Africa Institute Senior & Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026

📖 About the Fellowships

The Africa Institute, part of Global Studies University in Sharjah, UAE, is a leading interdisciplinary research and postgraduate institution dedicated to the study of Africa and its diaspora. As part of its mission to advance critical scholarship, the Africa Institute offers Research Fellowships through a competitive annual program.

These fellowships include:

• Senior Fellowships: One-year residencies for established scholars, named after Toni Morrison and Ali A. Mazrui.
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: Two-year residencies for early-career researchers, named after Okwui Enwezor and Fatema Mernissi.

All fellowships are based in Sharjah and support original research in the humanities and social sciences, with an emphasis on African and African diaspora studies.

📅 Opportunity Details

• Date Published: July 15, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 01, 2025
• Category: Fellowship, Postdoctoral
• Eligible Locations: Africa

🎁 Benefits

Fellows will receive the following support:

• Access to appropriate office space.
• Access to library resources, computer, and technical support.
• Routine administrative support for residency, salary disbursement, HR matters, and research funding.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Senior Fellowships:

• Open to scholars who are at the associate professor or full professor levels, or their equivalents within or outside the academy.

Postdoctoral Fellowships:

• Applicants must hold a Ph.D. awarded within the last five years.

📝 Application Process

All application files must be submitted in PDF format, combined into one file, to streamline the review process. The required documents should be submitted in the following order:

1. Abstract (up to 300 words) outlining the research project proposed during the fellowship period.
2. Project Statement (1,000–2,000 words) detailing research objectives, approach, and significance. Applicants may include a one-page bibliography of key sources.
3. Two Writing Samples (published or unpublished).
4. Letter of Interest.
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV).
6. Contact Details of Three Referees (the Institute will directly solicit letters of reference).

Submission Instructions:

• Email your application to applications@theafricainstitute.org.
• Use the subject line: “Name of the respective Fellowship” you are applying to.

Fellowship Options:

• Toni Morrison Senior Fellowship in African Diaspora Literature and Cultural Studies.
• Ali A. Mazrui Senior Fellowship in Global African Studies.
• Okwui Enwezor Postdoctoral Fellowship in Visual Culture, Performance Studies, and Critical Humanities.
• Fatema Mernissi Postdoctoral Fellowship in Social and Cultural Studies.

⏳ Application Deadline

August 01, 2025

🌐 Additional Information

For more details, visit the official fellowship page:
View Africa Institute Senior & Postdoctoral Fellowships

To apply, visit:
Apply for Africa Institute Senior & Postdoctoral Fellowships

For any inquiries, contact applications@theafricainstitute.org.

• Access to appropriate office space
• Access to library resources
• Computer and technical support
• Routine administrative support in matters related to residency, salary disbursement, HR matters, and research funding.