Nigerian Academics and Researchers have until 17 April 2026 to apply for a fully funded visiting fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley, one of the world's leading research Universities, under a Programme supported by the Mastercard Foundation.
The Centre for African Studies at UC Berkeley, with backing from the Mastercard Foundation, is offering two visiting fellowship positions for 2027, open to PhD holders based in Africa and affiliated with an African University, think tank, or non governmental organisation.
The single semester fellowship, spanning four months and commencing no later than 19 January 2027, covers return airfare to Berkeley, a monthly living allowance, free on campus accommodation, office space, and full access to the University's libraries, digital collections, and research resources. Fellows will also be expected to mentor Mastercard Foundation Scholars at UC Berkeley during their stay, creating a reciprocal exchange between visiting researchers and Students already in the Programme.
Fellows may use the period to pursue independent research or complete a major book or article. Research interests relevant to the fellowship include youth, labour, livelihoods, mobility, displacement, technology, democracy, and futures in Africa, though the Programme is not strictly limited to these areas.
To apply, candidates must submit a two page curriculum vitae and a research proposal of no more than two pages. The fellowship is non renewable and only two positions are available for the 2027 cohort.
For Nigerian University lecturers and researchers who have struggled to access International research environments due to funding constraints, this fellowship removes the primary barrier entirely. A four month residency at UC Berkeley, with full Institutional support and access to one of the most extensive academic library systems in the world, represents a significant opportunity that is directly within reach for those who apply before the 17 April 2026 deadline.
