Ireland Fellows Programme – Latin America

Benefits & funding

• Full academic fees, visa application fees, medical and travel insurance, economy flights to and from Ireland, and the Irish residence permit fee.
• A settling-in allowance and a completion and departure allowance.
• A monthly living stipend of €700, subject to review.
• Accommodation arranged and paid for trimesters 1 and 2, normally September to May, followed by a monthly accommodation stipend of €800–€1,000 in trimester 3 depending on location, subject to review.
• Extracurricular, training, and volunteering opportunities during the fellowship.

Eligibility

• Be both a national and resident of Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay, Peru, or Venezuela.
• Apply through the route for the relevant country: the Central America Award for Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; the Roger Casement Award for Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela; or the Cecilia Grierson Award for Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
• Central America Award applicants may use the full programme directory; Roger Casement applicants are limited to sections C, D, and H, while Cecilia Grierson applicants are limited to sections B, E, I, and K.
• Have at least three years of substantial work experience directly relevant to the proposed programmes; one year of internship experience counts as six months when applications are evaluated.
• Hold a bachelor’s qualification from an accredited, government-recognised institution with at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, first-class honours, or second-class honours Grade 1; second-class honours Grade 2 may be accepted with substantial directly relevant experience. The qualification must have been awarded in 2015 or later.
• Not hold or currently study for a master’s or higher qualification, and not be due to begin one in 2026–27.
• Demonstrate leadership ability and aspirations, commitment to national Sustainable Development Goals, and commitment to building positive links with Ireland.
• Select three relevant programmes, understand their academic and English requirements, have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme no more than once before, and be available for study in 2027–28.

Application process

1. 1
   Submit the typed Stage 1 form by email to the Embassy of Ireland responsible for the applicant’s country, with separate copies of official identification, the bachelor’s award certificate, and final academic transcripts.
2. 2
   Eligible Stage 1 applications are scored; shortlisted applicants without accepted English certification take the Duolingo English Test or another test before submitting the detailed Stage 2 form and supporting documents.
3. 3
   Stage 3 interviews take place in November and December; selected candidates may need an IELTS or another accepted test before the programme arranges applications to Irish higher education institutions.
4. 4
   Candidates who secure a programme offer proceed to fellowship confirmation and travel to Ireland in August or September 2027.

Program timeline

1. Stage 1 applications opened.

   29 June 2026

2. Stage 1 application deadline.

   26 July 2026

3. English testing for eligible shortlisted applicants without accepted certification.

   September 2026

4. Stage 2 applications opened.

   21 September 2026

5. Stage 2 application deadline.

   18 October 2026

6. Interviews.

   November–December 2026

7. IELTS or another accepted test for candidates who still lack the required certification.

   January 2027

8. Selected candidates are invited to apply to Irish higher education institutions.

   Around March 2027

9. Fellowship awards are confirmed after programme offers.

   June–early July 2027

10. Fellows arrive in Ireland and eligible master’s programmes begin.

    August–September 2027