The Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) has opened applications for the 2025/26 Research Development Fellowship (RDF).
This program helps young African researchers in health fields to improve their skills, work with top experts, and gain research experience outside their home countries.
The main aim is to help African scientists grow their careers and lead their own research projects in the future.
The fellowship allows researchers to spend 3 to 9 months at a top research center in Europe, Africa, or the UK. It also comes with full financial support—so if you get selected, your travel, living costs, and research tools are all paid for.
Summary of Research Development Fellowship 2025/26
| Feature | Details |
| Organizer | Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) |
| Program Name | Research Development Fellowship (RDF) 2025/26 |
| Funding Amount | Up to £47,000 |
| Fellowship Duration | 3 to 9 months |
| Host Locations | UK, Europe, or African research institutions |
| Eligibility | African nationals with up to 5 years post-PhD experience |
| Field of Research | Health research |
| Support Provided | Travel, accommodation, research expenses, and basic living costs |
| Application Deadline | June 27, 2025 |
| Application Website | https://programmes.aref-africa.org.uk/login.aspx |
Eligibility: Who Can Apply?
To apply for this fellowship, you must:
- Be a citizen of an African country.
- Be working in a university or research center in Africa.
- Have a PhD (or be close to finishing it) with no more than 5 years of experience in research.
- Focus on health research (like disease control, public health, or medical sciences).
- Be ready to learn, grow, and share knowledge.
Benefits: What Does the Fellowship Cover?
If you are selected, this fellowship will cover:
- Flight tickets to and from your host country.
- Living expenses like food, rent, and transport.
- Research tools and materials needed during your stay.
- Training costs for special research skills or equipment.
- Visa and travel insurance.
How to Apply
Here are the steps to follow:
Visit the official website: Go to https://programmes.aref-africa.org.uk/login.aspx
Register if you are new, but if you already have an account, log in with your email and password
Prepare your documents, including:
A personal development plan
A research proposal
Letters of support from your current (home) institution and the host institution where you want to train
Submit your application before June 27, 2025.
The AREF Research Development Fellowship is a great chance for young African health researchers to learn from international experts and grow their careers. To know more, click on the website page here.
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