Healthy Futures South Africa PhD Fellowship Programme
About this opportunity
PhD fellowship for health-focused research at UCT. Open to South African citizens and alumni of Africa Health Collaborative partner institutions. Deadline: 31 October 2026.
The Healthy Futures South Africa (HFSA) PhD Fellowship Programme is a four-year fully-funded doctoral fellowship supported by the University of Cape Town (UCT), in partnership with the Africa Health Collaborative and the Mastercard Foundation. This programme aims to nurture emerging African health researchers and leaders by funding community-focused research, strengthening health systems, and ensuring policy impact. Fellows receive comprehensive support, including tuition, living stipends, research resources, and professional development opportunities, while committing to translating findings into actionable health system improvements across Africa. Preference is given to women, youth under 35, individuals with disabilities, and candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds with financial need and leadership potential.
Key details
South AfricaWhat you get
- **Tuition and international student fees covered** for the fellowship duration
- **Living allowance and accommodation support**
- **Student medical cover and visa-related costs**
- **One-time laptop and equipment funding**
- **Research costs (fieldwork, dissemination) funded**
- **Short courses, research methodology training, and leadership development**
- **Conference and research travel support (economy class for eligible applicants)**
- **Formal mentorship beyond academic supervisor**
- **Access to HFSA Fellows Network for peer support and collaboration
Documents needed
- Certified copy of ID or passport
- Academic transcripts and qualifications
- Curriculum Vitae (max. 3 pages)
- Research proposal (max. 5 pages)
- Proof of UCT application or registration
- Supervisor confirmation or support letter (if available)
- Two academic referee reports (submitted directly by referees)
- Proof of funding (if applicable)
- Proof of address (not older than 3 months)
How to apply
- Submit a **UCT academic application** for PhD study via UCT’s postgraduate online system (accommodation and international support may be sought separately).
- Complete the **official HFSA PhD Fellowship Application Form**, ensuring alignment with HFSA’s priority themes and attaching proof of UCT application as a single PDF.
- Prepare and submit supporting documents (as listed) to **FACE.Research@uct.ac.za** with the subject line: **‘HFSA PhD Application.’**
Get more like this by email
A weekly email of new opportunities in South Africa. Free, one click to stop.