Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme 2025-2026 (Funded – Deadline: Ongoing)

Applications are open for the Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme 2025-2026. The Ireland Fellows Programme – SIDS is one of a number of commitments set out in the Government’s Strategy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which reflects the breadth of areas where Ireland and SIDS already collaborate, and where they have shared interests in global outcomes.  

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 Programme is intended to support graduates on their return home, through the skills they develop, to contribute to capacity building in their home countries and to become one of the next generation of leaders in their respective fields. It is also envisaged that they will contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.

Benefits

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

Eligibility

• Be a national of one of the eligible SIDS countries and resident in one of the eligible SIDS countries – they can be a national of one country and resident in another, in the same region, as set out here:  
  • 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. 
  • Pacific: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. 
• Have a minimum three 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 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 your application.

The application process consists of three stages:

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

Download the application form

For more information, visit Ireland-SIDS Fellows Programme.