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- Overview
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. Eligible applicants must be residents of an African country and currently hold an academic/research position at an African university, or affiliated to a research institution, think tank, or Non-Government Organization. The purpose of the Fellowship is to provide Fellows with the opportunity to pursue independent research, complete a major article or book, foster academic ties with existing UC Berkeley faculty, and enrich the life of the Center by mentoring Mastercard Foundation Scholars during their stay. (Read more here(link is external) on Mastercard Foundation Scholars). The Fellowship is one semester (four months) in duration, commences no later than Tuesday 20 January 2026, and is non-renewable.
The Visiting Fellowship offers substantial support for Fellows, including:
• Travel: Return (economy class) airfare to Berkeley, California
• Accommodation: accommodation at UC Berkeley’s International House(link is external)
• 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
Eligibility:
To be eligible, applicants must:
• Reside in an African country.
• Affiliated with an African institution (University, Think Tank, or Non-Governmental Organisation).
• Have a PhD at the time of application.
• PhD received on or before December 2020.
• Demonstrate potential to contribute to their field of study.
• Preference given to projects focused on issues of youth, labour, livelihoods, mobility, displacement, technology, democracy, futures, among others.
All candidates are requested to submit a CV, and a research proposal not exceeding 2 pages (excluding references) in length to asc@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail). The deadline for submissions is September 5th, 2025.
About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Mastercard Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. For more information on the Mastercard Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org(link is external).
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