Funded ACT-PREP Epidemic Preparedness PhD Fellowship

Organization: ACT-PREP (Makerere University School of Public Health)

Type: Fellowship

Location: Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Deadline: September 30, 2026

Funding: Fully Funded

ACT-PREP is a five-year research consortium led by Makerere University School of Public Health and funded by the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, built to make Africa ready to run clinical trials before and during epidemics. Its first call funds 15 PhD fellowships across seven African partner universities, covering tuition, a monthly stipend and a one-off research grant for up to three years. Round 1 (closing September 15, 2026) is for people already enrolled in a PhD at a partner university; Round 2 (closing September 30, 2026) is for Master's holders who want to enrol in one. **What you get:** - Tuition and fees for a PhD at an ACT-PREP partner university (Round 1 says partial or full tuition; Round 2 says tuition and fees) - A monthly stipend - A one-time research or trial grant - Mentorship from ACT-PREP experts - Structured core and specialised courses in clinical trials and epidemic preparedness and response - Access to consortium trial sites, datasets, and an alumni and mentorship network - Funding for up to three years **What you'll do:** - Complete a PhD within three years at a partner university (Makerere, Somali National University, Universite de Kinshasa, MUHAS, University of Global Health Equity, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, University of Juba) - Conduct doctoral research under one of seven themes: clinical trials and trial readiness; disease surveillance, modelling and AI; ethics and regulatory science; laboratory and genomic surveillance; One Health; health systems resilience; epidemic preparedness and response - Take a set of core courses and specialised courses aligned with your research theme - Submit by email: completed application form (Document D), academic documents, CV, a 2 to 3 page research concept note aligned with an EDCTP-priority disease, institutional endorsement letter (Document F), motivation letter, and two referee letters (Document G) **Key dates:** - PhD Round 1 (currently enrolled PhD students) closes September 15, 2026 - PhD Round 2 (new PhD entrants) closes September 30, 2026 - Postdoctoral fellowship strand closes September 30, 2026 (out of scope for this record) - Selection: application screening, scientific evaluation, interviews, notification of results, fellowship commencement; detailed timeline communicated to shortlisted applicants - ACT-PREP project launch at Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, September 28, 2026 **More information:** - Full call package, application form and templates: https://act-prep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PhD-and-PostDoctoral-Fellowship-Call_Final_14Aug2026_FINAL.pdf - Applications go by email to recruitment@act-prep.org, copying actprep@musph.ac.ug - Applications may be submitted in English or French - Equity provision: where two candidates score equally, preference supports the under-represented gender and equitable representation across partner countries

ACT-PREP (Makerere University School of Public Health)Fellowship

Funded ACT-PREP Epidemic Preparedness PhD Fellowship

Sep 30, 2026 23:59:00 Africa/Kampala

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026 23:59:00 Africa/Kampala

About this opportunity

What you get:

Tuition and fees for a PhD at an ACT-PREP partner university (Round 1 says partial or full tuition; Round 2 says tuition and fees)
A monthly stipend
A one-time research or trial grant
Mentorship from ACT-PREP experts
Structured core and specialised courses in clinical trials and epidemic preparedness and response
Access to consortium trial sites, datasets, and an alumni and mentorship network
Funding for up to three years

What you'll do:

Complete a PhD within three years at a partner university (Makerere, Somali National University, Universite de Kinshasa, MUHAS, University of Global Health Equity, Universite Cheikh Anta Diop, University of Juba)
Conduct doctoral research under one of seven themes: clinical trials and trial readiness; disease surveillance, modelling and AI; ethics and regulatory science; laboratory and genomic surveillance; One Health; health systems resilience; epidemic preparedness and response
Take a set of core courses and specialised courses aligned with your research theme
Submit by email: completed application form (Document D), academic documents, CV, a 2 to 3 page research concept note aligned with an EDCTP-priority disease, institutional endorsement letter (Document F), motivation letter, and two referee letters (Document G)

Key dates:

PhD Round 1 (currently enrolled PhD students) closes September 15, 2026
PhD Round 2 (new PhD entrants) closes September 30, 2026
Postdoctoral fellowship strand closes September 30, 2026 (out of scope for this record)
Selection: application screening, scientific evaluation, interviews, notification of results, fellowship commencement; detailed timeline communicated to shortlisted applicants
ACT-PREP project launch at Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, September 28, 2026

More information:

Full call package, application form and templates: https://act-prep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PhD-and-PostDoctoral-Fellowship-Call_Final_14Aug2026_FINAL.pdf
Applications go by email to recruitment@act-prep.org, copying actprep@musph.ac.ug
Applications may be submitted in English or French
Equity provision: where two candidates score equally, preference supports the under-represented gender and equitable representation across partner countries

Who can apply

National of Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda
Relevant Master's degree (or equivalent) in a health, biomedical sciences, public health, or related field
Round 1: currently enrolled in a relevant PhD programme at an ACT-PREP partner university
Round 2: eligible to register in a relevant PhD programme at an ACT-PREP partner university, and committed to completing in three years
Institutional endorsement letter from your home institution (Document F)
Proposed research aligned to one of the seven ACT-PREP priority themes
Two referees (Document G)
All required documents received by the closing date
Round 2 gives priority to candidates already affiliated with an ACT-PREP institution, such as junior researchers

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Good to know

+Tuition, a monthly stipend and a one-off research grant for up to three years of PhD study, plus mentorship and access to consortium trial sites and data.
+Funded by the EU's Global Health EDCTP3 programme and led by Makerere University School of Public Health, with 15 fellowships across seven African universities.
+Free to apply, in English or French, and qualified women are strongly encouraged.

Worth checking yourself

!Two closing dates. If you are already enrolled in a PhD at a partner university (Round 1), you must apply by 15 September 2026. The 30 September date is for new PhD entrants (Round 2).
!Only for nationals of DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda, studying at one of the seven named partner universities.
!You need a relevant Master's degree and an endorsement letter from your home institution. Round 1 fellows may receive only partial tuition.
!Stipend and grant amounts are not published, and you apply by email with the template documents in the call pack.

Sources checked

NEnews.mak.ac.ugOfficialNEnews.mak.ac.ugOfficialACact-prep.orgApplyACact-prep.orgApplyACact-prep.orgApplyACact-prep.orgApplyACact-prep.orgApplyACact-prep.orgApplyNEnews.mak.ac.ugOfficial

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