Eligibility

Am I eligible for funding if I have not yet completed a master’s degree?

  • All applicants for the Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship must already hold a master’s degree at the time of application. 
  • All applicants applying to Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Research and Completion Fellowships should hold a master’s degree, but can also apply if they are already enrolled in a PhD program without a master’s degree. 

Am I eligible to apply for the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship if I’m not a citizen of an African country?

  • No. Applicants must be citizens of an African country.

Am I eligible to apply for the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship if I’m an African citizen based in a university outside of Africa?

  • No. Applicants must reside in, or be citizens of an African country while enrolled or plan to enroll in a PhD program in accredited universities in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda.

I don’t hold a faculty position but I am enrolled in a PhD program in one of the six eligible countries. Am I eligible to apply?

  • Yes. As of May 2015, the program prioritizes applicants holding a faculty position or demonstrating a durable commitment to higher education in Africa, but does not restrict eligibility to such individuals.

Does the dissertation research have to be conducted in one of the six eligible countries?

  • No. The proposed research can take place anywhere in Africa. However, applicants may find it more pragmatic to conduct their proposed research within the six eligible countries.

What disciplines are eligible for support through this fellowship program?

  • The fellowships are available to applicants from all disciplines in the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, history, geography, political science, psychology, and sociology. Fellowships are also available to PhD candidates from related fields, such as communications, international relations, law, peace studies, or the humanities, provided that the applicant engages social science literature and uses social science research methodologies.

I am currently a lecturer at a university in one of the six countries supported through this fellowship, and I am working on my doctoral dissertation proposal, as I plan to enroll in a PhD program in the next few months. Am I eligible to apply even though I am not yet enrolled in a PhD program?

  • Yes, you are eligible to apply for any stage of the Next Gen Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship as long as you are enrolled in a PhD program in an accredited university in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda at the time of the award.

Am I eligible for funding through the doctoral dissertation proposal fellowship if I already hold a PhD?

  • No. This fellowship program is only available to applicants who are enrolled in PhD programs but have yet to complete their doctoral studies.

May I be enrolled in a “sandwich program” and apply for a fellowship?

  • Only candidates who will return to their home institution, having completed the courses by the time the fellowship begins, will be eligible to apply for a fellowship. Candidates who will still be taking courses outside their home country once the award period begins in July 2025 may not apply for a fellowship. 

While I hold a lecturer position at a university in one of the countries where you offer fellowships, I am currently pursuing my PhD at a university based outside Africa. I am committed to remaining in my faculty position upon completion of my PhD. Am I eligible to apply?

  • No. Applicants must be enrolled in a PhD program in an accredited university in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda.

Is there an age limit?

  • Applicants with a faculty position should be at least 10 years away from the age of retirement.

Am I eligible to apply for a Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship if I have previously applied, but was not successful in getting an award?

  • Yes. However, re-applicants are encouraged to address specific questions and suggestions left by reviewers on the previous application(s), and they are encouraged to reflect on and use these as a guide in revising their new application before submission.

Am I eligible to apply for a Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship if I have previously received an award through another SSRC program?

  • Yes. Applicants who have previously received an award through another SSRC program are eligible to apply. 

Am I eligible to apply for a Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship award if I have previously received a Next Gen fellowship award?

  • Yes. Applicants who have previously received an award through the Next Gen program are eligible to apply. The Next Gen Fellowship program encourages applicants to apply for the next award in the sequence (e.g. a recipient of the Dissertation Proposal fellowship can later apply for a Dissertation Research and/or Dissertation Completion award). Applicants will not be considered for the same type of award they have previously received from the Next Gen program. 

Workshops

If I receive a Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship award, do I have to attend both workshops? 

  • For Next Gen Proposal and Research fellowship recipients, yes. If awarded a fellowship, you are expected to attend both workshops but must attend at least one workshop in its entirety. If you know that you will be unable to be present at both workshops, you should not apply to the program. The workshops take place in July and January.
  • For Next Gen Completion fellowship recipients, you are only invited to attend the workshop taking place in January.

Do I have to pay my own way to attend the workshops?

  • No. If awarded a fellowship, your expenses (airfare, hotel, meals, ground transport) will be paid for by the SSRC. SSRC staff will make arrangements for travel and accommodation or in rare cases offer you a maximum sum with which to arrange your own needs.

Application Process

Do you have examples of proposals that have been awarded fellowships?

  • No. The program does not provide examples of successful proposals, but we encourage you to consult the list of APN and Next Gen fellows for more information on current fellows (link).

How should peacebuilding, security, and development be interpreted? How do I know if my project is relevant to this theme?

  • Peacebuilding, security and development should be interpreted broadly to include issues related to the linkages between the three concepts from a multidisciplinary perspective. You are advised to take a look at the list of suggested thematic priorities for Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowships in the APN and Next Gen Application Guidebook.

Can I submit my application even if my Reference Letters have not been received?

  • Yes. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application well in advance of the deadline in order to avoid missing the posted deadline. There is no need to wait for your Reference Letters to be received in order to submit your application – they will be automatically added to your application.

Application Components

Can I submit photographs or charts with my application?

  • Yes, but any non-textual material must be included within the project proposal.

Do I need to submit transcripts with my application?

  • No.

Do I need to submit my Master’s degree certificate with my application?

  • Next Gen Proposal fellowship applicants must submit a scanned copy of their master’s degree.
  • For Next Gen Research and Completion fellowship applicants, no. But you will be required to include a scanned copy of the certificate along with other documents if you are awarded a fellowship.

Fellowship Awards

What happens if my project is selected for funding?

  • You will be asked to submit an estimated budget outlining the funds you will need to complete your project. This will be taken under consideration, along with any other funds you may have received, when your final award amount is determined. You will also need to submit the following documents before award monies will be issued:
  1. A letter from the applicant’s home institution (university department or faculty, museum, or other research center), which indicates acceptance of the terms of the award and support for the applicant’s project. This letter must be composed on institutional stationery and must be officially stamped and signed.
  2. A scanned copy of the highest university degree obtained by the applicant. The scanned copy must bear an official university stamp.
  3. A scanned copy of the biodata page of a current page of passport.
  4. A statement, composed and signed by the applicant, declaring that the applicant will work full-time on the project during the fellowship period, forgoing any other employment, consultancy, business, or extended travel away from the site of the project.

What do the Next Gen dissertation fellowships not cover?

  • You must use the fellowship funds exclusively for the purposes stated in the submitted application and the approved budget. SSRC stipends are not tax-free for US citizens, but some expenses incurred on fellowships can be claimed as “research expenses.” US citizens should refer to the IRS website (www.irs.gov) for specifics. Citizens from all other countries must determine whether their fellowship is taxable in their home country or their country of residence and the fellows are responsible for paying any taxes due on the fellowship monies.

I am applying for multiple fellowships and/or grants. Should I be awarded an SSRC Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa fellowship, can I also accept funding from other sources?

  • Yes, but fellows cannot accept funding from the SSRC and another organization for the same expenses at the same time. The SSRC program will work with fellows to construct a budget that is acceptable to SSRC and to other funding organizations. 

Do the awards go directly to the fellows or are they channeled through a university or institution?

  • All awards are paid directly to the fellows. Fellows who require the funding be paid through their institution must formally request accommodation from the program following their successful nomination for the award.

Does the SSRC offer support for visas and research clearances?

  • No. Fellows are responsible for their own travel visa arrangements and research clearances.
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