The Wenner-Gren Foundation is accepting applications for the Wadsworth African Fellowship, a doctoral funding opportunity designed to support African scholars from underrepresented groups in academic anthropology.
The fellowship provides financial assistance to eligible African students who want to pursue doctoral studies in anthropology at South African universities. It aims to strengthen anthropology research and encourage the development of African scholars who can contribute to the discipline in their home countries and internationally.
Wadsworth African Fellowship Overview
The fellowship supports doctoral training in different areas of anthropology, including sociocultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology and archaeology.
The funding can be used to cover tuition, accommodation and living expenses, research costs, travel, insurance, books and other relevant educational expenses. Successful applicants may receive funding for up to three years, subject to satisfactory progress and renewal requirements. They may also apply separately for an additional year of dissertation write-up support.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | South Africa |
| Funding organisation | Wenner-Gren Foundation |
| Programme type | Doctoral Fellowship |
| Study level | PhD |
| Annual funding | Up to $20,000 |
| Funding duration | Up to 3 years, renewable |
| Application deadline | December 15, 2026 |
Wadsworth African Fellowship Benefits
- Annual funding of up to $20,000.
- Support towards university tuition fees.
- Assistance with living expenses.
- Funding for research-related costs.
- Support for travel and insurance expenses.
- Assistance with books and other academic materials.
- Opportunities to pursue doctoral training at South African universities.
- Possibility of renewing the fellowship for up to two additional years.
Wadsworth African Fellowship Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of an African country.
- They must be residents of an African country when applying.
- Applicants must belong to groups underrepresented in academic anthropology or archaeology.
- They must be seeking doctoral training in anthropology or an equivalent discipline.
- Applicants must have a pending or confirmed application for doctoral admission at a South African university.
- Students who have already started their doctoral studies must not have advanced beyond their first year.
- Applicants must have a qualified home sponsor and a host sponsor at the South African university.
- They must demonstrate sufficient additional funding to complete their doctoral training.
How to Apply for the Wadsworth African Fellowship
Interested candidates should visit the Wenner-Gren Foundation’s official Wadsworth African Fellowship webpage and carefully review the eligibility criteria and application instructions. They must complete the online application form, providing details about their academic background, doctoral training plans, research interests, and professional goals.
Also, applicants should prepare a detailed budget, official academic transcripts, a curriculum vitae, evidence of language competence where required, and the necessary information about their home and host sponsors. Both sponsors must submit their required letters of support directly to the foundation before the application deadline.
Wadsworth African Fellowship Deadline
The application portal opened on November 1, 2026, and closes on December 15, 2026. The fellowship is intended to support doctoral studies beginning in the following academic year.
Official Website: Wadsworth African Fellowship
FAQs
Can Nigerian students apply?
Nigerian citizens who meet the eligibility requirements can apply.
How much is the fellowship worth?
The fellowship provides up to $20,000 annually.
Which countries host the doctoral programme?
The fellowship supports doctoral study at eligible universities in South Africa.
Can the fellowship be renewed?
Funding may be renewed for up to two additional years, subject to the foundation’s requirements.
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