African Climate Collaborative Opens 12 PhD Fellowships

The African Climate Collaborative is offering 12 fully-funded PhD fellowships for a four-year doctoral programme. Applications must be submitted by October 15, 2026.

According to the announcement on Opportunity Desk, the programme aims to build a new generation of African scholars tackling the continent's climate and development challenges. It consists of one year of structured coursework followed by three years of thesis research.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be citizens of an African country, though those residing outside the continent are eligible. They must hold a completed Master's degree in a discipline relevant to their chosen research topic.

Candidates must be under 35 years of age as of February 1, 2027. Each applicant may only apply to one of the 19 listed research topics. The organisers state that multiple applications from one student may result in disqualification.

Successful fellowship recipients must also apply and be accepted for PhD admission at the University of Cape Town (UCT). The programme will assist with this application process. The announcement particularly encourages applications from women and from applicants with lived experience of displacement or disability.

Programme Structure and Research Topics

The fellowship supports a specific training path. The first year is dedicated to pre-doctoral coursework. The subsequent three years focus on independent thesis research under supervision, alongside doctoral skills training.

Each of the 12 fellowships is linked to a specific research topic and supervisory team. Applicants must clearly indicate their single chosen topic in their submission.

Application Process and Deadline

A complete application requires several documents. All materials must be submitted by the October 15, 2026 deadline.

The required documents include a CV, a writing sample, academic transcripts, a letter of motivation, and a copy of identification. The CV must be a maximum of five pages and include contact details for three referees. One referee must have supervised the candidate's Master's dissertation.

The writing sample should be from previous academic or research work, ideally from the Master's dissertation. Bachelor's and Master's degree transcripts are required, with certified copies needed from successful candidates later. The letter of motivation must explain the applicant's interest and how their background prepares them for the specific topic.

Prospective applicants can find more information through the programme's official portal, the African Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships page.