Deadline: July 25, 2025
Applications are open for the Ireland Fellows Programme Frank Ferguson Fellowship in Engineering 2026-2027. The Irish Government, in partnership with the Engineering Institution of Zambia and the University of Galway, have established a Frank Ferguson Fellowship award that will fund up to two awards (one male, one female) to successful Zambian candidates each year to study on a master’s level engineering programme in Ireland. The Engineering School at the University of Galway is ranked in the top 2% globally and boasts strong research support in one of the world’s most welcoming cities.
This Fellowship award is in recognition of the achievements, and in memory of Frank Ferguson, who was an engineer and innovator who dedicated fifty years of his life to promoting development in Zambia through numerous high-quality infrastructure projects.
The Ireland Fellows Programme is fully funded by the Irish Government and is offered under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Programme aligns with the Irish Government’s commitments under Global Ireland and the national implementation plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, A Better World: Ireland’s Policy for International Development, and Ireland’s International Education Strategy, as well as Global Ireland: Ireland’s Strategy for Africa to 2025; Global Ireland: Delivering in the Asia Pacific Region; Ireland’s Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States; and Global Ireland: Ireland’s Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025. The programme is managed by the relevant Embassy responsible for eligible countries. Programme implementation in Ireland is supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).
Eligibility
To be eligible for an Ireland Fellows Programme – Frank Ferguson Fellowship award commencing at the beginning of the academic year 2026, applicants must:
- Be a resident national of Zambia.
- Have a minimum of three years’ substantial work experience that is directly relevant to your proposed programme(s) of study.
- Be a member of the Engineering Institution of Zambia.
- Hold a Degree in Engineering or related discipline with Merit or higher from an accredited and government-recognised higher education institution.
- Have achieved the necessary academic standard to be accepted onto a Master’s level programme of studying in Engineering at the University of Galway.
- Not already hold a qualification at master’s level or higher. Not currently undertaking a programme at master’s level or higher, or be due to start a programme at master’s level or higher in the academic year 2025/26.
- Be applying to commence a new programme at master’s level in Ireland no sooner than August 2026.
- Be able to demonstrate the following: leadership abilities and aspirations; a commitment to the achievement of the SDGs within your own country; and a commitment to contribute to building positive relationships with Ireland.
- Have identified and selected two programmes relevant to your academic and professional background from the list of engineering programmes at the University of Galway.
- Have a clear understanding of the academic and English language proficiencies required for all programmes chosen.
- Must not have applied to the Ireland Fellows Programme on more than one previous occasion.
- Be in a position to take up the Fellowship in the academic year 2026/2027.
Eligible Courses
Applicants must select from the following list of courses offered by the University of Galway:
- Master of Civil Engineering (MENG-MEC)
- ME in Energy Systems Engineering (MENG-MEES)
- MSc in Mechanical Engineering (MSC-MSME)
- ME in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (MENG-MEEE)
- MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management (MSC-MFR)
Application
The application process consists of three stages:
- Stage 1: Preliminary Application;
- Stage 2: Detailed Application (including research proposal);
- Stage 3 Interviews.
For more information, see Guideline note and visit Frank Ferguson Fellowship.
