Scholarship Overview
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Overview
The African Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships provide 12 fully funded positions for a 4-year doctoral training programme. The fellowship is designed to build a new generation of African scholars equipped to address the continent’s most pressing climate and development challenges.
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The programme structure comprises one year of structured coursework followed by three years of dedicated thesis research. This format ensures fellows develop both foundational knowledge and independent research capabilities.
Funding and Duration
This is a fully funded fellowship covering the complete 4-year doctoral training period. The funding supports:
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- Full tuition and programme fees
- Living stipend for the duration of study
- Research costs associated with thesis work
- One year of structured coursework
- Three years of supervised thesis research
The 4-year duration is fixed: Year 1 for coursework, Years 2-4 for thesis research.
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to applicants from all countries worldwide. The application form accepts citizenship and residence from any nation, including all African countries, SADC member states, and Zimbabwe specifically.
Key eligibility indicators from the application form:
- Holders of Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees (transcripts required)
- Applicants with previous academic or research writing experience
- Candidates able to provide three referees
- Applicants with valid national ID or passport
The programme specifically targets scholars committed to addressing African climate and development challenges, though applicants of all nationalities may apply.
Required Documents
Applicants must prepare and upload the following documents in PDF format unless otherwise specified:
Core Application Documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Maximum 3 pages, including names and contact details of 3 referees. PDF format, 40 MB limit.
- Writing Sample: Previous academic or research writing (maximum 5 pages) or a peer-reviewed article. Ideally from your Master’s dissertation. PDF format, 40 MB limit.
- Academic Transcripts: Transcripts for both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees combined into a single PDF. Certified copies will be required prior to fellowship confirmation. PDF format, 40 MB limit.
- Letter of Motivation: Explaining your interest in the topic and programme, and how your training and experience positions you for the research. PDF format, 40 MB limit.
- Copy of Identification: National ID or passport. Accepted formats: GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, TIF, PDF. 40 MB limit.
Important Document Notes
- All documents except ID must be PDF format
- Each document type allows only one file upload
- Maximum file size for all uploads: 40 MB
- Successful candidates must provide certified transcript copies before fellowship confirmation
Application Process
The application is completed through an online form. Follow these steps:
- Access the online application portal and complete all sections: Your Details, Referees, and Research Topic
- Enter personal information: Full name, email, phone number, date of birth, gender, country of citizenship, and country of current residence
- Upload all required documents in the specified formats
- Review all information carefully—your data will not be saved if you leave the webpage
- Click SUBMIT to finalize your application—nothing is recorded until submission
Technical Support
For technical issues with the application form, contact Brandon Perumaul.
Selection and What Happens Next
After application submission:
- Applications are reviewed by the selection committee
- Shortlisted candidates may be contacted for additional information or interviews
- Successful candidates receive fellowship offers
- Prior to final confirmation, certified copies of academic transcripts must be submitted
The programme selects 12 fellows from what is expected to be a competitive international applicant pool.
Why This Fellowship Matters for African Scholars
For applicants from Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this fellowship offers several distinctive advantages:
- Africa-focused research mandate: The programme explicitly builds scholars to address continental challenges
- Full funding removes financial barriers: No tuition fees or living costs for 4 years
- Structured training: The coursework year provides foundational skills before independent research
- Network building: Cohort-based learning with 11 other African and international scholars
- Career pathway: Designed to produce the next generation of African academic leaders
The climate-development nexus is particularly relevant for Southern Africa, where climate variability affects agriculture, water security, energy systems, and livelihoods across Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and neighbouring states.
Application Tips
- Prepare your writing sample carefully—ideally use your Master’s dissertation chapter or a peer-reviewed publication
- Ensure your motivation letter explicitly connects your background to African climate and development challenges
- Contact your three referees early to confirm their availability
- Combine your Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts into one PDF before starting the application
- Complete the application in one session—do not navigate away from the page
- Test your files for format compliance before the deadline
Official scholarship page: https://acdi.uct.ac.za/africaclimatecollaborative/apply-phd-fellowship
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships
