Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme for South-African Students in Ireland

The Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme is a fully-funded scholarship opportunity offered to South African students to study at the Master’s level in Ireland’s world-renowned Higher Education Institutions.

📖 About the Programme

The Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme is a flagship initiative of the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, targeting early career professionals in South Africa with leadership potential. The programme supports:

• Leadership for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Development of women’s leadership capacity and participation in STEM.
• Students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue Master’s level education in Ireland, particularly graduates of Universities of Historical Disadvantage and Universities of Technology.

The programme is fully funded by the Irish Government under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: July 01, 2025
• Application Deadline: July 25, 2025
• Category: Fellowship, Fully Funded, Masters, Postgraduate
• Opportunity Location: Ireland
• Eligible Locations: South Africa

🎓 Eligible Courses

The programme supports a wide range of fields, including:

• Agriculture
• Health
• Education
• Human Rights
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Business and more

💰 Benefits

The Ireland Fellows Programme awards are fully funded and include:

Covered Costs:

• Payment of academic fees.
• Visa application fees.
• Medical and travel insurance.
• Economy flights to and from Ireland.
• The Irish residence permit fee.

Allowances:

• Settling-in allowance for items needed upon arrival in Ireland.
• Completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period.
• Monthly living stipend of €700 (subject to review).
• Student accommodation arranged and paid for during trimesters 1 and 2 (September to May). For trimester 3, a monthly accommodation stipend of €800–€1000, depending on location in Ireland (subject to review).
• Access to extracurricular, training, and volunteering opportunities to enhance the experience in Ireland.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a resident national of South Africa.
2. Have at least two years of substantial work experience directly relevant to the proposed programme(s) of study.
3. Hold a bachelor’s level academic qualification from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
   • The degree must have been awarded in 2014 or later (i.e., within the last 12 years).
4. Not already hold a qualification at Master’s level or higher.
5. Be applying to commence a new Master’s programme in Ireland no sooner than August 2025.
6. Demonstrate:
   • Leadership abilities and aspirations.
   • Commitment to achieving the SDGs within South Africa.
   • Commitment to building positive relationships with Ireland.
7. Select three programmes relevant to academic and professional background from the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
8. Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all chosen programmes.
9. Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.
10. Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2026/2027.

📝 Application Process

Stage 1: Preliminary Application

Applicants must submit the following scanned documents with their application form:

1. Official identification: Either a passport (identity page only) or another official identification document.
2. Undergraduate degree award certificate.
3. Final degree academic transcripts, including an explanation of the grading system (if provided).

Document Submission Guidelines:

• Documents must be in PDF format and submitted as separate attachments.
• Use the following naming format for each document:
  • Your Name – Passport
  • Your Name – Undergraduate Degree Certificate
  • Your Name – Academic Transcript

📅 Application Deadline

July 25, 2025

🌐 Scholarship Application Portal

For more details, visit the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme.
To apply, visit Canon Collins Scholarships.

This opportunity is a fantastic chance for South African students to pursue their academic and professional aspirations in Ireland while contributing to global development goals. Don't miss out!

• Ireland Fellows Programme awards are fully funded.
• The award includes the payment of academic fees;
• visa application fees;
• medical and travel insurance;
• economy flights to and from Ireland;
• the Irish residence permit fee.

Allowances include the following:

• A settling-in allowance towards items needed on arrival in Ireland
• A completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period
• A monthly living stipend of €700 (subject to review)
• Student accommodation arranged and paid for trimesters 1 and 2 (normally September to May), and in trimester 3 a monthly accommodation stipend of €800- €1000 depending on location in Ireland (subject to review).
• In addition, the Ireland Fellows Programme features many extracurricular, training and volunteering opportunities to help you make the most of your experience in Ireland.