Fellowships

Harry Frank Guggenheim African Fellow Awards 2027: $10,000 Research Grants

Organization: Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Funding type: Fully Funded Deadline: Mar 1, 2027

About this opportunity

The Harry Frank Guggenheim African Fellow Awards support doctoral researchers investigating violence in Africa or issues directly connected to the continent. The programme combines research funding with mentorship and support for developing and publishing scholarly work.

Applications are scheduled to open on 1 February 2027 and close on 1 March 2027. The official application portal confirms these dates. As of 13 October 2026, the application form is not yet open, although you can create an account. Official application portal.

Some details differ between HFG’s webpage and its linked guidelines. The relevant differences are explained below.

Award value and benefits

The fellowship lasts two years and includes:

A $10,000 fieldwork research grant.
An in-person research methods workshop in Africa.
Mentorship from experienced African and Africanist scholars.
Sponsorship to present findings at an international conference.
A writing workshop and editorial support for preparing research for publication. Award benefits.

The linked guidelines specify that the $10,000 grant covers the two-year period; it is not an annual payment. Funding guidelines.

Number of awards available

HFG normally selects approximately a dozen fellows every two years. This is an approximate cohort size, rather than a guaranteed number of awards for 2027. Official programme information.

Eligibility criteria

According to the current programme webpage, you must:

Be 45 years old or younger.
Be enrolled in an accredited Ph.D. programme at an African higher-education institution.
Be living in Africa.

Applicants may be citizens of any country. Current eligibility criteria.

Eligibility clarification: The PDF linked from that page gives different criteria: an age limit of 40 and citizenship of an African country. If this difference affects your eligibility, confirm the applicable 2027 rules with info@hfg.org before submitting. Linked guidelines.

Eligible research areas

Proposals may come from the social sciences, natural sciences or related disciplines. Your research must directly concern Africa and contribute to understanding violence.

Relevant topics include:

Armed conflict and war.
Crime and terrorism.
Violence within families and intimate relationships.
Conflict involving climate pressures or competition for resources.
Racial, ethnic or religious conflict.
Political extremism and nationalism.

Historical research should explain its relevance to contemporary violence. Research on the consequences of violence should show how those consequences could contribute to further violence. Research priorities.

HFG’s applicant advice defines its focus as physical violence. A proposal concerned only with symbolic or structural violence would fall outside that stated focus. Make the connection between your research question and physical violence clear. HFG’s research guidance.

Application materials to prepare

The currently linked guidelines request:

Project details and an abstract.
A completed budget worksheet and separate justification.
A CV of no more than two pages.
A passport or government-issued ID showing age and nationality.
A research plan of 10–15 double-spaced pages, excluding references.
Disclosure of other research funding received or requested.
An explanation of protections for human participants or animals, where applicable.
An academic advisor’s reference letter.
An electronic signature.

Use this as a preparation checklist and recheck the 2027 form when it opens, particularly because the linked PDF contains eligibility information that differs from the webpage. Application guidelines.

How to apply

Review the programme requirements.
Check your eligibility and whether your research addresses HFG’s priorities.
Create an account or sign in.
Visit the official HFG application portal. Account registration is available before the application window opens.
Access the African Fellows application when available.
The portal currently schedules access from 1 February 2027.
Complete the form and upload your materials.
Follow the live form’s requirements and check that your budget matches your proposed research.
Arrange your advisor’s reference.
The linked guidance instructs your advisor to upload the letter directly through the online system by 1 March.
Submit before the deadline.
Review the complete application and ensure the required reference has been submitted. Submission guidance.

Application deadline

1 March 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

The application portal specifies the 2027 closing date, while the programme webpage provides the closing time.

Opening-date clarification: The dated portal lists 1 February 2027. The programme webpage gives a general 1 December opening, while the linked PDF says 1 January. This post uses the portal’s explicitly dated 2027 schedule.

Selection process

HFG’s guidance emphasises a clear research question, relevance to violence, an appropriate research design and a convincing explanation of what the findings could contribute.

Write for reviewers beyond your own discipline. Explain your methods, demonstrate familiarity with relevant research and show that you can access the people, locations or evidence needed for the project. Advice for applicants.

The Board of Directors makes final decisions, and applicants receive notification by email. A confirmed decision date specifically for the 2027 cycle is not published on the current programme page. Selection information.