Fully Funded Johannesburg PhD Visiting Fellowship

AfricaLics, the African network for research on innovation and development, is inviting PhD students enrolled at African universities to join its 2027 Visiting Fellowship cohort. Fellows spend three months at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, from 6 September to 3 December 2027, working on their dissertation with one or two matched mentors, alongside online courses and seminars that run from February 2027 into early 2028. The programme has run since 2015 with support from Sida and is organised with the African Centre for Technology Studies in Nairobi.

What you get:

• Economy return flight from your nearest international airport to Johannesburg
• Accommodation near the University of Johannesburg's TRCTI offices, with a workspace on campus
• A living stipend of approximately $600 per month during the three-month study visit
• Travel insurance issued with the ticket, which serves as basic health cover
• Mentoring from one or two scholars in Innovation and Development studies from the AfricaLics and Globelics networks
• Online courses on academic writing and systematic literature reviews, covered by AfricaLics
• Costs of two face-to-face meetings covered, including one alongside the AfricaLics PhD Academy in Kenya, tentatively April 2027
• A small fund for a short course important to your PhD that is not available in your home country

What you'll do:

• Take part in online activities from the first half of February 2027
• Present your work in up to five paper seminars, including at the AfricaLics PhD Academy 2027
• Spend 6 September to 3 December 2027 at the University of Johannesburg analysing data and writing articles or thesis chapters
• Agree and sign a one-year workplan with your home supervisor and mentors
• Join follow-up online activities in December 2027 and early 2028

Key dates:

• Applications close 2 October 2026 at 23:00 East Africa Time
• Interviews for shortlisted candidates on 27 and 30 November 2026
• Successful candidates notified by mid-December 2026 or early January 2027
• Online activities begin in the first half of February 2027
• AfricaLics PhD Academy, tentatively April 2027, in Kenya
• Study visit at the University of Johannesburg, 6 September to 3 December 2027

More information:

• Questions go to visitingphd@africalics.org
• Applicants do not need to submit a passport copy; visa support letters are provided to successful candidates

• A national of an African country classified by the OECD/DAC as low or lower-middle income
• Enrolled as a PhD student in a relevant programme at a university in Africa
• Preferably have completed the first year of PhD studies by December 2026
• Researching the relationship between innovation and economic, social or environmentally sustainable development
• A background in economics, sociology, political science, science and technology policy, geography, history or development studies, or STEM or manufacturing approached from a social science perspective
• Basic funding for your PhD already secured from other sources
• Adequate English literacy
• Submit a one-page (500-word) motivation statement, a PhD project outline with training plan (max. 5 pages), CV, a support letter from your main supervisor, a support letter from your university administration, Bachelor and Master certificates, and one writing sample