Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027: Funded One-Month Africa Research Stay at the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden

Applications are open for the Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027, a funded research opportunity offered by the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden. The programme gives eligible students and researchers working on Africa-focused topics in the social sciences or humanities an opportunity to spend one month at the Institute, use its specialist library collections, work in a scholarly environment, and connect with research hosts whose work relates to contemporary Africa.

The programme is open to master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and mid-career researchers. Citizenship is not a restriction. However, applicants must be both affiliated with and based at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland when applying and when taking up the award. This institutional and geographic requirement is central to eligibility and should be checked before an applicant spends time preparing the research proposal.

Selected participants receive return travel at the least expensive available fare from their residential address in one of the four eligible Nordic countries to Uppsala, free centrally located accommodation, a desk and computer in a shared office, and a subsistence allowance of SEK 450 per day. The programme does not include health care insurance or any other insurance, so successful applicants must make their own arrangements for adequate coverage.

The application deadline for the 2027 programme is October 11, 2026. The official call does not publish a specific closing time or time zone, so applicants should submit well before the final day rather than relying on a last-minute upload.

Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027 at a Glance

Programme detail	Official information
Host organisation	The Nordic Africa Institute
Location	Uppsala, Sweden
Programme year	2027
Length of stay	One month
Main academic focus	Africa-oriented research in the social sciences or humanities
Eligible career stages	Master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and mid-career researchers
Citizenship rule	Applicants may apply regardless of citizenship
Required location and affiliation	A university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland, both at application and when taking up the award
Travel support	Least expensive fare from the scholar’s residential address in an eligible country to Uppsala and back
Accommodation	Free, centrally located accommodation in Uppsala
Daily support	SEK 450 per day
Research facilities	Desk and computer in a shared office, specialist library access, and connection with NAI research hosts
Insurance	Health care insurance and other insurance are not included
Application language	English
Deadline	October 11, 2026
Expected notification	By the end of November 2026 at the latest
Official call	Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027

About the Nordic Scholarship Programme

The Nordic Scholarship Programme is an annual initiative of the Nordic Africa Institute. Its purpose is to strengthen capacity for producing knowledge about Africa and to promote relationships within and between Nordic research communities. Rather than financing a complete university degree, it offers a concentrated one-month research period at the Institute.

The visit is intended to help a successful applicant advance a defined part of an existing Africa-oriented research project. Scholars can consult NAI’s library materials on contemporary Africa and relate their work to research already taking place at the Institute through an appropriate NAI research host.

This structure makes the programme particularly useful for applicants who already have a clear project but would benefit from dedicated research time, specialist material, a professional workspace, and intellectual connections. The programme is not described as a general study tour, introductory training course, conference, or open-ended residency. Every application must be built around a serious research project and a realistic plan for what the applicant will accomplish during the one-month stay.

About the Nordic Africa Institute

The Nordic Africa Institute conducts research and provides resources intended to deepen understanding of contemporary Africa. It presents research-based knowledge and analysis as a foundation for informed decision-making and progress toward the global development agenda. The Institute is located in Uppsala, Sweden, and maintains a specialist library focused mainly on contemporary Africa within the social sciences.

According to NAI, its library serves Nordic users and provides printed and digital resources supporting African studies. The scholarship call specifically highlights books, academic periodicals, newspapers, and government publications. These collections are a central reason for the one-month placement: scholars are expected to use the stay purposefully to advance the part of their research described in their work plan.

Applicants can learn more from the Nordic Africa Institute’s official website and NAI Library page.

Purpose of the One-Month Research Stay

The Nordic Scholarship Programme has two closely connected goals:

1. Strengthen Africa-focused knowledge production. The programme gives scholars time and institutional resources to develop research about Africa within the social sciences or humanities.
2. Build Nordic research relationships. The programme seeks to promote and establish connections with and among research communities in the Nordic region.

During the stay, a scholar may use specialist collections, work on analysis or writing, and connect with a relevant NAI research host. The exact activity should be defined by the applicant rather than left vague. A successful work plan should identify the segment of the larger research project that can be meaningfully advanced in one month and explain why working at NAI will make that progress possible.

