AREF Research Development Fellowship Programme
Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF)
GBP 25,000-47,000 fellowships for African early-career health researchers (PhD or clinical equivalent, normally within 8 years) at African institutions: 3-9 month host-lab placement plus home-based preparation and follow-up. 2026/27 call closed 8 May 2026; next expected Mar 2027.
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Eligibility
- Who can apply
- Africa
- Education required
- Phd completed
- Fields
- Health sciences, Medicine, Public health
- Language
- Applications welcomed from Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries
- Residency
- Must be a national of an African country; need not be resident in Africa at the time of applying provided the application is officially supported by an African employing institution
- Also required
- PhD or equivalent (DPhil/MD); or clinician with MBBS plus a specialist clinical qualification; or clinician with MBBS plus a master's containing a research component
- Working at least 30% full-time equivalent in an active research role at an African institution, with employment guaranteed throughout the fellowship
- Research focused on human health in infectious and non-communicable diseases significant or neglected in Africa
- Host organisation and supervisor identified; support letters from both employing and host organisations required
- Applications only via the AREF online portal
About this opportunity
AREF's Research Development Fellowship helps emerging African health researchers gain the skills, networks and preliminary data to win competitive funding. Each fellowship combines a 1-3 month preparatory period at home, a 3-9 month placement at a host institution (in Africa or internationally) and a 1-3 month follow-up, within 15 months. Awards are GBP 25,000 (3-month placement), GBP 37,000 (6-month) or GBP 47,000 (9-month) for accommodation, travel and training; AREF does not reimburse salary.
Applicants must be African nationals (Ghana eligible), hold a PhD/DPhil/MD or be clinicians with an MBBS plus a specialist qualification or research master's, normally within eight years of their doctorate. They must work at least 30% FTE in an active research role at a supporting African institution and propose research on infectious or non-communicable diseases significant for Africa.
- Level
- Postdoc, Early career
- Where
- Multiple countries
- Duration
- Up to 15 months: 1-3 month preparatory period, 3-9 month placement, 1-3 month follow-up; fellowships start between June and December 2027 for the 2026/27 call
- Number of awards
- Around 15 RDF awards per round (2026/27 call), plus about three Seed Fund awards
- Difficulty
- High · about 8 weeks to prepare
Funding
Partially funded
- travel
- accommodation
- training
- research costs
GBP 25,000 for a 3-month placement, GBP 37,000 for 6 months, GBP 47,000 for 9 months, supporting reasonable accommodation, travel and training costs; AREF does not reimburse the employing organisation for salary while the fellow is on placement.
What you will need
- CV / résumé
- Research proposal
- Reference letters
- Other documents
Online portal application following AREF's 'Guidance on Completing the Application Forms': research and training plan, CV, and support letters from the employing organisation and the host organisation/supervisor. Exact referee count not stated in the scheme information.
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