Opportunities to Study in Ireland

There are a number of scholarship programmes available to enable Ugandans and Rwandese to study in Ireland. Irish Aid funds a Fellowship Training Programme which provides scholarships in Ireland to staff of selected partner organisations that include Government ministries, Parastatals and Civil Society Support Programme beneficiaries in Uganda and Rwanda. A number of universities, such as the National University of Ireland in Galway and the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School also provide scholarships for international students.

Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme

The Embassy of Ireland, on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland, funds a number of scholarships for study at Masters Level in Ireland. This programme aims to support dynamic candidates with leadership potential who can drive positive change in their countries. The Fellows Programme targets early to mid-career professionals for courses that are relevant to the work of the Embassy as outlined in the Country Strategy Paper 2016-2020.

Studying at postgraduate level in Ireland offers a unique opportunity to join programmes that are driving innovation and changing lives worldwide. Applicants can choose from almost 200 postgraduate programmes specially selected to enhance capacity in line with stated country development goals and the strategy of the Irish Embassy. The range of courses includes development studies, gender studies, climate related rural development, health care, education and strategic management.

Detailed information on the eligibility, application process and course information for the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme is available at the official website of the Programme.

Fr Declan O'Toole Memorial Fellowship

The Embassy of Ireland in Uganda is launching a new Fellowship from 2020/2021 in memory of Fr Declan O'Toole, who was killed in tragic circumstances in March 2002 in Kotido, Karamoja sub-district.

The purpose of this fellowship is to support capacity building and skills development amongst Karamojong working in local Government and civil society in Karamoja, in sectors of particular relevance to the Irish Embassy programme in Uganda, as outlined in the Country Strategic Paper 2016 – 2020.

The criteria is as follows:

• Be born and currently resident and working in Karamoja.
• Have achieved the necessary academic standard to be accepted onto a Master's degree course in a higher education institution in Uganda.
• Applicants who already hold a Master's Degree are not eligible.
• Be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of Karamoja and highlight how the proposed study could be used for positive change in Karamoja.
• Have identified and selected two relevant courses from accredited universities in Uganda in the sectors of education; public health / HIV; community development; human rights; gender and governance; water, environment and climate change; management, finance and audit.
• Have 2 years relevant post – graduate experience.
• Be applying to commence a new qualification and not seeking funding for a course they have already commenced or which will begin before fellowship awards have been notified.
• Be able to take up the fellowship in the academic year 2020/21.
• Be prepared to commit to 2 years working in Karamoja following graduation.

2 scholarships will be awarded in line with the above criteria - one male and one female. Scholarships can be awarded to local Government officials and/or to members of civil society.

NB: Eligible candidates are welcome to apply for both the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme and the Fr Declan O'Toole Memorial Fellowship, if desired. Please ensure this is clear on your application form.

Process

• Stage one – if you wish to apply for the Fr Declan O'Toole Memorial Fellowship, please complete the standard fellowship application form under the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme. In addition to the criteria set out in the guidelines available on the fellowships website, applicants will need to be able to demonstrate, during this stage, that they were born in and are currently resident in Karamoja (Section 1 - personal information), as well as demonstrating a strong commitment to the development of Karamoja and highlighting how the proposed study could be used for positive change in Karamoja (Section 5). Under Section 4, please refer to what Master's courses in Uganda you wish to pursue.
• Stage two - Detailed application
• Stage three- Interviews

For further information from the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda, contact the Fellowship Administrator.