The Global Health PhD Fellowship Programme is run by the UNU International Institute for Global Health, the United Nations University institute based in Kuala Lumpur that serves as the UN’s designated think tank on global health and was established by statute in 2005. It places doctoral candidates inside the institute’s research team for six to twelve months, working on policy-relevant projects that support UN agencies, governments and partners. Fellows are mentored by senior researchers and take part in applied research, policy analysis and knowledge translation. The placement is designed to complement a fellow’s own doctoral work rather than replace it, so it suits candidates who have finished their field work and want their thesis to speak to policy. The institute handles the programme as a vacancy: it opens a call, closes it once enough applications arrive, and may reopen it later.
Benefits & funding
- Six to twelve months based at the institute in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Engagement under a UNU consultant contract (CTC)
- Mentorship from senior UNU Global Health researchers
- Exposure to global health policy processes inside the UN system, and hands-on work in policy-relevant research and knowledge translation
- A co-led institute report, policy brief and/or peer-reviewed journal manuscript produced during the placement, aligned with the fellow’s own PhD research
- The institute publishes no figure for the consultant contract, and no travel, insurance, visa or accommodation support is stated on its pages — confirm the financial terms with UNU before committing
Eligibility
- Currently enrolled in a PhD programme in global health, public health, health policy or a related field
- Doctoral field work already completed
- Strong analytical and writing skills in English
- Demonstrated interest in global health policy, governance and applied research
- Able to work independently and collaboratively in an international, multidisciplinary environment
- Willing and able to be based in Kuala Lumpur for the length of the placement
- No nationality, residency, age or years-of-experience requirement is published
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Application process
- 1Check the programme page for an open call — applications are accepted only while the vacancy is open, and it is closed at the time of writing.
- 2Confirm the conditions before applying: PhD enrolment, doctoral field work completed, and availability to relocate to Kuala Lumpur for six to twelve months.
- 3Apply through the route given in the vacancy notice when a call is open; the institute publishes no standing application form or document checklist.
- 4Agree research, programme and learning objectives with a UNU supervisor once selected, covering areas such as global health governance, health policy and systems, and evidence-to-policy translation.
- 5Applications already received remain under review, and the institute states the vacancy may be reopened if required.
Program timeline
No fixed annual window is published; the institute announces each call on the programme page as a vacancy
Applications currently closed after a high volume of submissions, with those already received still under review
The institute states the vacancy may be reopened if required
an earlier Global Health PhD Fellowship call ran on the same six-to-twelve-month, Kuala Lumpur terms
2022
Start and end dates are agreed individually with the institute and are not published