Because the award is offered only once each year, applicants should treat the 2027 call as a distinct annual competition and follow the published deadline carefully.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Applicants must satisfy all of the core conditions below.

1. The research must be Africa-oriented

The proposed work must concern Africa and fall within the social sciences or humanities. The call does not provide a closed list of acceptable topics, but the subject must be clearly identifiable and placed within its academic discipline in the research outline.

Potential disciplinary areas may include political science, sociology, economics, development studies, anthropology, history, human geography, public administration, peace and conflict studies, gender studies, cultural studies, law, media studies, or related social-science and humanities fields. These are illustrative areas rather than an official exhaustive list. Eligibility ultimately depends on whether the proposed project is Africa-focused and academically situated within the required broad fields.

2. The applicant must be at an eligible academic or professional stage

The programme accepts applications from:

• Master’s students
• PhD candidates
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Mid-career researchers

The call does not state that an applicant must be an African national, a Nordic citizen, or enrolled at a particular named university. It also does not advertise a fixed age limit. The decisive questions are the applicant’s research focus, career stage, current institutional affiliation, and physical base.

3. The applicant must have the correct institutional affiliation

An applicant must be affiliated with a university or research centre in one of these countries:

• Sweden
• Finland
• Denmark
• Iceland

Affiliation must exist both when the person applies and when the scholarship period begins. A signed letter from the applicant’s supervisor or head of department must confirm the current affiliation and research field.

4. The applicant must also be based in an eligible country

Institutional affiliation alone is insufficient. The applicant must also be based in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland at the time of application and when taking up the award.

This means, for example, that a person of any nationality who is genuinely based at and affiliated with an eligible institution may apply. Conversely, a researcher living elsewhere who has no qualifying current base in one of the four countries should not assume eligibility merely because the project concerns Africa or because the person collaborates informally with a Nordic scholar.

5. Citizenship is unrestricted

NAI expressly allows applications regardless of citizenship. This creates a globally inclusive nationality rule within a geographically limited institutional framework. An applicant may hold citizenship from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, or Oceania, provided all other requirements are met.

6. Certain former or current NAI affiliates are excluded

Anyone who is currently or was previously employed by the Nordic Africa Institute, or who is or was otherwise professionally affiliated with the Institute, is not eligible for this programme.

Applicants who are uncertain whether a past relationship counts as professional affiliation should request clarification from the programme contact before submitting.

An Important Geographic Clarification

The eligibility list includes Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. Norway is not included in the published scholarship criteria, even though Norway is generally recognised as a Nordic country and NAI’s library serves users across the Nordic region. Applicants based at Norwegian institutions should therefore not infer eligibility from the programme’s name. They would need confirmation from NAI if they believe an exceptional rule applies.

Similarly, citizenship in one of the four eligible countries is not enough if the applicant is neither based at nor affiliated with a qualifying university or research centre there. The programme applies two tests simultaneously: institutional affiliation and physical base.

Financial Support and Programme Benefits

The Nordic Scholarship Programme provides several forms of support for the one-month stay.

Return travel to Uppsala

The scholarship covers travel expenses using the least expensive fare from the recipient’s residential address in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland to Uppsala and back. Applicants should understand that the policy is based on economical travel rather than unrestricted route, class, airline, or ticket selection.

The official call does not specify reimbursement procedures, booking responsibility, baggage allowances, local transfers, or change-fee rules. Selected scholars should obtain written instructions before purchasing tickets or making non-refundable arrangements.

Free accommodation in Uppsala

Scholarship holders receive free accommodation in a central location in Uppsala. This substantially reduces the cost of a one-month research visit. The call does not promise a particular property type, room size, family accommodation, or facilities, so recipients with accessibility, caregiving, or other specific requirements should contact NAI in advance.

Daily subsistence allowance

The award includes a subsistence allowance of SEK 450 per day. This daily support is intended to help with ordinary costs during the stay. The official call does not explain the payment schedule, tax treatment, eligible expense categories, or whether the amount changes with arrival and departure times. Those details should be confirmed after selection.

