The African Climate Collaborative, hosted by the University of Cape Town (UCT), is accepting applications until 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST for 12 PhD fellowships in Climate and Development. The 2027 fellowship is valued at R390,000 and supports a four-year doctoral programme. The route is narrow: African citizens under 35 with a relevant Master’s, who also gain admission to a UCT PhD. For African climate and energy founders ready to move into research, it is one of the few funded ways to do so.
At a glance
| Deadline | 15 October 2026 at 23:00 (SAST) |
| Who can apply | Citizens of an African country only, under 35 on 1 February 2027, with a completed Master’s in a discipline relevant to the chosen topic |
| Places | 12 PhD fellowships across 19 research topics |
| Value | R390,000 for 2027, as stated on the programme page |
| Format | Four-year doctoral training programme at UCT: one year of coursework, then three years of thesis research |
| Cost to apply | No fee is mentioned on the official pages |
| Official link | PhD Fellowships in Climate and Development |
Who can apply
The programme page sets four conditions. You must be a citizen of an African country, and African applicants living outside Africa are welcome. You must be under 35 on 1 February 2027. You need a completed Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to climate and development in Africa, and specifically in the discipline listed as eligible for your chosen research topic.
The fourth condition catches people out. Fellows must also apply for, and be accepted into, a PhD at UCT. The programme says it will help successful fellowship applicants with that application. Each candidate may apply to one of the 19 topics only, and the page warns that multiple applications may lead to disqualification.
What the fellowship offers
The programme page states that the value of the fellowship for 2027 is R390,000. Of that, R315,000 covers the stipend and fees, and up to R75,000 covers relocation, medical insurance, research and other costs. The programme runs for four years: structured coursework in year one, then independent thesis research under supervision plus doctoral skills training in years two to four. The page does not say whether the amount repeats each year, so confirm that with the programme before you plan your finances.
The 19 topics each name a UCT supervisor. They range across urban flooding and health, electricity governance, water infrastructure, electric cooking, fisheries, remote sensing for smallholders, biodiversity, and business climate adaptation.
How to apply
- Read the programme page and pick the one topic whose listed eligible discipline matches your Master’s.
- Prepare a CV that includes three referees, one of whom supervised your Master’s dissertation, plus a writing sample, Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts, a letter of motivation and a copy of your national ID or passport.
- Submit everything through the online application form before 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST.
- If selected, apply for PhD admission at UCT with the programme’s help.
Advice from the Africapreneurs team
- Founders in energy, agritech, water or climate adaptation should read the topic list as a research agenda, then choose the one where your venture experience adds evidence the supervisor will value.
- Check the eligible discipline for your topic before anything else. A strong profile in the wrong discipline does not meet the stated criteria.
- Contact your Master’s supervisor now. One referee must be that person, and referee requests take time.
- Use the letter of motivation for what the page asks: your interest in the topic and the programme, and how your training and experience fit the topic.
- Submit a day early. The deadline is 23:00 SAST, which is 21:00 GMT.
FAQ
Can African citizens living abroad apply?
Yes. The page says African applicants who reside outside Africa are welcome, as long as they hold citizenship of an African country.
Do I need to be admitted to UCT first?
You apply for the fellowship first. Successful applicants then need to apply for and gain admission to a UCT PhD, and the programme offers help with that step.
Can I apply to more than one topic?
No. Each candidate may apply to one topic only, and multiple applications may result in disqualification.
Who funds the programme?
The programme page names UCT as host and does not name a funder, so this post does not either.
Sources
- African Climate Collaborative: PhD Fellowships in Climate and Development
- African Climate Collaborative: application form
