ARUA Pilot Mid-Career Research Fellowships 2026-2027
African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)
Six-month research-intensive fellowships for Associate Professor-level academics employed full-time at ARUA universities, with stipend, accommodation, travel and research support.
Last checked 23 August 2026
This call is closed. The deadline was 31 August 2026. This page remains available for reference.
Closing time and timezone not stated.
At a glance
- Funding / main benefit
- A six-month research residency at a research-intensive institution, ARUA Centre of Excellence or Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence
- Deadline
- 31 August 2026
- Duration
- 6 months
- Location / format
- Not stated
- Career stage
- Mid-career researcher, Associate Professor level
- Geographic eligibility
- Not stated
- Application deadline
- 31 August 2026
- Fellowship placements
- September 2026 to August 2028
Is this for me?
Best suited to: Productive mid-career academics who already have a body of research and need protected time, collaboration and a strong host environment to turn it into major outputs.
Uganda relevance: Makerere University is an ARUA member institution, so eligible Makerere academics may apply if they meet the other criteria.
Not suitable if
- You are not employed full-time at an ARUA member university
- You are below or well beyond Associate Professor level
- Your institution cannot release you for six months
- You have not identified a suitable host institution, Centre of Excellence or Cluster of Research Excellence
Methods Bench fit considerations
- You are an Associate Professor-level academic employed full-time by an ARUA university
- You have a proven post-PhD or equivalent scholarly track record
- Your research aligns with the proposed host institution, Centre of Excellence or Cluster of Research Excellence
- You can demonstrate prior or ongoing collaborative research
- You have a feasible six-month research plan with defined outputs
- Your institution will support leave or sabbatical and your return afterwards
Editorial guidance, not an eligibility verdict. Confirm requirements with the funder.
What the opportunity provides
- A six-month research residency at a research-intensive institution, ARUA Centre of Excellence or Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence
- Return economy-class airfare
- US$2,500 per month stipend
- US$750 per month accommodation allowance
- A one-time US$3,500 research grant
- Access to host institutional facilities and research resources
US$2,500 per month stipend, US$750 per month accommodation allowance, a one-time US$3,500 research grant and return economy-class airfare.
Methods Bench application considerations
This is not simply a fellowship application. The applicant needs institutional release, a credible host relationship and a six-month plan that can produce visible scholarly or policy outputs.
The programme targets Associate Professor-level academics in full-time employment at ARUA universities. It is not a general fellowship for all African researchers.
- Are you at Associate Professor level?
- Are you employed full-time by an ARUA university?
- Can your institution release you for six months?
- Have you identified a suitable host CoE, CoRE or institution?
- Do you already have research or materials that can support substantial outputs during the fellowship?
- Can you secure the required institutional letter?
Eligibility checklist
- Level: Associate Professor level with a proven post-PhD or equivalent track record
- Employment: Full-time employment at an ARUA university
- Host alignment: Research aligned with the proposed host institution, CoE or CoRE
- Institutional support: Support for leave or sabbatical and a commitment to return after the fellowship
- Encouraged applicants: Women and applicants from historically under-represented regions within the ARUA network
What to prepare
Required at this stage
- Concept note of about 2,500 words covering the research problem, methodological approach, expected outputs, host alignment, feasibility and continuation plan
- Institutional support letter for leave or sabbatical
- Passport biodata page
- Contact information for two academic referees who are not based at the proposed host institution
Sources and verification
Last checked: 23 August 2026.
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