University of California Berkeley Visiting Fellowships

📖 About University of California Berkeley Visiting Fellowships

The Center for African Studies, with the support of the Mastercard Foundation, is pleased to announce two Visiting Fellowships to be hosted at the University of California, Berkeley.

Key Details:

• Duration: One semester (four months), commencing no later than Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
• Non-renewable.
• Purpose:
  • Pursue independent research.
  • Complete a major article or book.
  • Foster academic ties with UC Berkeley faculty.
  • Enrich the life of the Center by mentoring Mastercard Foundation Scholars during their stay.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be residents of an African country.
• Hold an academic/research position at an African university or be affiliated with a research institution, think tank, or Non-Governmental Organization.

🎁 Benefits of University of California Berkeley Visiting Fellowships

The Visiting Fellowship offers substantial support for Fellows, including:

• Travel: Return (economy class) airfare to Berkeley, California.
• Accommodation: Housing at UC Berkeley’s International House.
• 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:
  • Full access to UC Berkeley’s world-renowned libraries, collections, and online resources.
  • Engagement with its extraordinary intellectual community.
• Academic Events: Participation in seminars and events organized by the Center for African Studies and other departments on campus.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Reside in an African country and be affiliated with an African institution (University, Think Tank, or Non-Governmental Organization).
• Hold a PhD at the time of application.
• Demonstrate potential to contribute meaningfully to their field of study.
• Preference will be given to projects focusing on:
  • Youth, labor, livelihoods, mobility, displacement, technology, democracy, futures, among others.

📅 Application Date and Process

Application Deadline: September 5, 2025

Submission Requirements:

• CV.
• Research Proposal: Not exceeding 2 pages (excluding references).

Submission Email:

Send your application to asc@berkeley.edu.

🌍 Opportunity Locations

• Location: United States (UC Berkeley, California).
• Eligible Applicants: Residents of Africa.

🏢 Sponsor Organization

• Mastercard Foundation

🔗 Additional Information

For more details, visit the University of California Berkeley Visiting Fellowships page.

• Travel: Return (economy class) airfare to Berkeley, California
• Accommodation: accommodation at UC Berkeley’s International House
• 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.