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RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships

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
6th Call: 16 September 2024 (closed). 7th Call not yet announced as of May 2026.
Region
Africa
Official source

Topics

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships is open to African students applying to study in Africa at the PhD 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
PhD · applicants for Africa
Funding
Fully Funded
Study level
PhD
Deadline
6th Call: 16 September 2024 (closed). 7th Call not yet announced as of May 2026.

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.

What the fully funded award covers

  • Full tuition
  • Monthly stipend
  • Accommodation
  • Return airfare
  • Research/thesis support

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.

What the Fully Funded RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships 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
  • Research/thesis support

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

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.

Documents required for the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships 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
  • Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
  • Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
  • 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 RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships 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.rsif-paset.org/grants-scholarships/ and verify the sponsor's stated criteria match your profile — currently: "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.". Sponsor rules change between intakes, so always confirm against the live call.

  2. 2
    Secure a study place or admission offer

    Identify a supervisor whose research aligns with yours, exchange emails, and either obtain a conditional offer or confirmation that they will host your project. Many PASET / RSIF (hosted by icipe) awards require this before the funding application opens.

  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 focused 1,000–2,000-word research proposal and a separate personal statement. Tailor every paragraph to the sponsor's stated priorities — generic recycled essays are the most common reason strong applicants are rejected.

  5. 5
    Complete the online application

    Create an account on https://www.rsif-paset.org/grants-scholarships/, 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 by 6th Call: 16 September 2024 (closed). 7th Call not yet announced as of May 2026. (aim 7 days early)

    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, PASET / RSIF (hosted by icipe) 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.

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

Ready to apply?

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

Visit official site

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?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the PhD level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by PASET / RSIF (hosted by icipe), and be able to relocate to Africa for the duration of the programme.

Is the RSIF (PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund) PhD Scholarships 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 6th Call: 16 September 2024 (closed). 7th Call not yet announced as of May 2026.. 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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