The Irish Government 2026/2027 Frank Ferguson Fellowship in Engineering for Young Zambians (Fully Funded Study in Ireland)

Application Deadline: 25 July 2025

Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Frank Ferguson Fellowship in Engineering. The Ireland Fellows Programme enables early to mid-career professionals from eligible countries, with leadership potential, to benefit from a prestigious, world-class, quality education contributing to capacity building. It offers selected students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master’s level programme at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland. The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs. Eligible master’s level programmes in Ireland commence in August or September each year and, depending on the programme, will run for between 10 and 16 months.

The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders; to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals; and to build positive relationships with Ireland.

The Programme is intended to support graduates on their return home, through the skills they develop, to contribute to capacity building in their home countries and to become one of the next generation of leaders in their respective fields. It is also envisaged that they will contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.

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.

Eligible Countries: 

Zambia

Eligible Courses: 

Applicants must select from the following list of courses offered by the University of Galway:

1. Master of Civil Engineering (MENG-MEC)
2. ME in Energy Systems Engineering (MENG-MEES)
3. MSc in Mechanical Engineering (MSC-MSME)
4. ME in Electrical & Electronic Engineering (MENG-MEEE)
5. MSc in Marine and Freshwater Resources: Management (MSC-MFR)

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.

Benefits

• Ireland Fellows Programme awards are fully funded. The award includes the payment of academic
• fees; visa application fees; medical and travel insurance; economy flights to and from Ireland; and the
• Irish residence permit fee. Allowances include the following:
• A settling-in allowance towards items needed on arrival in Ireland;
• A completion and departure allowance at the end of the study period;
• A monthly living stipend of €700 (subject to review);
• Student accommodation arranged and paid for trimesters 1 and 2 (normally
• September to May), and in trimester 3 a monthly accommodation stipend of
• €800-€1000 depending on location in Ireland (subject to review).

Applications

Please read the Applicants Guidance Note carefully before completing as eligibility criteria may differ from country to country.

The application process consists of three stages:

• Stage 1 Preliminary Application;
• Stage 2 Detailed Application (including research proposal);
• Stage 3 Interviews.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Frank Ferguson Fellowship in Engineering