CARTA PhD Fellowships 2026

Omran Aburayya
Aug 10
3 min read

If you are an academic staff member at a recognized African university looking to pursue a PhD in public and population health, the CARTA PhD Fellowships 2026 are now open for applications. This fellowship offers an exceptional opportunity to advance your doctoral studies through a collaborative, multidisciplinary program designed to develop Africa’s future research leaders. With comprehensive training, research funding, and a supportive network, CARTA aims to strengthen African universities' research capacity while empowering fellows to address pressing health challenges across the continent. Here's everything you need to know!

🎓 Fellowship Summary

Location: Selected African partner universities (Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania)
Host Institutions: African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), University of the Witwatersrand, Makerere University, University of Nairobi, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Rwanda, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and others
Study Level: PhD (Doctorate)
Target Group: Academic staff at CARTA partner institutions, in any discipline relevant to public and population health
Fields of Study: Multidisciplinary research focused on public health, population health, and related fields
Value & Coverage: Stipend for 28 months, research funds up to $10,500, laptop, structured training program
Duration: Up to 28 months
Application Deadline: August 20, 2025, 23:59 EAT
Start Date: March 1, 2026
Eligible To: Bona fide teaching or research staff members at eligible African institutions who have a Master’s degree and are early in their PhD journey

⭐ Fellowship Overview

The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) was established to build a vibrant African academy capable of leading world-class multidisciplinary research with a positive impact on public and population health. CARTA’s PhD fellowship program supports junior faculty members in African universities to undertake doctoral training locally, fostering research leadership and strengthening institutional research capacity.

CARTA offers a structured doctoral training program including two residential Joint Advanced Seminars (JAS) and an online academic writing course:

JAS-1 (March 2026): Focuses on critical thinking, core research competencies, and key theories in public and population health
Inter-JAS Digital Academic Writing Course (April–October 2026): Builds academic writing and critical thinking skills
JAS-2 (November 2026): Concentrates on data management and analysis using qualitative and quantitative software tools

These seminars are designed to equip fellows with essential research skills, expose them to seminal literature, and create a collaborative research network across African institutions and international experts.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Monthly stipend for 28 months to support living expenses
Research funds up to $10,500 to conduct your proposed study and engage stakeholders
A laptop for research and study use
Access to high-quality training programs and academic seminars
Networking opportunities with peers, mentors, and experts across Africa and globally
Institutional support including fee waivers and workload adjustments to facilitate your PhD journey

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline
Must be a full-time teaching or research staff member at a CARTA partner institution (eligibility restricted to these institutions)
Commitment from your institution to continue paying your salary and provide a supportive environment
Must not have registered for a PhD or be in the very early stages (first year) without an approved research proposal
PhD research proposal must focus on public and population health
Age limit: Men under 40 years, women under 45 years
Must commit to attend JAS seminars and participate in inter-JAS activities
Must obtain admission into a PhD program at a CARTA partner university within 12 months of the fellowship start

📝 Application Procedure

Contact the CARTA focal person at your institution to discuss interest and receive application materials
Submit initial application and reference letters by August 20, 2025, 23:59 EAT via the REDCap system
Selected candidates will be invited to submit a full application by September 21, 2025, including a full research proposal, CV, institutional support letter, and completion of timed tasks and online courses
Only applications submitted through the official portal will be accepted; late or incomplete submissions will not be considered
Final decisions announced by November 15, 2025

Ready to Apply?

Ready to take your research career to the next level? Contact your institution’s CARTA focal person today and submit your application before the August 20, 2025 deadline.

APPLY NOW

🔗 OFFICIAL CALL LINK