UCT Africa Climate Collaborative: 10 Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Climate and Development
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town’s Africa Climate Collaborative is offering 10 three-year postdoctoral research fellowships in climate and development for recent African PhD graduates. The stipend is R380,000 per year, tax free. Apply for one of 11 supervisor-led research topics by 29 October 2026, 23:00 SAST.
The Africa Climate Collaborative at the University of Cape Town is recruiting a cohort of 10 postdoctoral research fellows for a three-year climate and development programme. Fellows work in the department or research lab of a primary UCT mentor and join a structured researcher development programme. Applicants must choose only one of the 11 research topics on the official call, each with its own supervisor and disciplinary requirements. Topics span energy systems, climate and health, marine ecosystems, adaptation, agriculture, industrial transformation and governance. The host is UCT in South Africa. The fellowship is intended for African citizens who completed a relevant PhD within 36 months. UCT lists a tax-free stipend of R380,000 per year and a further R130,000 over three years that may be available, with suitable motivation, for relocation, medical insurance, research costs and conference attendance. Apply through the official online form by 29 October 2026 at 23:00 South African time. Read the topic-specific requirements before selecting one topic. Official call: https://acdi.uct.ac.za/africaclimatecollaborative/postdoctoral-research-fellowships-climate-and-development
Source and verification
Check the current official call before applying
Recorded source check: October 13, 2026. A stored check date does not guarantee that every field is complete or still current. Compare the provider, eligibility, funding and deadline with the live official call before applying.
Benefits
UCT states a tax-free stipend of ZAR 380,000 per year for the three-year fellowship. An additional ZAR 130,000 over three years may be available, with suitable motivation, for relocation, medical insurance, research costs and conference attendance. The additional amount is conditional, not guaranteed.
Eligibility summary
Citizens of an African country who have completed a relevant PhD within 36 months of graduation may apply, including African citizens living outside Africa. UCT gives preference to applicants younger than 35 on 1 February 2027, but this is a preference, not an absolute age limit. Applicants must meet the degree and skills criteria for their chosen supervisor-led topic and may submit only one topic application.
Requirements
Choose one of the 11 research topics on the official call and review its named supervisor and discipline-specific requirements. A relevant completed PhD is required. Topics cover multiple fields, so no single degree discipline applies to every project. The programme is based with a primary UCT mentor and includes structured researcher development.
Documents required
The live application form requests a CV of at most three pages naming three referees, a writing sample of at most five pages or a peer-reviewed article, combined Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD transcripts, a motivation letter explaining fit for the chosen topic, and a national ID or passport copy. Upload the requested files through the official UCT form. Note that the overview page says the CV may be up to five pages, while the live form sets a three-page limit; applicants should follow the live form.
Language/test requirements
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