PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Governance for Development in Africa at the University of London 2025

The Governance for Development in Africa Initiative (GDAI), supported by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation through the Centre of African Studies at SOAS University of London, invites applications for a PhD scholarship dedicated to advancing research on governance in Africa. This prestigious scholarship aims to support African students pursuing research on public sector governance, state capacities, and developmental policy.

The scholarship prioritizes doctoral research projects that explore essential aspects of governance and state functions, such as:

Public sector governance and bureaucratic effectiveness
Political settlements and state-business relations

Governance of state-owned enterprises
Design and implementation of developmental policies

Eligible Fields

This scholarship is open to applicants from specific academic fields, including:

Development Studies
Law
Economics

International Relations and Politics
Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD)
Department for Financial and Management Studies (DEFIMS)

Centre for Financial and Management Studies (CEFIMS, including DEFIMS for distance learning)

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, applicants must:

Be African nationals.

Hold an unconditional offer for a PhD program in one of the eligible departments at SOAS, University of London.

Selection Criteria

Selection is based on academic merit, with candidates evaluated by a panel of SOAS academic members. The panel reviews applications for both academic excellence and relevance to governance and development in Africa.

Benefits of the Scholarship

The scholarship includes full tuition coverage for the PhD program at SOAS, as well as a maintenance stipend for the duration of the program.

How To Apply

Noted that the application deadline is 31 March 2025

Interested candidates should ensure they complete the following steps on or before the deadline:

Obtain an unconditional offer letter for the PhD program at SOAS.

Prepare a CV (with an active email address).
Write a two-page statement outlining their interest and understanding of governance-related issues.
Submit a research proposal (as submitted to SOAS).