The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), supported by the Mastercard Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, is now accepting applications for its prestigious 2025 Early-Career Research Fellowship Programme. This fully funded opportunity is tailored for emerging African scholars aiming to advance globally competitive research across diverse disciplines.
What Is the ARUA Early-Career Fellowship?
This six-month residential fellowship runs between July 2025 and June 2026, with up to 42 fellowships available. Each fellow will be hosted at one of ARUA’s 13 Centres of Excellence (CoEs), which are designed to catalyze cutting-edge research and foster academic collaboration across the continent.
Key Features:
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Duration: 6 months
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Funding: US$2,000 monthly stipend, accommodation support, return travel ticket
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Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis until December 2025
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Priority Deadline: Apply by May 15, 2025, to be considered for the first cohort (notification by June 1, 2025; start date July 1, 2025)
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Eligibility: Open to African nationals under 35 with a PhD completed within the last 5 years
Fellowship Benefits
This opportunity allows early-career researchers to:
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Take time off from teaching to focus on high-impact research
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Collaborate with senior researchers and peers in a cross-national setting
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Publish at least one academic article in a peer-reviewed journal (Scopus/Web of Science indexed)
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Present research findings in at least two technical workshops
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Contribute to partnerships and policy engagement within and beyond academia
Focus Areas: ARUA Centres of Excellence
Fellows will be placed within one of the following ARUA CoEs:
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Energy
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Unemployment and Skills Development
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Non-Communicable Diseases
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Inequality Research
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Notion of Identity in Africa
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Migration and Mobility
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Sustainable Food Systems
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Urbanization and Habitable Cities
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Climate and Development
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Good Governance
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Post-Conflict Societies
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Water
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Materials, Energy & Nanotechnology (MEN)
Learn more about each CoE: https://arua.org/centres-of-excellence/
Who Should Apply?
Ideal candidates are:
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African nationals under age 35
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PhD holders (within 5 years of completion)
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Faculty or researchers at ARUA member universities
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Strong publication and research track records
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Female scholars are especially encouraged to apply — 70% of spots are reserved for women
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Apply now via the official portal: https://arua.org/early-career-research-fellowships-2025/
Required Documents
To apply, you’ll need to submit:
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Cover Letter explaining your motivation and proposed contribution
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CV with personal details, education, research output, and referees
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Letter of Support from your home institution
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PhD Certificate
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Brief Concept Note (max 1,500 words)
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Two Academic Writing Samples (excluding thesis chapters)
Note: Shortlisted candidates must ensure referees submit their assessments. Referees must not be based at the host CoE.
Learn More About the Partners
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Mastercard Foundation: Works to advance youth employment and inclusive development in Africa. Visit: www.mastercardfdn.org
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Carnegie Corporation of New York: Supports higher education and research across Africa and globally.
Apply Today
The ARUA Early-Career Research Fellowship is a golden opportunity to elevate your academic career, foster regional collaboration, and contribute to Africa’s research transformation. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this pioneering cohort.
Submit your application now: https://arua.org/early-career-research-fellowships-2025/