CARTA (the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa) runs a collaborative doctoral training program led by a group of African universities and research institutes with international partners. It supports serving faculty and research staff at its participating African institutions to earn a PhD in public and population health while keeping their jobs.
Fellows join an annual cohort and combine residential Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes), a seven-month online writing program, and supervised doctoral research at a participating institution. For the 2026 cohort, CARTA offered 22 awards, with the fellowship commencing on 1 March 2026.
Benefits & funding
- A structured series of training programs, including residential JAS-1 and JAS-2 plus a seven-month online inter-JAS academic writing program in the first year.
- A laptop.
- A modest stipend paid for 28 months.
- Research funds of up to USD 10,500, subject to available budget.
- The employing institution must continue the fellow’s salary. University staff must qualify for a fee waiver at their employing institution; research-institution staff need a waiver or secured fee funding at a trusted partner or associate university.
- The fellowship does not cover registration fees, subsistence, or travel for fellows who register outside their home institution.
Eligibility
- Must be bona fide teaching or research staff at one of the 11 participating African institutions in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, or Tanzania.
- Hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Not yet registered for a PhD, or in the first year with a research proposal not yet approved.
- Proposed PhD research must relate to public and population health.
- Age limits differ by gender: men must be under 40 and women under 45 at the time of application.
- Must secure PhD admission at a participating African university within 12 months of the fellowship start.
- Registered students, volunteer lecturers, and temporary staff not covered by a staff-development policy are not eligible. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Master
Age requirement
≤ 45 yrs
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Application process
- 1Contact the CARTA focal person at the participating institution.
- 2Submit the preliminary application and reference letters through CARTA’s REDCap portal by the deadline.
- 3If nominated by the institution, complete the full application with a research proposal, CV, institutional support letter, three timed tasks, and two free online courses.
- 4CARTA reviews the full applications and communicates final fellowship decisions.
Program timeline
20 August 2025
Preliminary application deadline for the 2026 cohort.
Full application deadline for nominated candidates.
21 September 2025
Final fellowship decisions.
15 November 2025
Fellowship commenced with JAS-1.
1 March 2026
JAS-2.
November 2026