HEALENAE PhD Scholarships 2026: Fully Funded Health & Environment Doctoral Network in Africa and Europe

The HEALENAE: Health and Environment in Africa and Europe Doctoral Network is a prestigious, fully funded PhD programme that brings together top universities across Africa and Europe to tackle pressing global challenges at the intersection of health, environment, and society. Designed for aspiring researchers in anthropology and related disciplines, HEALENAE offers a unique interdisciplinary and cross-continental training experience.

About the HEALENAE Doctoral Network

The HEALENAE programme is run by a consortium of leading universities, including:

• Aarhus University (Denmark)

• University of Cape Town (South Africa)

• University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom)

• KU Leuven (Belgium)

• University of Nairobi (Kenya)

• University of Oslo (Norway)

Makerere University in Uganda participates as an associated partner and issues degrees as a secondary university.

This international collaboration provides a strong interdisciplinary foundation rooted in anthropology, global One Health, environmental studies, and regional studies, with the aim of exploring complex health and environmental challenges affecting Africa and Europe.

Programme Overview

The HEALENAE PhD programme offers an innovative, interdisciplinary, and multi-sectoral approach to understanding how environmental changes influence health outcomes across different societies.

Doctoral candidates will conduct long-term anthropological fieldwork and contribute to research on:

• Changing demographics and disease patterns

• Climate change and environmental degradation

• Rapid urbanisation and inequality

• Migration and refugee health challenges

• Gender and generational dynamics

By collaborating across countries and sectors, fellows will generate insights that inform policy, public health strategies, and sustainable environmental solutions.

Training and Research Experience

HEALENAE provides an academically stimulating environment with a comprehensive training structure that includes:

• One year of fieldwork in Africa and/or Europe

• Annual training schools and writing retreats

• A six-month stay at a secondary university

• Cross-disciplinary collaboration across 15 research projects

This structure equips candidates with specialist academic expertise and transferable professional skills applicable in both academic and non-academic careers.

Why Apply to HEALENAE?

Joining HEALENAE means becoming part of a global research network dedicated to solving some of the most urgent health and environmental challenges of our time. The programme provides the tools, mentorship, and international exposure needed to shape impactful research and meaningful change.

Funding and Benefits

All 15 HEALENAE PhD positions are fully funded for three years, offering:

• Competitive salary

• Pension benefits

• Funding for fieldwork, travel, and research

• Support for conferences, publications, and dissemination

• Resources for books, equipment, and training

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the HEALENAE PhD programme, applicants must:

• Hold an internationally recognised Master’s degree in anthropology or related social sciences/humanities

• Not already possess a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment

• Meet mobility requirements (must not have resided or worked in the host country for more than 12 months within the last 36 months before September 1, 2026)

Applicants should review specific requirements from each recruiting university before applying.

PhD Structure and Conditions

• Duration: 3 years (fully funded)

• Start date: September 1, 2026

• Fieldwork: Up to 12 months

• Dual enrolment at primary and secondary universities

• Mandatory semester at the secondary institution

To Apply, click HERE

Diversity and Inclusion

The HEALENAE network is committed to equal opportunity and diversity. Applications are strongly encouraged from:

• Candidates from all continents

• Underrepresented groups and minorities

• Applicants living with disabilities

For more information about Scholarships, visit HERE.