Workspace and computer

Each scholarship holder receives a desk and computer in a shared office at the Institute. This creates a dedicated environment for reading, analysis, writing, and engagement with the NAI research community.

Access to specialist research material

The Institute’s contemporary Africa collections include books, periodicals, newspapers, and government publications. Access to these materials is one of the programme’s defining academic benefits and should be connected directly to the applicant’s research objectives and proposed work plan.

Links to NAI research hosts

The programme supports connections to existing work at the Institute through NAI research hosts. Applicants should study NAI’s current research themes and researchers so that they can explain genuine academic alignment. They should not claim a confirmed host or collaboration unless the Institute has actually provided that confirmation.

What the Scholarship Does Not Cover

NAI explicitly states that the scholarship does not include health care insurance or other insurance. Successful applicants are responsible for ensuring that they have adequate coverage for the entire visit.

The official announcement also does not list the following as guaranteed benefits:

• Visa or residence-permit costs
• Travel insurance
• Health care costs
• Family or dependent expenses
• Childcare
• Salary replacement
• Research fieldwork expenses
• Special equipment purchases
• Conference fees
• Publication charges

Items not listed should be treated as unconfirmed rather than assumed to be covered. Applicants with questions should contact NAI before accepting the award or incurring costs.

Required Application Documents

Applications must be submitted online and include all required material. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

1. Updated curriculum vitae

The CV must be current and should include a list of publications, if the applicant has publications. It should make the applicant’s academic stage, institutional affiliation, education, research experience, and Africa-related work easy for the selection committee to understand.

Applicants should not pad the publication section. If they have no publications, the official wording allows for that by stating “if any.” Relevant theses, research assistance, working papers, conference presentations, fieldwork, professional research, or policy outputs can be presented accurately in appropriate sections of the CV.

2. Research project outline of three to five pages

This is the most important application document because NAI says applications are primarily evaluated on the research-project outline. The outline must address three components.

Research objective and disciplinary context

The research topic must be clearly identified and placed within its academic discipline. The reader should be able to understand the issue being investigated, why it matters, the part of Africa concerned, and the research problem or question.

Method and time frame

Applicants must explain how the project will be carried out, including the research method, data-gathering techniques, and overall time frame. The method should fit the research question and reflect the project’s current stage.

Theoretical explanation

The outline must briefly identify the theoretical basis of the project. Applicants should show how the chosen concepts or framework support the analysis instead of merely listing theoretical names.

The three-to-five-page limit requires discipline. A proposal should be detailed enough to demonstrate scholarly quality while remaining focused and readable. Applicants should follow any formatting instructions in the application portal and avoid shrinking text or margins simply to exceed the stated length.

3. One-page work plan

The work plan must be specific to the month at the Nordic Africa Institute. It should clarify exactly which part of the larger research project the applicant will work on during the stay.

A useful plan may identify:

• The research material to be consulted
• The analytical, reading, or writing tasks to be completed
• How NAI’s collections relate to those tasks
• The expected engagement with relevant Institute research
• Realistic weekly milestones
• A tangible output or stage of progress to be achieved by the end of the month

The official call does not require this exact list or format; these points are practical guidance for presenting a concrete and feasible plan.

4. Signed reference or letter of support

Applicants must submit a signed letter of support from their supervisor or head of department. The letter must confirm:

• The applicant’s current institutional affiliation
• The applicant’s field of research

Because the affiliation requirement applies at application and when the award begins, the letter should be current, accurate, and issued by someone authorised to verify the applicant’s status.

5. English-language application and appendices

The application and every appendix must be in English. Applicants whose original documents are in another language should check the portal or ask NAI whether a translation, certified translation, or additional original-language copy is required. The public call states the language rule but does not provide detailed translation procedures.

