The Urban Studies Foundation (USF) proudly announces the selection of its 2025–2026 cohort of International Fellows. This year’s group of scholars, based across Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and South Africa, will embark on innovative research that deepens critical conversations around how cities are imagined, governed, and lived. The USF International Fellowship provides early-to-mid-career scholars from the Global South with the dedicated time, institutional support, and international exposure necessary to advance their research and expand global collaboration. The programme aims to strengthen scholarly outputs, build networks of knowledge exchange, and elevate new perspectives on pressing urban challenges. Through this fellowship, USF continues to reaffirm its commitment to advancing inclusive, globally-engaged, and interdisciplinary urban studies. The 2025–2026 International Fellows will explore complex themes such as housing financialisation, waste and circular urbanism, water infrastructure, youth aspirations, more-than-human urbanism, postcolonial politics, participatory upgrading, urban storytelling, and urban imaginaries. Collectively, their work highlights the diverse and interconnected realities shaping cities across the Global South. The selected Fellows are: Dr Richard Apatewen Azerigyik, Koforidua Technical University, Ghana Dr Michael Gameli Dziwornu, Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, Ghana Dr Raina Ghosh, Digital Empowerment Foundation, India Dr Galuh Syahbana Indraprahasta, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia Dr Lazarus Jambadu, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana Dr Mukta Naik Dr Maria Raquel Passos Lima, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Dr Gustavo Prieto, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil Dr Solam Mkhabela, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Each Fellow will be hosted by a leading international institution, with host partners spanning Denmark, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These host institutions will provide mentorship, academic community, and opportunities for meaningful knowledge exchange, ensuring that each Fellow’s research resonates across disciplines and geographies. The Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to the partner universities and research centres whose collaboration makes this initiative possible. Their support enables scholars from the Global South to engage in transformative research that bridges regional contexts with global debates. USF also expresses deep gratitude to the mentors supporting this year’s cohort. The 2025–2026 mentors include Prof. Marie Huchzermeyer, Prof. Tim Bunnell, Dr Aidan Mosselson, Prof. Rivke Jaffe, Dr Marie Kolling, Prof. Wilbard Kombe, Prof. Stephen Walker, and Dr Anant Maringanti. Their collective expertise spans urban political ecology, housing and infrastructure policy, decolonial and cultural urbanism, and critical geography. The mentors’ dedication to collaborative learning and cross-regional dialogue will play a vital role in shaping the Fellows’ academic journeys. Notably, this year’s mentorship team includes two former USF grant holders—one of whom is a past International Fellow—and three former mentors who have chosen to continue supporting the programme. This continuity reflects the strength and collegial spirit of the USF community, where mentorship, collaboration, and shared learning form the foundation of sustained research excellence. Since its establishment, the Urban Studies Foundation has sought to foster a more equitable and globally connected field of urban research. By prioritising scholars and contexts that have historically been underrepresented in global academic discourse, USF aims to expand the horizons of urban theory and practice. The International Fellowship programme exemplifies this mission by equipping emerging scholars with the tools, partnerships, and resources needed to conduct impactful research on urban transformations. The USF International Fellowship scheme will reopen for applications in early 2026. Prospective candidates are encouraged to review last year’s application materials on the USF website to begin preparing strong proposals. The Foundation welcomes applications from early-to-mid-career scholars from the Global South whose research demonstrates intellectual rigour, innovation, and potential for global impact. For updates on future calls, events, and funding opportunities, interested applicants are invited to subscribe to the USF mailing list or follow the Foundation on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Instagram. Reflecting on the value of the Fellowship, former awardee Dr Ruth Massey described it as “an excellent opportunity to further my career as an urban geographer. Having dedicated time away from everyday university responsibilities allowed me to make progress on my writing and develop the proposal for my monograph.” Her experience captures the essence of the USF International Fellowship — a space for intellectual growth, collaboration, and transformative research on cities worldwide. The Urban Studies Foundation remains committed to nurturing academic excellence, amplifying diverse voices, and building a more inclusive global urban studies community. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the funding entity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.