University of California Berkeley Visiting Fellowships 2026 for African Scholars

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University of California Berkeley Visiting Fellowships 2026 for African Scholars

Sep 01, 2025

11 mins to read

Join UC Berkeley’s prestigious Visiting Fellowships 2026 for African Scholars! Fully funded, including travel, accommodation, and stipend, this 4-month program supports research and mentorship. Open to African PhD holders. Apply by Sept 5, 2025, to advance your academic career

Fully funded research opportunity for African scholars at UC Berkeley

Overview

Run by Center for African Studies with Mastercard Foundation support

Aims to strengthen academic ties between African institutions and UC Berkeley

Focuses on research addressing key African challenges

Goals

Enable scholars to conduct independent research and publish papers
Foster collaboration with UC Berkeley academics
Mentor Mastercard Foundation Scholars
Build lasting connections between African and Berkeley scholars

Highly competitive with only two fellows selected for 2026

Benefits

Benefit	Specific Coverage
Travel	Round-trip economy class airfare from home country to Berkeley
Housing	Residence at International House for four months
Living Expenses	Allowance for daily costs
Research Resources	Desk space computer access library and research databases
Networking	Access to seminars and campus events

Fully funded package allows focus on research without financial concerns

Eligibility Requirements

Residency in African country and affiliation with African university research institution think tank or NGO
PhD degree at time of application
Demonstrated research contribution in field
Research focus on youth labor livelihoods mobility displacement technology democracy or futures studies preferred

Fellowship Timeline

Event	Date
Application Deadline	September 5 2025
Fellowship Start	By January 20 2026
Fellowship Duration	Four months
Notification	Typically 2–3 months after deadline

Non-renewable fellowship limited to one semester

Application Process

Required documents

Curriculum Vitae detailing academic and professional history
Research proposal (max two pages excluding references) including
- Research goals and questions
- Methodology and approach
- Expected results and significance
- Alignment with priority areas

Submission

Email application to asc@berkeley.edu
All documents in English

Selection based on academic excellence research relevance alignment with fellowship goals contribution to Center for African Studies

Why UC Berkeley

World-class library collections research databases specialized archives
Collaboration with distinguished faculty
Interdisciplinary community with diverse scholars
Access to seminars workshops academic events
Networking for future collaborations

Tips for Application Success

Start preparation early
Align research with priority themes
Highlight research impact on field and African development
Seek feedback on proposal from colleagues
Ensure error-free well-organized application

Other Opportunities at UC Berkeley

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program for African master’s students
Department-sponsored visiting scholar programs
Postdoctoral fellowships like Miller Research Fellowship

Contact Information

Email: asc@berkeley.edu

Website: Center for African Studies

Check official website for updates before applying

Supporting Organizations

Center for African Studies at UC Berkeley

Hub for Africanist research teaching programming
Connects scholars students visiting researchers with African institutions

Mastercard Foundation

Global philanthropy focused on education and financial inclusion in Africa
Founded 2006 supports youth employment in Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada

Next Steps

Prepare application materials early

Ensure research aligns with fellowship goals

Submit by September 5 2025