How to Apply for the Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027

Follow these steps:

1. Read the complete official Nordic Scholarship Programme call.
2. Confirm that the research is Africa-oriented and within the social sciences or humanities.
3. Verify that the applicant is at one of the four eligible career stages.
4. Confirm current affiliation with and physical base at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland.
5. Prepare the updated CV and publication list, where applicable.
6. Write the three-to-five-page research-project outline.
7. Prepare the one-page work plan for the proposed month at NAI.
8. Obtain the signed support letter from a supervisor or head of department.
9. Ensure the application and all attachments are in English.
10. Use the application link on the official call page to open the external recruitment portal.
11. Upload every required document and review the submission for completeness.
12. Submit before October 11, 2026, and retain the application confirmation.

The online application system requires JavaScript for full functionality. Candidates should use a compatible browser, allow enough time for account or upload issues, and avoid waiting until the deadline day.

Deadline and Selection Timeline

The closing date for the Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027 is:

October 11, 2026

NAI states that applicants will be informed as soon as the selection process is finalised and no later than the end of November 2026.

The programme’s separate selection-process page explains that scholarship applications are assessed rigorously by a selection committee working under ethical and professional rules. Committees include staff members with varied experience and diversity across background, profession, gender, and other considerations. The Institute says its selection processes emphasise transparency, equity, fairness, and respect for candidates.

For this particular programme, the research outline is the primary basis of evaluation. Applicants should therefore allocate substantial preparation time to the substance, structure, clarity, originality, and feasibility of that document.

NAI’s Warning About Artificial Intelligence in Applications

The Institute states that it reads proposals carefully and wants to understand each applicant’s research in that person’s own words and framing. It warns that using artificial intelligence to develop the application text may place the applicant at a disadvantage during assessment.

Applicants should take this warning seriously. Any submitted proposal should authentically reflect the researcher’s own thinking, disciplinary judgment, project design, and language. Automated text can introduce generic claims, fabricated references, unsuitable methods, or a voice that the applicant cannot defend. The safest approach is to write the substantive application independently and use only forms of assistance that comply with NAI’s expectations and the applicant’s institutional rules.

How to Make the Research Outline More Competitive

NAI does not publish a numerical scoring rubric, and no strategy can guarantee selection. The following recommendations are therefore practical editorial guidance grounded in the published requirements, not additional official criteria.

Define a precise research problem

Avoid describing only a broad topic such as development, democracy, conflict, migration, health, agriculture, or climate change in Africa. State the specific problem, context, location, population, period, and analytical question.

Explain why the project belongs at NAI

Connect the one-month visit to identifiable collections, themes, or research expertise at the Institute. A strong application should show why the project will advance through a stay in Uppsala rather than merely state that access to a library would be helpful.

Keep the method credible

Explain how evidence will answer the research question. Identify the type of material to be gathered or analysed and ensure that the proposed activities are realistic for the project stage.

Align the outline and work plan

The research outline explains the full project, while the work plan explains what will happen during the one-month visit. These documents should reinforce one another without becoming duplicates.

Define a realistic one-month result

A plan to complete an entire major research project in one month may appear unrealistic. A defined literature review, archival search, analytical chapter, dataset assessment, article section, comparative framework, or policy-paper draft may be more credible if it fits the project and available material.

Use clear academic writing

The selection committee should not have to infer the research question, contribution, method, or purpose of the stay. Direct writing and logical organisation are more persuasive than unnecessary complexity.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying without being both affiliated with and based at an eligible institution.
• Assuming that citizenship in a Nordic country is enough by itself.
• Assuming that affiliation in Norway meets the published four-country rule.
• Submitting a project that is not clearly Africa-focused.
• Proposing work outside the social sciences or humanities without confirming eligibility.
• Sending a research outline shorter than three pages or longer than five pages.
• Writing a generic work plan that is not specific to the NAI stay.
• Omitting the research method, data-gathering approach, time frame, or theoretical basis.
• Providing an unsigned or unclear support letter.
• Failing to include a publication list in the CV when publications exist.
• Uploading appendices in a language other than English.
• Submitting an incomplete application.
• Assuming that insurance is included.
• Leaving document uploads until the final day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the programme open only to Nordic citizens?

No. Citizenship is unrestricted. Applicants must instead meet the institutional affiliation and location requirements in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland.

