Application Deadline: 2nd October 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2027 AfricaLics Visiting PhD Fellowships. The AfricaLics network invites eligible PhD students enrolled at universities in African countries to apply for the AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP), 2027 cohort, which focuses on research in Innovation and Development (I&D).
The AfricaLics VFP was established in 2015 with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). Since its establishment, 50 African PhD students from low- and lower-middle-income countries have participated in the programme, receiving training and mentorship support.
Successful candidates for the 2027 cohort will participate in a fellowship programme combining online pre- and post-activities with a study period of 3 months at the University of Johannesburg (UJ)[1] in South Africa.
The 2027 VFP cohort activities will kick off with a range of online activities starting in the first half of February 2027. The study visit at UJ is scheduled for 6 September to 3 December 2027 and will be followed up by various additional online activities in December 2027 and in early 2028.
The AfricaLics VFP aims to support African PhD students working in Innovation and Development by strengthening their academic and research capabilities, improving the quality of their dissertations, and preparing them for careers in academia, the private sector, or government and policymaking. The AfricaLics VFP does this by increasing the mobility and level of exposure of the selected PhD students to international knowledge and research on innovation and development. The programme forms part of the broader AfricaLics efforts to contribute to the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging and highly multidisciplinary field.
Eligibility Requirements
The scholarship option is open to PhD students from countries in Africa classified by the OECD/DAC as low and lower-middle-income countries whose studies – irrespective of sectoral discipline – focus on the relationship between innovation and economic, social or environmentally sustainable development. Female PhD students are particularly encouraged to apply, as AfricaLics seeks to increase the representation of women in Innovation and Development research in Africa. Likewise, PhD students from low-income countries are particularly encouraged to apply because AfricaLics endeavours to strengthen research capacity in Innovation and Development in low-income countries in Africa.
Applicants must be enrolled as PhD students in a relevant programme at an African university and should preferably have completed their first year of PhD studies by December 2026. The final number of accepted visiting fellows will depend on the in-depth assessment of the quality and relevance of applications, funding available, and possibilities to secure relevant mentors that match the topics of PhD candidates applying for the fellowship. The visiting scholarship is complementary to the studies of the PhD students at their home universities, and applicants must already have secured basic funding for their PhD studies from other sources (e.g. African governments, other organisations, or self-financing).
For the 2027 VFP cohort, PhD students engaged in research relevant to the four AfricaLics Research Coordination Areas are particularly encouraged to apply. The Network currently has four established RCAs:
- STI Measurement in Africa
- Global Value Chains (GVCs), Innovation and Industrialization
- Innovating Resilience: Advancing Inclusive Agricultural Innovation for Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Innovation and Sustainable Energy Transition in Africa (i-SET Africa)
Student Requirements and Application Form
Applicants for the AfricaLics PhD visiting fellowship programme should:
- Be working actively on a subject relevant to innovation and development as defined above.
- Be enrolled as a PhD student at a university in Africa.
- Have preferably completed their first year of studies by December 2026
- Have a background (BSc, MSc etc.) in Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Science and Technology Policy, Geography, History or Development Studies. Applicants may also work within the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects or even manufacturing, but from a social science perspective.
- Possess adequate literacy in English (documentation may be requested).
Application Requirement
The following documents must be submitted with the application:
- Brief outline of current PhD project, including PhD training plans (max. 5 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae – CV (including PhD courses attended so far)
- Letter of support from the main PhD supervisor confirming that the PhD student will have completed her/his upgrade/probation by the end of December 2025 OR reasons why the student is deemed suitable for inclusion in the fellowship programme if this is not the case.
- Letter of support from the University Administration at the university where the PhD student is enrolled
- Copies of academic certificates (copies of Bachelor and Master Certificates as a minimum)
- One writing sample (article or chapter) from current PhD program
Applicants are NOT expected to submit a copy of their passport when applying for the PhD visiting fellowship programme. Successful candidates will be asked to handle any visa issues that may be relevant with support from the AfricaLics Secretariat and UJ. Collection of personal data will be kept to a minimum, and information received will be stored safely and will not be used for any other purposes.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the AfricaLics Visiting PhD Fellowships
