Background and Context of the Sustainable African Futures Programme

About the WESAF Doctoral Programme

  • Recruitment is completely for a web based Masters by Research programme
  • There is not any affiliated funding for a WESAF doctoral programme related to this name

Programme Aims, Outcomes, and Innovations

Programme Aims

  • Equip rising African researchers and lecturers to have interaction critically with complicated sustainability challenges
  • Generate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable growth in Africa
  • Support the growth of African-led analysis methods with regional and international relevance
  • Strengthen analysis networks throughout African companion establishments

Expected Outcomes

  • Develop the capability to guide superior sustainability analysis inside their international locations of origin
  • Contribute to tutorial and utilized analysis environments addressing real-world sustainability issues
  • Become part of an built-in African analysis group, together with students from traditionally marginalised and underrepresented teams

Programme Innovations

  • Predominantly on-line programme supply mixed with in-person tutorial elements
  • Centralised tutorial supervision by the University of Edinburgh
  • Access to the broader Mastercard Foundation WESAF Fellows community

MSc by Research in Sustainable African Futures: Programme Details

Mode of Delivery

Programme Duration

  • Full-time solely
  • September 2026 to August 2027 (12 months)

Programme Structure

  • Three obligatory core programs
  • Two in-person Sustainability Schools
  • An impartial analysis dissertation of 18,000 phrases

Core Courses

  • Data Collection
  • Research Design
  • Dynamics of African Development

Dissertation

Indicative Programme Timeline

  • September 2026
    • Pre-orientation to postgraduate study
    • In-person Sustainability School at Wits University (roughly 5 days)
  • September – December 2026
    • Teaching Term 1
    • Data Collection (core course)
    • Two on-line micro-methods programs (non-credit)
  • January – March 2027
    • Teaching Term 2
    • Research Design (core course)
    • Dynamics of African Development (core course)
  • April / May 2027
    • Second in-person Sustainability School at Wits University (roughly 9 days)
    • Social and tutorial networking actions
  • April – August 2027
    • Teaching Term 3
    • Dissertation design and writing beneath tutorial supervision

Funding and Scholarship Coverage

Costs Covered

  • Full MSc by Research tuition charges
  • Participation in two in-person Sustainability Schools in Johannesburg, together with:
    • Return worldwide flights
    • Internal journey
    • Accommodation and subsistence
    • Visa application prices for South Africa
    • Required vaccinations
  • Workload aid or work expertise stipend for early profession researchers
  • Laptops and connectivity stipend the place applicable
  • Online entry to tutorial studying supplies and assets

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Requirements

  • Successful completion of a college diploma qualifying for entry right into a Masters programme at the University of Edinburgh
    (UK 2:1 Honours diploma or worldwide equal)

Institutional Affiliation

  • Recent graduates from one of the 14 companion universities OR
  • Actively concerned in analysis tasks at one of the companion universities OR
  • Staff members (together with lecturers, early profession researchers, or skilled providers employees) at one of the companion universities

Age Requirement

  • Applicants should be 35 years or youthful at programme graduation
  • For the 2026/27 consumption, candidates should be born on or after 1 January 1991

Nationality and Residency

  • Applicants should be a citizen, resident, or maintain refugee standing in an African nation, together with North Africa

Language Requirement

  • Applicants ought to show ample English language proficiency to succeed in postgraduate study
  • Limited assist could also be accessible for candidates barely under the required IELTS band

Partner Institutions

  1. Ain Shams University
  2. University of Dar es Salaam
  3. University of Ghana
  4. University of Ibadan
  5. University of Malawi
  6. University of Mauritius
  7. University of Rwanda
  8. University of the Witwatersrand
  9. University of the Free State
  10. Eduardo Mondlane University
  11. Makerere University
  12. Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar
  13. University of Namibia
  14. Moi University

Application Process

Application Period

  • Opens: 10 December 2025
  • Closes: 2 February 2026

Required Documents

  • Curriculum Vitae (together with publications, if relevant)
  • Final official diploma certificates
  • Final official tutorial transcript

Important Dates

  • Applications open: 10 December 2025
  • Application deadline: 2 February 2026
  • Programme begin date: September 2026