African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) PhD Scholarships

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), founded in 1988 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, runs PhD Scholarships under its Collaborative PhD Programme (CPP) for the 2026/2027 academic cycle. The scheme supports candidates from both Anglophone and Francophone sub-Saharan African countries who want to pursue a doctorate in Economics or Agricultural Economics at one of AERC's participating universities. Its aim is to build a pool of locally based economics professionals who can strengthen policy research and graduate training across the region. The programme awards multiple scholarships each cycle and links students into a network of at least 9 host universities across 7 African countries, including the University of Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Dar es Salaam, the University of Nairobi, the University of Ibadan, the University of Benin, the University of Yaounde II, the University of Abomey-Calavi, and Felix Houphouet-Boigny University. To be considered, applicants must already hold admission to a participating university, a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) bachelor's degree, and a relevant Master's degree with both coursework and a thesis. Female applicants and those from post-conflict and fragile states are especially encouraged. AERC does not publish a single fixed scholarship value, so confirm the exact current-cycle award amounts, covered items, and the closing date on the official AERC website before you apply.

What's covered

• Tuition fees — Coverage of PhD tuition at the participating university for the standard programme duration; AERC does not publish a fixed figure, so confirm the exact tuition coverage on the official page.
• Stipend / living support — A maintenance stipend toward living costs during the doctoral programme; the exact monthly amount is set per cycle and is estimated at around ~US$1,000 (est.) per month, subject to confirmation on the official page.
• Research support — Support for thesis research and supervision through AERC's Collaborative PhD Programme network of African universities.
• Academic resources — Access to AERC research resources, seminars, and the consortium's policy-research and graduate-training infrastructure across participating institutions.
• Programme placement — Placement within one of 9+ participating universities offering the recognised Collaborative PhD Programme in Economics or Agricultural Economics.

How to apply

Application is a two-stage process: gain admission to a participating university, then submit the scholarship documents to AERC.

1. Apply to a participating university — Apply directly for admission to the PhD programme at one of AERC's participating universities, following that university's official application procedure.
2. Obtain your admission offer — Secure an offer of admission, which is required before AERC will consider your scholarship application.
3. Submit documents via the AERC portal — Once admitted, submit your scholarship application through the AERC channel, including an application cover letter, CV, proof of admission, and certified academic records.
4. Meet the deadline — Submit a complete application before the published deadline; the most recent cycle closed on 31 August, with the equivalent date expected for the 2026/2027 cycle.