The University of Cape Town (UCT) has announced a major doctoral training opportunity through the Africa Climate Collaborative, offering up to 12 fully funded four-year PhD fellowships in Climate and Development. The Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) is designed to support emerging African researchers and future leaders working on climate change and development challenges. The programme will begin in 2027 and combines structured pre-doctoral coursework with three years of doctoral research. Each fellowship is valued at R390,000 per year, covering a stipend and fees as well as additional support for relocation, medical insurance, research and other eligible costs. Africa Climate Collaborative Doctoral Training Programme The Africa Climate Collaborative is a partnership involving the universities of Cape Town, Cambridge, Ghana and Makerere, together with the Mastercard Foundation. Its broader objective is to develop a strong pipeline of African researchers, scientists, entrepreneurs and thought leaders capable of contributing to green and climate-resilient development across the continent. At UCT, the initiative is hosted by the African Climate & Development Initiative (ACDI). The new Doctoral Training Programme in Climate and Development will follow a structured model in which students spend their first year undertaking pre-doctoral coursework while developing and defending their PhD proposals. Students who successfully complete the first stage will progress to the research phase of their doctoral studies. The programme is intended to provide students with not only advanced research training but also professional and transferable skills relevant to academic, policy and industry careers. 12 Fully Funded Four-Year PhD Fellowships The Africa Climate Collaborative will award up to 12 four-year fellowships per year to students participating in the Doctoral Training Programme. For the 2027 cohort, each fellowship is valued at R390,000 annually. This includes R315,000 for stipend and fees, while up to R75,000 may support relocation, medical insurance, research and other costs. The fellowship value is expected to increase by approximately 2–4% annually, depending on exchange rates and inflation. The programme therefore provides substantial financial support throughout the four-year doctoral journey. Climate and Development Research Focus The PhD programme is aimed at researchers seeking to address climate and development challenges through original, independent research. According to the programme materials, prospective PhD topics should be relevant to climate and development scholarship in Africa and should be needs-driven or problem-driven. Proposed research should have direct relevance to one or more non-academic audiences. Interdisciplinary research is particularly encouraged, with potential topics spanning areas such as social sciences and humanities, natural and physical sciences, economics, finance and business, law, health sciences and engineering. The programme also values collaboration with non-academic partners, which can contribute to ensuring that doctoral research responds to real-world challenges. Four-Year PhD Structure The doctoral programme consists of four distinct stages. Year 1 focuses on pre-doctoral training. Students register for the PhD and complete three credit-bearing courses, including Foundations of Doctoral Research and Practice, Climate and Development: Theory, Evidence, and Debates, and a relevant specialisation elective. Students also develop their research proposals and must successfully defend their proposals before progressing. Year 2 focuses primarily on data generation and collection. Depending on their research, students may undertake fieldwork, laboratory experiments, surveys or dataset acquisition. Year 3 concentrates on data analysis and initial academic writing. Students receive training in areas such as science communication and scientific paper writing while developing their research chapters. Year 4 is dedicated to completing the thesis, examination and preparation for the transition into post-PhD employment or further academic opportunities. Students are also expected to work on journal articles and career development. Training Beyond the PhD Thesis A major feature of the programme is its emphasis on skills beyond traditional doctoral research. Students will have opportunities to develop competencies in science communication, knowledge brokering, scientific writing, journal publishing, career development and grant proposal writing. The programme also includes activities such as journal clubs, research group meetings, seminars, writing retreats, conferences and regular progress assessments. This structured approach is intended to help students develop into well-rounded researchers who can communicate evidence and contribute to policy and practice. How the PhD Recruitment Process Works The fellowship recruitment process takes place in several stages. First, prospective UCT supervisors propose research topics they would be interested in supervising. Topics are then assessed according to their alignment with the Africa Climate Collaborative’s mission. Selected topics are subsequently advertised externally through a single application call. Prospective students can apply for up to three topics. Successful candidates must also meet UCT’s PhD admission requirements before being supported through the university admission process. This means prospective students should monitor the programme’s future topic advertisements rather than assuming that applications are submitted directly for a general, unrestricted PhD fellowship. Current Call for PhD Topic Proposals The uploaded call is specifically inviting prospective supervisors to submit PhD topic proposals for consideration by the DTP fellowship committee. At least two supervisors are required for a proposed topic, with one serving as the nominated primary supervisor. The primary supervisor must be eligible to supervise a PhD within a UCT academic department for the duration of the programme. Topics must address climate and development in Africa and demonstrate a needs-driven or problem-driven research focus. The topic submission requires information including the lead supervisor’s details, topic title, Head of Department confirmation, co-supervisor information, collaborator details and a description of the research background, aims, relevance and problem-driven nature of the proposed research. Application Deadline The current call for PhD topic proposals closes on 19 August 2026, with outcome notification scheduled for 26 August 2026. The eventual student recruitment process will follow after suitable topics have been selected and advertised externally. Why This Opportunity Matters The UCT Doctoral Training Programme offers a structured pathway for developing advanced research expertise around some of Africa’s most pressing climate and development challenges. By combining a four-year funded PhD with coursework, research training, interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific communication and career development, the programme seeks to prepare researchers capable of generating evidence that can influence policy, practice and sustainable development. The programme is also part of a broader UCT initiative supported by a US$35 million Mastercard Foundation grant, which includes funding for six cohorts of 12 PhD students, each receiving a full scholarship for four years of study. Final Takeaway The Africa Climate Collaborative Doctoral Training Programme in Climate and Development at the University of Cape Town represents a significant investment in doctoral research capacity focused on Africa’s climate and development priorities. Up to 12 students per cohort are expected to receive four-year fellowships valued at R390,000 per year, alongside structured doctoral training and professional development. At present, the call is directed at prospective supervisors submitting PhD research topics, with the deadline set for 19 August 2026. Prospective PhD candidates should watch for the subsequent external call when selected research topics are advertised. LEARN MORE HERE For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities is not the organisation offering these fellowships. Applicants and prospective supervisors should verify all requirements, deadlines, application procedures and funding conditions directly with the University of Cape Town and the Africa Climate Collaborative before taking action. Information may change, and applicants are responsible for confirming the latest official information. JOIN GSO WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW