Applications are open for the Irish Aid Casement Fellowship in Human Rights 2025/2026. The Roger Casement Fellowship in Human Rights was established to honour the memory of the Irish human rights activist Roger Casement, who spent some of his early working life in Calabar, Nigeria. He was an early advocate for human rights while in Nigeria and during his later work in Congo, the Amazon and in Ireland. With his humanitarian legacy in mind, the Roger Casement Fellowship supports candidates from Nigeria to undertake a master’s level course of study in Human Rights in Ireland each year.

The Ireland Fellows Programme is fully funded by the Irish Government and is offered under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Programme aligns with the Irish Government’s commitments under Global Ireland and the national implementation plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, A Better World: Ireland’s Policy for International Development, and Global Citizens 2030 Ireland’s International Talent and Innovation Strategy, as well as Global Ireland: Ireland’s Strategy for Africa to 2025; Global Ireland: Delivering in the Asia Pacific Region; Ireland’s Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States; and Global Ireland: Ireland’s Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025. The programme is managed by the relevant Embassy responsible for eligible countries. Programme implementation in Ireland is supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).

Benefits

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

Eligibility

To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Casement Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2025, applicants must: 

• Be a resident national of Nigeria. 
• Have a minimum of two years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study. 
• 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 the Casement Fellowship 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.

Deadline: Ongoing

Application

Read the Applicants Guidance Note carefully before completing your application.

The application process consists of three stages:

• Stage 1: Preliminary Application;
• Stage 2: Detailed Application;
• Stage 3: Interviews.

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 Casement Fellowship in Human Rights.