About Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme:
The Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme offers fully funded scholarships for South African students to pursue Master’s level studies at renowned institutions of higher learning in Ireland. This flagship program is part of the Ireland-Africa Fellows Programme, facilitated by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa. The fellowship aims to support early-career professionals with leadership potential from South Africa, with a special focus on women’s leadership and STEM participation, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Fellowship Benefits:
The Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme covers a range of expenses, including:
- Application fees for universities
- Tuition fees
- Examination and other related fees
- Economy class air travel between home country and Ireland
- Settlement allowance, book allowance, and study allowance
- Accommodation
- Monthly stipend for living expenses
- Application fees for entry clearance (student visitor visas)
Eligible Courses:
The fellowship program includes two main strands:
- 12 Annual Awards for Postgraduate Study in various fields such as Climate Change & Resilience, Environment, Marine, Sustainable Development, Engineering, Development Studies, Human Rights, Law, Health, Education, Business, Information Systems, and more.
- Two annual awards for a fellowship in Human Rights Law at Trinity College Dublin, specifically for the LL.M (International and Comparative Law).
Eligible courses are listed in the Directory of Eligible Programmes.
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the Kader Asmal Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- South African nationality
- Minimum of two years of work experience (including volunteering and internships)
- First-class honors or second-class honors degree from a recognized higher education institution with at least a 75% GPA
- Not holding a master’s degree or higher and not enrolled or scheduled to start a master’s program in the 2022/23 academic year
- Applicants should plan to apply for a master’s degree in Ireland no sooner than August/September 2025-2026
- Demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to achieving SDGs, and leadership abilities
- Selection of two relevant courses from the Ireland Fellows Programme Directory of Eligible Programmes
- Solid understanding of academic and English language requirements for chosen courses
- Applicants must not have previously applied more than once for the fellowship
- Fellowship must be available during the previous academic year.
Application Process:
Applicants must submit their applications online through the Kader Asmal Fellowship Application for 2025-2026. Before starting the online application process, applicants need to register on the website.
Closing Date:
The application deadline for the Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme is July 31. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
Contact Details:
For inquiries, applicants can reach out to the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa.
