Applications call for Casement Fellowship in Human Rights 2020/21

The Roger Casement fellowship has been established to honour the memory of the Irish human rights activist Roger Casement who spent some of his early working life in Calabar, Nigeria. He was an early advocate for human rights while in Nigeria, and, famously, during his later work in the Congo, the Amazon and in Ireland. With his humanitarian legacy in mind, it has been decided to support one Nigerian student to study a master’s degree in human rights in Ireland.

Aim

The purpose of the Roger Casement Fellowship Programme is to provide talented candidates with the opportunity to pursue advanced education and professional development in Ireland in order to contribute to the future development of Nigeria.

Funding and Benefits

Under the Casement fellowship, full financial support is provided for one-year full-time post-graduate education for candidates from Nigeria to undertake a one year master’s level course of study in Human Rights in Ireland. The Roger Casement Fellowship Programme normally covers: return airfares, full tuition, stipends to cover accommodation and subsistence costs, health insurance and other allowances, in addition to the necessary entry arrangements such as medical examination and visa.

Eligibility

Candidates will need to have achieved the necessary educational standard to be accepted onto a Masters course in a Higher Education Institute in Ireland. In addition, candidates must

• be a citizen of Nigeria and be residing in Nigeria
• have achieved the necessary academic standard to be accepted onto a master’s level course of study in Human Rights
• have a minimum of two years’ relevant work experience.
• be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of Nigeria.
• be able to take up the fellowship in the academic year for which it is offered.
• meet any relevant procedural requirements of the Government of Nigeria.
• be able to demonstrate skills in academic English by achieving an appropriate score on a recognised test (e.g. IELTS 6.5).

Ineligibility

Applicants will not be considered for this position if they

• Already hold a master’s qualification.
• Have applied for the Roger Casement Fellowship on two or more previous occasions without being awarded a fellowship. (Cases, where an applicant withdrew from the process previously, may be considered if there were exceptional or unforeseen circumstances for withdrawal in that instance).
• Are currently working, or it is anticipated that they will work in the future, at our embassies or at headquarters. That personnel who have worked with any of our embassies/missions in the past must allow a full year before becoming eligible to apply for a fellowship.