About this opportunity
This fellowship is built around a straightforward problem. Africa carries a small share of global emissions and a large share of climate consequences, so the research agenda needs African scholars setting it. The African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town, through the African Climate Collaborative, funds 12 doctoral researchers to work on exactly that.
The structure is a four year programme. Year one is pre-doctoral coursework, and years two to four are independent thesis research under supervision, alongside doctoral skills training. Each of the 12 fellowships is linked to one specific research topic and its supervisory team, and the call lists 19 topics to choose from. You apply to one topic only, and applying to more than one may disqualify you, so the choice matters.
The
Eligibility
rules are equally clear. You must be a citizen of an African country, and applicants of the diaspora are welcome. You must be under 35 years of age as of 1 February 2027. You must hold a completed Master's degree in a discipline relevant to climate and development in Africa, and specifically in the discipline listed as eligible for the topic you choose. There is one more step that is easy to miss: a fellowship does not on its own place you at UCT, so successful applicants must also apply for and be accepted for PhD admission at the university, and the programme offers assistance with that application.
Women are encouraged to apply, as are applicants with lived experience of displacement or disability. The application itself is a single submission carrying your CV, a writing sample, your transcripts, a letter of motivation and proof of identity, all in PDF and within the file limits set on the official form.
What you receive
- A fully funded four year doctoral place in Climate and Development
- One year of structured pre-doctoral coursework
- Three years of thesis research under a named supervisory team
- Doctoral skills training across the research years
- Support with the separate application for PhD admission at the University of Cape Town
- A place in a collaborative network of African climate and development researchers
Who can apply
- You are a citizen of an African country, and African applicants residing outside Africa are welcome
- You are under 35 years of age as of 1 February 2027
- You hold a completed Master's degree in a discipline relevant to climate and development in Africa
- Your Master's discipline is the one listed as eligible for the research topic you apply to
- You apply to only one of the 19 listed research topics
- You are willing to apply for and accept admission to PhD study at the University of Cape Town
Who should not apply
- Applicants who are not citizens of an African country are not eligible
- Multiple applications across more than one research topic may result in disqualification
- Applicants aged 35 or over as of 1 February 2027 fall outside the age rule
- A fellowship offer does not replace University of Cape Town PhD admission, which you must also obtain
Documents to prepare
- Curriculum vitae, maximum of three pages, including the names and contact details of three referees
- A writing sample of previous academic or research writing, maximum five pages, or a peer reviewed article, ideally from your Master's dissertation
- Academic transcripts for your Bachelor's and Master's degrees, uploaded as a single combined PDF
- A letter of motivation explaining your interest in the topic and the programme and how your training and experience position you for it
- A copy of your national identity document or passport
- Certified copies of your transcripts, requested from successful candidates before confirmation of the fellowship
How to apply
- Read the list of 19 research topics and their eligible disciplines on the official call page at https://acdi.uct.ac.za/africaclimatecollaborative/phd-fellowships-climate-and-development
- Choose the single topic you will apply to and check that your Master's discipline matches the discipline listed for it
- Prepare your documents to the stated limits, noting that the CV is a maximum of three pages and must carry three referees, one of whom supervised your Master's dissertation
- Complete the application at https://acdi.uct.ac.za/africaclimatecollaborative/apply-phd-fellowship and upload each document as one PDF file within the 40 MB limit
- Submit the complete application by 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST
- If you are selected, work with the programme on your application for PhD admission at the University of Cape Town
Selection process
- Applications open now and the complete set of documents must be submitted by 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST
- Applications are assessed against the chosen research topic and its eligible discipline, so you indicate the single topic you are applying to
- Twelve fellowships are awarded, each linked to a specific research topic and supervisory team
- Successful fellowship applicants must also gain admission to PhD study at the University of Cape Town to take up the award
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Can I apply to more than one research topic?
No. Each candidate may apply to only one of the 19 listed research topics, and multiple applications from a student may result in disqualification.
I live outside Africa. Can I still apply?
Yes. The call is open to citizens of an African country, and African applicants who reside outside Africa are welcome to apply.
Is the fellowship the same as admission to the university?
No. You must also apply and be accepted for admission to study for a PhD at the University of Cape Town in order to qualify for the fellowship. The programme offers assistance with that application to successful fellowship applicants.
How long is the CV and what must it include?
The official application form sets a maximum of three pages, and it must include the names and contact details of three referees.
What file format does the application accept?
Documents must be uploaded in PDF format, one file per item, within a 40 MB limit. Your Bachelor's and Master's transcripts go into a single combined PDF.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
