The Center for African Studies, with the support of the Mastercard Foundation, is pleased to announce the UC Berkeley Visiting Fellowships for Africa-based researchers to be hosted at the University of California, Berkeley. Eligible applicants must be residents of an African country and currently hold an academic/research position at an African university, or affiliated to a research institution, think tank, or Non-Government Organization.
The Fellowship aims to provide Fellows with the opportunity to pursue independent research, complete a major article or book, foster academic ties with existing UC Berkeley faculty, and enrich the life of the Center by mentoring Mastercard Foundation Scholars during their stay
SUMMARY:
- Fellowship Sponsor(s): Mastercard Foundation, UC Berkeley
- Host Institution(s): University of California, Berkeley
- Fellowship Amount: Fully-funded
- Number of Awards: Several
- Study Level: PhD
- Nationality: All Nationalities
Also Apply: The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program 2026/2027 [Fully-Funded]
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for UC Berkeley Visiting Fellowships must meet the following criteria:
- Reside in an African country, and affiliated with an African institution (University, Think Tank, or Non-Governmental Organization).
- Be in possession of a PhD at the time of application (received on or before January 2022)
- Have demonstrated potential to contribute meaningfully to their field of study.
- Although the field of study is not restricted to the following areas of research, preference will be given to projects that focus on issues of youth, labor, livelihoods, mobility, displacement, technology, democracy, futures among others.
Fellowship Benefits
Applicants for UC Berkeley Visiting Fellowships will receive the following benefits:
- Travel: Return (economy class) airfare to Berkeley, California
- Accommodation: accommodation at UC Berkeley’s International House(link is external)
- Financial Support: A subsistence allowance to cover everyday living costs.
- Office Space: Desk space and access to a computer at the Center for African Studies
- Access to Resources: Fellows-in-Residence will have full access to UC Berkeley’s world-renowned libraries, collections, and online resources, as well as its extraordinary intellectual community.
- Academic Events: Access to seminars and events organized by the Center for African Studies and all departments on campus.
See Also: TWAS-CSIR Postgraduate Fellowship Programme 2026 (Fully-funded)
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: Interested applicants for the UC Berkeley Visiting Fellowships 2026 are to complete an online application and provide all the necessary details by the application deadline.
All candidates are requested to submit a two page-CV, and a research proposal not exceeding 2 pages (excluding references) in length through this application link
Application Deadline: April 17, 2026