ARUA Early-Career Research Fellowship Programme (2026–2027)

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), with support from the Mastercard Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is pleased to announce the Early-Career Research Fellowship Programme.

This competitive initiative will support up to 42 early-career researchers to undertake high-quality, globally competitive research at host and affiliated institutions within:

• 13 ARUA Centres of Excellence (CoEs)

• 22 Africa-Europe Clusters of Research Excellence (CoREs)

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Fellowship Overview

The fellowship is designed to strengthen research capacity, foster international collaboration, and support emerging scholars across Africa and Europe.

• Duration: 6 months

• Fellowship period: March 2026 – February 2027

• Number of awards: Up to 42

• Gender equity: At least 70% of fellowships reserved for women

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Fellowship Start Options & Deadlines

Applicants may choose one of the following fellowship periods:

Option 1

• Period: March – August 2026

• Application deadline: 22 January 2026

Option 2

• Period: September 2026 – February 2027

• Application deadline: 15 July 2026

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Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD degree

• Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application

• Propose research aligned with an ARUA Centre of Excellence (CoE) or Africa-Europe CoRE

• Demonstrate capacity to undertake independent, high-quality research

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Application Requirements

Applicants will be required to submit:

• Cover letter

• Full curriculum vitae (CV)

• Institutional letter of support

• Evidence of PhD award

• Brief concept note

• Two academic writing samples

• Biodata page of a valid passport

• Contact details of two academic referees

All documents must be submitted in PDF or Word format via the online application portal.

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Why Apply?

• Conduct research in leading African and European institutions

• Join strong international research networks

• Access mentorship through ARUA’s Centres of Excellence

• Contribute to impactful, policy-relevant research

• Dedicated support for women researchers

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Apply Now

APPLY HERE 

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