Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships 2027

The Africa Climate Collaborative (ACC) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) offers 12 fully funded PhD fellowships as part of a 4-year doctoral training programme in Climate and Development. This programme combines structured coursework for the first year with three years of thesis research, aiming to train a new generation of African scholars tackling climate and development challenges. Each fellowship is tied to a specific research topic and supervisory team, with a strong emphasis on African relevance, interdisciplinary approaches, and social engagement.

What it offers

• Fully funded PhD programme covering coursework and thesis research over 4 years (1 year coursework + 3 years research).
• Assistance with UCT admission for successful applicants.
• Focus on African urban flooding-health, locust outbreaks, and energy transition governance, with tailored research topics and supervisors.
• Encouragement for women and applicants with lived experience of displacement or disability.
• Flexibility for African citizens and residents (including those outside Africa) under 35 years old as of 1 February 2027.
• Disciplinary flexibility for eligible Master’s degrees in climate/development fields.

Who can apply

Applicants must be African citizens or residents (including those outside Africa), under 35 years old as of 1 February 2027, and have a completed Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to the chosen research topic (e.g., Human Geography, Anthropology, Environmental Science, Development Studies). Each candidate may apply to only one research topic—multiple applications will disqualify applicants.

What you'll do

• Conduct research aligned with one of 19 specific topics, supervised by a named team.
• Engage in structured coursework (Year 1) followed by thesis research (Years 2–4) with embedded skills training.
• Apply qualitative/quantitative methods, including ethnography, modelling, and creative approaches (e.g., film/storytelling).
• Contribute to policy-relevant solutions in climate adaptation, urban inequality, or energy governance.

How to apply

1. Review the 19 research topics and select one topic matching your Master’s discipline.
2. Submit an application via the ACC portal, including:
   • Master’s degree proof (relevant field).
   • Research proposal (aligned with the chosen topic).
   • CV (highlighting relevant skills).
   • Letters of recommendation (from academics/supervisors).
   • UCT admission application (assistance provided for successful fellows).
3. Ensure UCT accepts your application to qualify for the fellowship.

Good to know

• Deadline: Not explicitly stated (no calendar date provided).
• Language: Fluency in isiXhosa is advantageous for one topic; others may require English proficiency.
• Assistance: ACC offers help with UCT admission for fellows.
• Focus areas: Flood-health care, locust management, energy transition governance, and climate adaptation.
• Eligibility note: Open to African citizens/residents, but UCT admission is mandatory for fellowship eligibility.