Irish Aid Seán MacBride Fellowship for Namibian Leaders 2023-2024

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. 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. The Ireland Fellows Programme promotes gender equality, equal opportunity, and welcomes diversity.

The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders; to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals; and to build positive relationships with Ireland. 

The Government of Ireland is working with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in Namibia to provide capacity building in the area of international relations/conflict resolution.

Seán McBride 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. In celebration and in memory of the contribution of Seán McBride, 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 and conflict resolution.

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.

• Table of Content
• About Irish Aid
• Seán MacBride Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of Seán MacBride Fellowship
• Requirements for Seán MacBride Fellowship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Irish Aid

Irish Aid is the Irish Government’s programme for overseas development. The programme is managed by the Development Co-operation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The work we do in fighting global poverty and hunger is integral to Ireland’s foreign policy.  

Seán MacBride Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of Seán MacBride Fellowship

The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs.

Requirements for Seán MacBride Fellowship Qualification

To be eligible for a Seán MacBride Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2022, applicants must:

• Be a resident national of Namibia.
• Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2022/2023.
• Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.
• Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen.
• Have identified and selected two programmes relevant to your academic and professional background from the list in Section C of the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
• Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2023.
• 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 2023/24.
• 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 2010 or later (i.e. within the last 12 years).
• Be working with the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation in Namibia.
• Have a minimum of two years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applications will not be considered for this fellowship unless all eligibility criteria are met. You should carefully check that you can meet the above criteria before requesting application information.

For more details, visit Irish Aid website.