Can an African student or researcher apply?

Yes, nationality is not restricted. An African national can apply if pursuing eligible Africa-oriented social-science or humanities research and currently based at and affiliated with a qualifying institution in one of the four named countries.

Can someone based at a university in Africa apply directly?

Not under the published rules unless that person also meets the stated requirement of being affiliated with and based at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland at application and when taking up the award.

Are bachelor’s students eligible?

The official list names master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and mid-career researchers. Bachelor’s students are not listed.

Are natural-science projects eligible?

The published call specifies social sciences or humanities. Applicants with interdisciplinary work that includes natural-science elements should ask NAI whether the project falls within scope before applying.

Is Norway included?

Norway does not appear in the four-country eligibility list. The official call names Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland.

How long does the scholarship last?

The research stay lasts one month.

How much is the subsistence allowance?

The scholarship includes SEK 450 per day.

Does the scholarship provide accommodation?

Yes. Scholarship holders receive free accommodation in a central location in Uppsala.

Is travel covered?

Yes. The programme covers the least expensive fare from the recipient’s residential address in an eligible country to Uppsala and return.

Is insurance included?

No. The official call expressly excludes health care insurance and other insurance.

What is the most important application document?

NAI states that applications are primarily evaluated on the three-to-five-page research-project outline.

When will applicants receive a decision?

Applicants should be informed as soon as selection is completed and by the end of November 2026 at the latest.

Can current or former NAI employees apply?

No. People currently or previously employed by, or otherwise professionally affiliated with, the Nordic Africa Institute are ineligible.

Final Application Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that:

• The proposed research is focused on Africa.
• The project falls within the social sciences or humanities.
• The applicant is a master’s student, PhD candidate, postdoctoral researcher, or mid-career researcher.
• The applicant is currently affiliated with a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland.
• The applicant is also based in one of those four countries.
• The affiliation and base will continue when the scholarship is taken up.
• The applicant has no disqualifying current or previous professional affiliation with NAI.
• The CV is current and includes publications, if any.
• The research outline is between three and five pages.
• The outline clearly explains the objective, disciplinary context, method, data-gathering techniques, time frame, and theoretical basis.
• The one-page work plan is tailored to the month at NAI.
• The supervisor or head of department has signed the support letter.
• The support letter confirms current affiliation and field of research.
• The application and all appendices are in English.
• Every required file has been uploaded successfully.
• The application is submitted before October 11, 2026.
• The applicant understands that health care and other insurance are not included.

Contact for Further Information

Questions about eligibility, previous NAI affiliation, research scope, documentation, or programme arrangements may be directed to:

Marie Karlsson
Email: marie.karlsson@nai.uu.se
Telephone: +46 (0)18 471 52 54

Applicants should consult the official programme page before contacting the Institute, as it remains the authoritative source for the current call.

Important Programme Contingency

NAI notes that, in the extraordinary event that the programme does not receive full funding or cannot be implemented in 2027 for another unforeseen reason, applicants will be informed. Selection and planning should therefore not be treated as an unconditional guarantee that the visit will proceed until the Institute confirms the final arrangements.

Conclusion

The Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027 offers a valuable funded research stay for master’s students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral scholars, and mid-career researchers developing Africa-oriented work in the social sciences or humanities. A one-month placement at the Nordic Africa Institute can provide concentrated research time, access to specialist contemporary-Africa collections, a professional workspace, engagement with relevant NAI research, free accommodation, economical return travel, and a daily subsistence allowance.

The eligibility rules are precise. Applicants may hold any citizenship, but they must be both affiliated with and based at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, or Iceland when applying and when taking up the scholarship. The research outline carries particular weight in selection, all materials must be in English, and incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants must also arrange their own health care and other insurance.

Candidates who meet the conditions should begin early, obtain the signed institutional support letter, develop the research outline in their own authentic words, and produce a realistic one-page plan for the NAI visit. The deadline is October 11, 2026, and the Institute expects to communicate outcomes by the end of November 2026 at the latest.

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