their shared interests in global outcomes.

The main objectives of the program are to cultivate future leaders, enhance local capacity to achieve national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and foster positive relationships with Ireland.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are expected to return to their home countries equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to capacity building and emerge as leaders in their respective fields. It is also anticipated that they will play a role in establishing lasting personal and professional connections with Ireland, promoting ongoing institutional partnerships.

Eligible Countries: Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme

Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Eligible Courses: Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme

1. Eligible courses cover a wide range of fields including agriculture, health, education, human rights, computer science, engineering, business, and more.
2. These courses are detailed in a Directory of Eligible Programmes.

Eligibility for the Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme

To qualify for an Ireland Fellows Programme – SIDS award for the academic year 2024, candidates must meet the following criteria:

– Hold nationality in one of the eligible SIDS countries and be a resident in one of these countries. It is acceptable to be a national of one country while residing in another within the same region. The eligible regions are as follows:

• 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, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
• For Belize, please refer to the Latin America Fellowship page.
• Pacific: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

1. You must have at least three years of substantial work experience directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study.
2. Additionally, you should 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).
3. You should not already have a qualification at master’s level or higher, or be currently undertaking or due to start a programme at master’s level or higher in the academic year 2023/24.
4. You must be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2024.
5. Furthermore, you need to demonstrate 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.
6. You should have identified and selected three programmes relevant to your academic and professional background from the Directory of Eligible Programmes, and have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen.
7. You must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion, and be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2024/2025.
8. Please note that the Fellowship covers the recipient only, and financial support or visas for spouses or dependents are not included within the scope of the programme.

Application for the Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme

1. Be sure to read the Applicant Guidance Note carefully before completing the application, as eligibility criteria may differ from country to country.
2. The application process consists of three stages:
3. Preliminary Application,
4. Detailed Application, and
5. Interviews.
6. For details visit the Official Webpage of the Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme.