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African Humanities Program

Last verified 15 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Heads up — this listing may be outdated. The dates and details below reference a year that has already passed and our editorial team has not re-verified this scholarship is still open. Always confirm the current intake on the sponsor's official website via the button below before you invest time in an application.

The African Humanities Program (AHP) funded early-career scholars in the humanities in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. It supported research, knowledge production, and scholarly networks. The program is no longer active, but its successor, the African Humanities Association, continues its legacy.

Provider
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
Host country
Multiple
Region
Africa
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Topics

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

African Humanities Program is open to African students applying to study in Multiple at the Postdoc level, with fully funded funding. Below is a quick summary of who can apply, what's covered, and the key dates — full details are further down the page.

Who can apply
Postdoc · applicants for Multiple
Funding
Fully Funded
Study level
Postdoc
Deadline

Key eligibility criteria

  • Early-career scholars working and living in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda were eligible. The program operated from 2009-2022, with its final competition in 2021-2022.

What the fully funded award covers

  • Full tuition
  • Monthly stipend
  • Accommodation
  • Return airfare

About the African Humanities Program (2026)

## Overview The African Humanities Program (AHP), established in 2008 with the support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, aimed to revitalize the humanities in select African nations. The program provided fellowships to nearly 500 early-career scholars between 2009 and 2022, focusing on Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. ACLS designed AHP to foster new knowledge, strengthen the capabilities of emerging academics at African universities, and build robust scholarly communication networks across Africa and with global Africanist communities. While the AHP itself concluded its operations with the last cohort of Fellows in 2023, its momentum and legacy are carried forward by the African Humanities Association (AHA). The AHA, founded by AHP Fellows, assessors, and advisors, was formally established in 2020. It envisions a future where humanities, social science, and arts scholars in Africa are confident, self-referring, and respected for their engagement with the continent's multifaceted challenges. ACLS continues to partner with AHA to support scholar development and capacity building in the region. ## Benefits The AHP provided a comprehensive suite of benefits designed to support and advance early-career humanities scholars: * **Financial Support:** Fully funded fellowships to enable dedicated research and knowledge production. * **Networking Opportunities:** Extensive opportunities to connect with scholars within their home countries, across Africa, and internationally. * **Research Residencies:** Access to affiliated African humanities centers and institutes for advanced study, allowing Fellows to conduct research outside their primary institutions. * **Manuscript Development Workshops:** Intensive, week-long retreats for Fellows to refine their manuscripts with mentors and peers after completing their fellowship tenures. * **Publication Support:** Subvention, developmental editing, and peer review services through the African Humanities Series, facilitating the publication of Fellows' monographs on African histories, languages, literatures, and cultures. * **Knowledge Exchange:** Participation in annual Regional Assemblies for sharing research, networking, and assessing humanities scholarship. * **International Exposure:** Opportunities for selected AHP Fellows to attend the African Studies Association (ASA) Annual Meeting in the United States as ASA Presidential Fellows. * **Visibility:** Features in the "African Humanities Voices" video series, showcasing the work and stories of African scholars. ## Eligibility The African Humanities Program was open to early-career scholars who were working and living in the following five African countries: * Ghana * Nigeria * South Africa * Tanzania * Uganda Applicants were expected to be engaged in humanities research and committed to contributing to scholarly discourse in Africa. The final competition for this program took place in 2021-2022, and the last cohort completed their fellowships in 2023. ## Required Documents The provided information does not detail the specific required documents for the African Humanities Program. However, typical requirements for similar academic fellowships often include: * Detailed research proposal * Curriculum Vitae (CV) * Academic transcripts * Letters of recommendation * Writing samples ## How to Apply The African Humanities Program is no longer accepting applications, as the final competition concluded in 2021-2022, and the program officially ended in 2023. Interested individuals are encouraged to explore opportunities with the successor organization, the African Humanities Association (AHA), for future scholarly support and development initiatives in the humanities across Africa. ## Key Dates * **Program Inception:** 2008 * **Fellowship Awards Began:** 2009 * **Last Competition:** 2021-2022 * **Program Concluded:** 2023 (last cohort completed tenures) * **African Humanities Association (AHA) Establishment:** February 2020 ## Selection Criteria Specific selection criteria for the AHP are not explicitly detailed on the provided page. However, based on the program's goals, it can be inferred that candidates were selected based on: * The quality and originality of their proposed humanities research projects. * Their potential to contribute new knowledge and innovative approaches to their fields. * Their commitment to scholarship and their academic background as early-career scholars. * The relevance of their work to the growth and reinvigoration of the humanities in Africa. * Their capacity to engage in and contribute to scholarly networks. ## Tips Although the AHP is no longer active, aspiring scholars in the humanities in Africa can draw insights from its legacy: * **Network Actively:** Engage with scholarly communities, participate in conferences, and build connections with established academics. * **Focus on Research Quality:** Develop original, well-researched, and impactful projects that contribute significantly to your field. * **Seek Mentorship:** Identify and connect with mentors who can guide your academic and professional development. * **Explore Publication Opportunities:** Aim to publish your research in reputable journals or as monographs. * **Stay Informed:** Follow the activities of organizations like the African Humanities Association (AHA) and the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) for new programs and opportunities. ## Official Source [https://www.acls.org/competitions/african-humanities-program/](https://www.acls.org/competitions/african-humanities-program/)

What the Fully Funded African Humanities Program covers

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

  • Full tuition
  • Monthly stipend
  • Accommodation
  • Return airfare

African Humanities Program eligibility for Multiple applicants

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

  • Early-career scholars working and living in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda were eligible. The program operated from 2009-2022, with its final competition in 2021-2022.

Documents required for the African Humanities Program application

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

  • Valid international passport (bio page scan)
  • Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
  • Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
  • Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
  • Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
  • Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
  • Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
  • Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
  • Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply for the African Humanities Program 2026

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

  1. 1
    Confirm eligibility on the official site

    Open https://www.acls.org/competitions/african-humanities-program/ and verify your country, level of study and English-language status against the current call. Sponsor rules change between intakes — never rely on third-party summaries alone.

  2. 2
    Secure a study place or admission offer

    Apply to the host university or programme first where required, and obtain a conditional admission letter. A growing number of sponsors only fund applicants who already hold an offer.

  3. 3
    Sit required tests and gather documents

    Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.

  4. 4
    Draft your essays and statements

    Write a 500–1,000-word personal statement and any additional essays the sponsor specifies. Anchor each essay in concrete examples and tie your goals back to the sponsor's mission.

  5. 5
    Complete the online application

    Create an account on https://www.acls.org/competitions/african-humanities-program/, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.

  6. 6
    Submit at least one week before the deadline

    Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

  7. 7
    Prepare for shortlist interviews

    If shortlisted, American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

African Humanities Program deadline & application timeline

The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.

  1. 12 months out

    Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.

  2. 6 months out

    Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.

  3. 3 months out

    Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.

  4. 1 month out

    Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.

  5. Application deadline

    Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the African Humanities Program?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Postdoc level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), and be able to relocate to the host country for the duration of the programme.

Is the African Humanities Program fully funded?+

Funding model: Fully Funded. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is . Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.

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