Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa and the University of the Western Cape jointly run this annual pan-African fellowship in Cape Town. Fellows spend three days each week working at Zeitz MOCAA and two days studying at UWC toward a postgraduate degree.
During the 12-month programme, fellows gain experience across museum departments before focusing on a selected area and completing academic coursework and research. The 2027 cycle runs from February 2027 through January 2028 and is currently closed.
Benefits & funding
- Tuition at UWC is covered.
- Accommodation and basic health insurance are covered.
- Fellows receive a monthly stipend; the official materials do not state the amount.
- Travel to Cape Town and visa costs are not covered.
- Six fellows are planned for the 2027 academic year.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of an African country. No residence in South Africa is required at application.
- A Bachelor’s degree in art, heritage, museum studies or another relevant humanities field is the normal minimum. Exceptional applicants may be considered through recognition of equivalent prior learning from work experience.
- Applicants must have 2–3 years of relevant experience and knowledge of contemporary art and heritage from Africa and its diaspora.
- Excellent writing and public-speaking skills, an interest or experience in an art-related career, and proficiency in English are required.
- There is no stated age cutoff. Selected fellows must participate full time in Cape Town for 12 months and obtain a student visa by December 2026.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · DR Congo
+ 43 more
Republic of the Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Western Sahara · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Experience required
2–3 yrs
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Review the current call and prepare all required documents in English or with English translations.
- 2Complete the online form before the deadline; only the first 100 applications are considered.
- 3Upload a one-page motivation letter, full CV, 250-word biography, critical writing sample of at least 1,000 words, recommendation letter, portrait, degree certificates and full academic transcripts.
- 4Wait for direct contact from the organisers; only successful applicants are notified.
Program timeline
7 April 2026
2027 cycle application period began.
Live online question-and-answer session.
11 June 2026
Application deadline.
30 June 2026
Successful applicants contacted.
3 August 2026
Full-time programme starts in Cape Town.
February 2027
Programme ends.
January 2028