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RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships

Q: What funding does the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships offer?

Listed funding: Fully Funded. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

Last verified 17 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Africa-led, fully-funded PhD programme training the next generation of African scientists and innovators in applied science, engineering and technology at host universities across Africa, with sandwich placements at international partner institutions.

Provider: PASET / RSIF (hosted by icipe)
Host country: Africa
Deadline: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake
Region: Africa

Official source Track this application

Topics

Applying from your country? See your edition: Kenya · Nigeria · Ghana · Ethiopia · Uganda · Tanzania · Rwanda · Angola · Mozambique · São Tomé & Príncipe · Senegal · Cameroon · Ivory Coast · Benin · Togo · DR Congo

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply: Sub-Saharan African nationals under 35 (women under 40) with a relevant master's degree, applying to one of the RSIF African host universities in an applied science, engineering or technology field.
Funding: Fully Funded
Study level: PhD
Deadline: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake

Key eligibility criteria

Sub-Saharan African nationals under 35 (women under 40) with a relevant master's degree, applying to one of the RSIF African host universities in an applied science, engineering or technology field.

Recorded funding information

Fully Funded

About the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships (2026)

## Overview The Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) is the flagship doctoral scholarship and applied research fund of the Partnership for skills in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (PASET), an Africa-led initiative supported by African governments, the World Bank and other partners. RSIF funds African scientists and engineers to pursue full PhDs at carefully selected African host universities, with up to one year of "sandwich" placement at an international partner institution in Europe, North America or Asia, plus competitive innovation grants that turn doctoral research into deployable products and services. RSIF is hosted by the **International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)** in Nairobi as the Regional Coordination Unit. Unlike traditional scholarships that simply pay tuition, RSIF is a long-term ecosystem-building programme: it strengthens African PhD-granting universities, links them to global research networks, and explicitly funds the commercialisation of African research outputs. ## Benefits RSIF doctoral scholarships are **fully funded** and provide: * **Full tuition and university fees** at the African Host University for the duration of the PhD (typically three to four years). * **Monthly stipend** sufficient to cover accommodation, food and living expenses. * **Research budget** for fieldwork, laboratory consumables, equipment access and publications. * **Funded sandwich placement** of up to twelve months at an international partner research institution to access specialised facilities and supervisors. * **Round-trip airfare** for the international placement and for an annual return to the home country. * **Health, accident and travel insurance**. * **Conference and training allowance** for international scientific meetings. * **Eligibility for RSIF Innovation Grants** to translate doctoral research into commercial products, services or policy tools. * **Membership in the pan-African RSIF Scholars Network** with structured mentorship and career support. ## Eligibility * Be a **citizen of a sub-Saharan African country** that is a PASET participating country (most sub-Saharan African nations qualify; check the current call). * Hold a strong **master's degree** in a relevant applied science, engineering or technology field (typically upper second class or distinction). * Be normally **under 35 years of age** (women under 40) at the time of application. * Apply for a doctoral programme in one of RSIF's five priority thematic areas: * ICTs, including big data and artificial intelligence * Food security and agribusiness * Climate change * Energy, including renewables * Minerals, mining and materials engineering * Be willing to enrol at one of the RSIF African Host Universities for the full duration of the PhD. * Female candidates are **strongly encouraged**; RSIF has explicit gender-balance targets. * Demonstrate a commitment to returning to and working in sub-Saharan Africa after completing the programme. ## Application Process 1. Visit **rsif-paset.org** during an active call and review the participating African Host Universities and their accredited doctoral programmes in your thematic area. 2. Identify a host university and a supervisor whose research aligns with your interests; some hosts require a preliminary letter of support from the supervisor before applying. 3. Prepare your application: detailed CV, certified transcripts and degree certificates, a **research concept note** (typically four to six pages) aligned with one of the five RSIF themes, motivation letter, two academic reference letters, passport copy and proof of nationality. 4. Submit your application through the RSIF online portal before the published deadline. Applications submitted outside the portal or after the deadline are not considered. 5. Shortlisted candidates undergo a technical and interview evaluation by RSIF's scientific panel and the host university. 6. Successful candidates receive an offer of admission and scholarship, sign the RSIF scholar agreement, and enrol with their host university. ## Deadlines RSIF runs **annual cohort calls**, typically opening in the **first quarter of the year** (January–April) and closing within six to eight weeks. Cohort sizes have grown steadily as the fund expands, and selected scholars start their PhD in the following academic year. Applicants should monitor rsif-paset.org and the websites of the participating Host Universities from January onwards each year. ## Why this scholarship matters For African master's graduates aiming for a research career on the continent, RSIF is one of the most strategic doctoral fellowships available: it pays competitively, gives access to specialised international facilities through the sandwich placement, and — uniquely among major African PhD scholarships — funds the commercialisation of research outputs through follow-on innovation grants. It is particularly strong for applied scientists and engineers who want to remain rooted in Africa while building a globally competitive research profile.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

Fully Funded

RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships eligibility

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

Sub-Saharan African nationals under 35 (women under 40) with a relevant master's degree, applying to one of the RSIF African host universities in an applied science, engineering or technology field.

RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

How to apply for the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships 2026

Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

1
Check the provider's process
Consult https://www.rsif-paset.org/grants-scholarships/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.
2
Check eligibility and any requested materials
Listed eligibility: Sub-Saharan African nationals under 35 (women under 40) with a relevant master's degree, applying to one of the RSIF African host universities in an applied science, engineering or technology field.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.
3
Check dates and next steps
Listed deadline information: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships deadline & application timeline

Provider deadline information: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake. This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

Planning suggestion: 12 months out
Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.
Planning suggestion: 6 months out
If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.
Planning suggestion: 3 months out
If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.
Planning suggestion: 1 month out
If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.
Provider deadline
To be confirmed for the 2027 intake
Provider deadline information: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake. Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

Ready to apply?

Cross-check the latest eligibility rules and deadline on the sponsor's official portal before you start your application.

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Editorial verification note

Sixth (most recent) Call for PhD Scholarships closed 16 Sept 2024. No seventh call announced yet as of May 2026. Applications open via apply.rsif-paset.org. Eligibility: sub-Saharan African nationals, Masters completed <6 years ago, in PASET priority thematic areas (ICT/AI, food security, mining, energy, climate change).

Last checked 5/17/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships?+

Sub-Saharan African nationals under 35 (women under 40) with a relevant master's degree, applying to one of the RSIF African host universities in an applied science, engineering or technology field.

What funding does the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships offer?+

Listed funding: Fully Funded. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

When is the application deadline?+

Provider deadline information: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake. Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

What documents do I need to apply?+

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

How do I check the application process?+

Consult https://www.rsif-paset.org/grants-scholarships/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: Sub-Saharan African nationals under 35 (women under 40) with a relevant master's degree, applying to one of the RSIF African host universities in an applied science, engineering or technology field.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: To be confirmed for the 2027 intake. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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