Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships. The Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships 2027 are offering an exciting opportunity for emerging African researchers interested in climate change, sustainable development, environmental policy, energy, biodiversity, water, urbanisation and related fields. A total of 12 PhD fellowships are available at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa.
The four-year doctoral programme is designed to support a new generation of African researchers who can contribute to solving some of the continent’s most pressing climate and development challenges. The programme combines structured academic training with independent doctoral research under the guidance of experienced supervisors.
Applications are open to citizens of African countries, including African nationals who are currently living outside Africa. Prospective applicants should carefully review the requirements for their selected research topic because candidates are allowed to apply for only one research area.
Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships
The Africa Climate Collaborative provides a structured four-year PhD training programme focused on the relationship between climate change and development in Africa.
The first year consists of structured pre-doctoral coursework. This stage is intended to strengthen fellows’ academic knowledge, research abilities and understanding of key climate and development issues.
During Years 2 to 4, successful candidates will concentrate on independent thesis research while continuing to receive doctoral skills training and academic supervision.
Each fellowship is associated with a particular research topic and designated supervisor or supervisory team. This structure allows candidates to develop specialised research projects while working within established areas of expertise.
Successful fellowship applicants will also need to apply for and obtain admission to an appropriate PhD programme at the University of Cape Town. Support with the UCT admission process will be available to successful fellowship candidates.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
The fellowships are aimed at emerging African researchers with academic backgrounds relevant to climate and development.
Applicants generally need to meet the following requirements:
- Hold a completed Master’s degree in a field relevant to climate and development in Africa.
- Meet the specific academic or disciplinary requirements associated with the selected research topic.
- Be a citizen of an African country.
- African citizens living outside the continent are also eligible to apply.
- Be under 35 years of age on 1 February 2027.
- Submit an application for only one research topic.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the academic requirements of their chosen research topic. Applying for more than one topic may lead to disqualification.
The programme also encourages applications from women and individuals with lived experience of displacement or disability.
Available PhD Research Areas
The 12 fellowships are connected to a broader selection of research topics covering different aspects of climate change and development across Africa.
Potential research themes include:
- African urban flooding, health and the politics of care
- Locust outbreak management and climate change
- Electricity governance and Africa’s energy transition
- Water infrastructure investment and climate resilience
- Urban climate adaptation in southern African cities
- Sustainable concrete technologies for African urbanisation
- Climate-related ENSO impacts on energy systems in Southern Africa
- Biodiversity monitoring using remote sensing and causal inference
- Climate-compatible transitions to electric cooking
- Climate and development education in Africa
- Climate-resilient fisheries and scenario development
- Remote sensing and smallholder climate resilience
- Hydrological changes across South African landscapes
- Nature-based solutions for resilient estuaries
- Indigenous ecosystem values and coastal adaptation
- Business climate adaptation and collective action
- Biodiversity planning and habitat conservation
- Chinese power finance and its changing role in Africa
These research themes cover scientific, environmental, technological, social, economic, governance and policy perspectives.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare their supporting documents well before the deadline. A complete application includes a CV of no more than five pages containing the names and contact details of three referees.
At least one referee should be someone who supervised the applicant’s Master’s dissertation.
Candidates must also submit a previous academic or research writing sample. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to provide a suitable section or extract from their Master’s dissertation.
Other important documents include:
- Bachelor’s academic transcripts
- Master’s academic transcripts
- Motivation letter
- National identification document or passport
- Research or academic writing sample
- Referee information
Successful applicants will later be required to provide certified copies of relevant academic documents as part of the fellowship and university admission process.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should first review the available research topics and identify the area that best matches their academic background and research interests.
Because applicants can apply for only one research topic, the chosen area should be selected carefully. Candidates should then prepare the required documents and submit their application according to the official instructions.
The application deadline is:
- 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST
Applicants are encouraged not to wait until the final day because preparing transcripts, writing samples, motivation letters and referee information may take time.
Why Consider the Africa Climate Collaborative?
Climate change is affecting many aspects of development across Africa, including water security, energy systems, biodiversity, food production, cities, infrastructure, fisheries and livelihoods.
The Africa Climate Collaborative PhD programme provides researchers with an opportunity to investigate these challenges through structured doctoral training and several years of specialised research.
The programme’s wide range of research themes means applicants from different academic backgrounds may be able to find a topic aligned with their previous studies and research interests.
For eligible African researchers, the programme can provide an opportunity to develop advanced research expertise while contributing to knowledge about climate and sustainable development challenges facing the continent.
Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships 2027 – Key Details
Programme: Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships
University: University of Cape Town (UCT)
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Study Level: PhD
Programme Duration: Four years
Fellowships Available: 12
Eligibility: Citizens of African countries
Age Requirement: Under 35 on 1 February 2027
Application Deadline: 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST
Apply for the Fellowship
Eligible candidates should review the official research topics, application requirements and admission information before submitting their application.
- Official Application: Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships at UCT
Applicants should always confirm the latest information, eligibility conditions, required documents and deadline directly with the University of Cape Town or the Africa Climate Collaborative before applying, as programme details can be updated.
Conclusion
The Africa Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships 2027 offer 12 doctoral research opportunities for African citizens interested in addressing important climate and development challenges. With research topics covering areas such as energy, water, biodiversity, urban adaptation, fisheries, infrastructure and environmental governance, the programme provides a broad platform for interdisciplinary research.
Candidates who meet the Master’s degree, citizenship and age requirements should begin preparing their applications early. A strong application should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s academic background, research interests and suitability for the selected research topic.
With the deadline set for 15 October 2026 at 23:00 SAST, eligible applicants should review the official fellowship information and submit their applications before the closing date
