The Nordic Africa Institute

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African Scholarship Programme

African guest researchers.

African scholarship holder Arnaud Yombo Sembe during "NAI Guest Researcher Dialogue", a seminar series where guest researchers present their work and engage in discussions with scholars at the institute. Photo: Mattias Sköld

If you are an early-career researcher based in Africa, the African Scholarship Programme provides opportunities for you to come to us to work on your research for a period of two to three months.

Closed for applications
The call for applications for the progamme in 2027 will open in the beginning of 2026.

Who can apply?

You are eligible to apply for the African Scholarship Programme
if you fall into one of the following two categories:

  • You are a full-time staff member at an African university or
    research centre, pursuing a doctoral degree, and you do not have financial support for your PhD studies from an international scholarship or project.
  • You are a postdoctoral researcher within four years of completing your PhD.

What's in it for you?

  • The scholarship includes a return air fare (economy class), accommodation, a subsistence allowance and an installation grant.
  • You get access to a workspace in a shared office at the institute.
  • The maximum duration of the stay is 90 days, minimum is 60 days.

The purpose of the programme

The purpose of the African Scholarship Programme is to provide opportunities for early career researchers based in Africa to work and develop their ongoing research at the Nordic Africa Institute. The scholarship offers access to the Institute's library, hosting by the Institute's researchers, networking opportunities and other resources that provide for a stimulating research environment. Through the programme, the Nordic Africa Institute aims to contribute to building capacity in the production of knowledge about Africa, and to promote and establish relations with and between African and Nordic research communities.

The length of the programme

The duration of the stay is approximately 90 days (3 months). Also note that most academic institutions in the Nordic countries, including the Nordic Africa Institute, are closed or at least running at a reduced capacity during the periods 15 June–15 August and 15 December–15 January. Applicants can thus not choose these periods for their visit.

Financial support and other benefits

The scholarship includes a return air-fare (economy class), accommodation, a subsistence allowance of 400 SEK (approx. 40 USD) per day plus an installation grant of 2,500 SEK (approx. 250 USD) and access to a workspace, including a desk computer, in a shared office at the Institute. Please note that the subsistence allowance will be provided only for the days spent in Uppsala.

The Institute’s library is specialized in literature on contemporary Africa and focuses on Social Sciences. Furthermore, Guest Researchers have access to the Uppsala University Library and to the Library of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Who qualifies to apply?

The scholarship programme is directed at early career researchers based in Africa and engaged in Africa-oriented research. The research topic should be within the disciplines of Social Sciences and Humanities, and with a focus on contemporary Africa. The research should also be relevant to the core principles of the UN Agenda 2030, as indicated in the five impact ares of the Institute Opens in new window..

The programme is open to two main categories of early career researchers:

  • Staff full-time employed by an African-based university or research center who are enrolled on a doctoral programme in the African region and who do not have access to an international scholarship
  • Postdoctoral researchers (within 4 years or less of PhD completion).

The Institute strives to achieve a fair distribution of scholarship positions in regards to gender and geographic focus. We especially welcome research topics that focus on gender issues and the position of women in society.

How to apply

Apply online and upload the following documents:

  • Up-to-date CV, including list of publications (if available online, please include links)
  • Outline of research project, 5 pages:
    • A well elaborated research proposal
  • Work plan, 1 page:
    • The plan should be specific for the time spent at the Institute, including research objectives and expected results
  • Reference: A signed letter of support from the applicant’s Head of Department or other senior scholar in the same field, which confirms current work place/affiliation and field of research

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. Persons currently or previously employed by or otherwise professionally affiliated with the Nordic Africa Institute are not eligible for scholarships. Kindly also note that the application must be in English. In the extraordinary event that the Scholarship Programme for 2026 does not receive full funding, applicants will be informed immediately.

It is also possible to apply through regular postal service. For more information contact marie.karlsson@nai.uu.se

The selection process

Marie Karlsson, marie.karlsson@nai.uu.se, phone +46 18 471 52 54