Call for Applications: ARUA Early-Career Research Fellowship Program 2025

Illustrative Image: Call for Applications: ARUA Early-Career Research Fellowship Program 2025
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Application Deadline: 31 December 2025
Fellowship Type: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Funding Partners: Mastercard Foundation & Carnegie Corporation of New York
Fellowship Duration: 6 months
Stipend: $2,000/month + travel and accommodation support
Number of Fellowships: 42
Target: African Early-Career Researchers (with emphasis on women scholars)

About the ARUA Fellowship Program

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, invites applications for its prestigious Early-Career Research Fellowship Program 2025. This unique opportunity is designed to support up to 42 promising early-career African researchers in conducting high-quality, globally competitive research in collaboration with ARUA’s 13 Centres of Excellence (CoEs).

By facilitating focused research time away from teaching and administrative responsibilities, the fellowship empowers young researchers to deepen their scholarship, expand their networks, and strengthen their academic reputations.

Each selected fellow will be embedded within one of the ARUA CoEs, hosted at a university in a different African country from the fellow’s home institution, to ensure meaningful cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.

About ARUA

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) is a pan-African network of leading research universities dedicated to expanding the continent’s contribution to global knowledge through collaborative research and advanced graduate training. ARUA fosters academic excellence through the establishment of thematic Centres of Excellence (CoEs), which serve as hubs for innovative, interdisciplinary research addressing Africa’s most pressing development challenges.

Fellowship Objectives

The ARUA Fellowship is guided by three core objectives:

1. Capacity Building: To strengthen the research skills and academic portfolios of emerging African scholars.

2. International Collaboration: To foster cross-institutional and cross-country scholarly partnerships across the African continent.

3. Research Excellence: To support the generation of cutting-edge, solution-oriented research aligned with the thematic focus of ARUA CoEs.

Fellowship Benefits

Successful fellows will receive:

• A monthly stipend of $2,000 for six months.

• Travel support, including a round-trip ticket to the host institution.

• Modest accommodation support while based at the CoE.

• A professional environment for developing independent research.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants must:

• Be African nationals.

• Hold a PhD in a relevant field linked to one of the ARUA CoE thematic areas.

• Have completed their PhD within the last 5 years.

• Be below 35 years old at the time of application.

• Be employed as a faculty or research staff at an ARUA member university.

• Demonstrate a strong publication record and potential for research leadership.

• Be available for 6 months full-time residency at the host institution.

• Be actively involved in a project with existing data or materials that aligns with the host CoE’s research agenda.

Note: At least 70% of fellowships will be awarded to female candidates, and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

The selection will be carried out by the Director of the respective ARUA Centre of Excellence in collaboration with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the host institution. Fellowship slots will be filled on a rolling basis.

Priority Deadline for First Batch:

• Apply by 15 May 2025 for early consideration.

• Selected fellows will be notified by 1 June 2025 and expected to commence on 1 July 2025.

Final deadline for all applications is 31 December 2025, subject to availability.

Required Application Documents

1. Cover Letter: Detailing motivations for applying, relevance of your background, your intended CoE host, and how the fellowship will enhance your career. Include visa needs and any previous engagement with the proposed host institution.

2. Curriculum Vitae: Comprehensive CV with personal details, academic qualifications, research outputs, publication contributions, and contact details of two referees.

3. Letter of Support: From your home institution, confirming your employment status, institutional support, and assurance of return after the fellowship.

4. Proof of PhD Award.

5. Research Concept Note (max 1,500 words): Describing your project, objectives, relevance to the host CoE, and available data/materials.

6. Two Academic Writing Samples: Should not be dissertation chapters. If co-authored, clearly describe your contribution.

How to Apply

Submit your application via the official ARUA Fellowship portal:
👉 www.arua.org

Ensure all required documents are compiled in the appropriate format before submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Why Apply?

The ARUA Early-Career Fellowship Program is a transformative opportunity for emerging African scholars to gain international research exposure, contribute meaningfully to solving Africa’s grand challenges, and position themselves for leadership in academia and policy.