AfOx Visiting Fellowship Programme
The AfOx Visiting Fellowship Programme is designed to allow exceptional African researchers to build international networks and focus on a project of their choice in collaboration with Oxford-based scholars.
Fellows will be affiliated with the University of Oxford for 12 months, including ten months of virtual engagement and a two month in-person visit to Oxford between April to June(Trinity term). During the Fellowship, AfOx Fellows are associated with a Department and a College within the University.
To apply for a fellowship, all applicants must have an Oxford-based researcher named as their collaborator on their application. Further information for applicants and Oxford researchers can be found in our guide for fellowship applicants, and our guide for collaborators.
AfOx fellowships are open to all disciplines across all the University departments. We welcome applications from all academic disciplines and strongly encourage applications from female and underrepresented researchers.
AfOx fellows have developed long-term partnerships with colleagues in Oxford, which have led to significant research outcomes, including joint publications, new research projects, breakthroughs in engagement with African policy-makers and substantial research funding. Through the programme, African scholars have made significant contributions to the intellectual and social life of Oxford while simultaneously gaining opportunities for accessing the range of resources, knowledge and expertise in the University. Click here to read more our fellows.
Applications are now closed.
About the Fellowship Programme
AfOx Visiting Fellowship Partners:
A number of the AfOx fellowships are offered in collaboration with key partners at the University of Oxford. These include TORCH, Oxford Department for International Development, The Law Faculty, The Mathematical Institute, The Refugee Studies Centre, the African Studies Centre, Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Corpus Classical Fellowship and Improving Equitable Access to Healthcare.
This AfOx Mathematics fellowship aims to connect a research-active mathematician based at an African institution to faculty based at the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford.
The Mathematical Institute is one of the leading mathematics departments in the world, with strengths in research across the spectrum of fundamental and applied mathematics. It holds a silver Athena Swan award to recognise advancement of gender equality, and aims to provide an inclusive environment in which all can thrive and achieve their full potential.
Applications are open to researchers with existing research interests compatible with those of the Mathematical Institute current faculty. Applicants must clearly state which one of the Mathematical Institute research groups you feel is closest to your work. While in Oxford the AfOx Mathematics Fellow will work with faculty within the Institute and across other disciplines where appropriate, to develop research ideas, projects and events. This can include research papers, ideas for co-led projects, future joint research developments.
The AfOx Mathematics Fellow will be welcomed into the research community at the Institute and supported to develop longer-term research connections.
ODID is the focus at Oxford for research on developing countries and emerging economies, and on their relationship with the rest of the world. The department’s four key research groups – the Refugee Studies Centre, Young Lives, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative and the Technology and Management Centre for Development – are at the forefront of their fields.
ODID draws on its unique strengths – the exceptional range and depth of disciplinary and regional expertise and extensive connections to networks across the Global South – to generate academically rigorous research into the underlying structures and overarching processes of development. Drawing on this deep scholarship, ODID researchers seek to forge new ways of thinking about development that can help improve the lives of ordinary people, whether by informing policy at the highest level or by changing practice on the ground.
The AfOx-Law fellowships target academics holding a full-time position at an African academic institution. The fellowships are aimed at academics with a clearly defined research agenda, the pursuit of which would be enhanced by spending time visiting Oxford as an AfOx fellow. In line with the ordinary requirements for AfOx visiting fellowships, applicants will have to identify an Oxford-based researcher as a collaborator.
Oxford University’s African Studies Centre is one of the world’s leading centres of African Studies. With particular strengths in the Social Sciences and the Humanities, the Centre enjoys a reputation for high quality, relevant research that plays a leading role in academic debates as well as public policy. Read more about the African Studies Centre here.
The AfOx-ASC fellowship provides opportunities for Africa-based scholars to spend time away from teaching and other obligations with the benefit of using the vast resources available in Oxford University for research, writing, mentoring in collaboration with an Oxford-based scholar.
The fellows are expected to make a presentation of the draft work during or at the end of the fellowship at a ‘writing workshop’ where Oxford-based scholars will provide critical feedback for publication. Applications are encouraged from candidates in every region of Africa.
Launched in May 2013, The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) provides an important opportunity for Oxford’s humanities scholars to collaborate with researchers across other disciplines and institutions and develop partnerships with public and private institutions. In seeking to connect Oxford researchers with other organisations globally, TORCH supports Fellowships that brings researchers from abroad to Oxford. Read more about TORCH here.
Applications are open to researchers with interdisciplinary projects from a broad range of research areas in the Humanities. The Fellow will be based in Oxford during Trinity term and work with Oxford researchers in the Humanities, and across other disciplines where appropriate, to develop research ideas, projects and events. This can include research papers, ideas for co-led projects, and future joint research developments in the area of humanities. Examples of areas of priority are research related to environmental humanities, medical humanities, intersectional humanities, race and resistance, digital humanities, performance, cultural heritage, history, languages, religion.
The Fellow will be welcomed into the Oxford community at TORCH and supported as part of the research community during their fellowship, with a view to develop a longer-term research connection.
The Refugee Studies Centre (RSC) undertakes research, teaching, and outreach relating to Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. It supports multidisciplinary, independent and critical scholarship on the causes, consequences, and responses to, forced displacement. It has a particular focus on Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, supports students and scholars with lived experience of displacement. The Centre seeks to engage with policy and practice, locally, nationally, and globally.
Applications are open to researchers who undertake independent, multidisciplinary, academic research on the causes, consequences, and responses to forced migration. We particularly welcome applications which challenge common assumptions and understandings related to forced migration, with important implications for public debate, policy, and practice. Scholars at the Refugee Studies Centre work cross a range of disciplines, including anthropology, economics, geography, history, law, politics, and international relations.
Launched in 2003, the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship is based at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Bridging theory and practice, we equip entrepreneurial leaders to catalyse social impact within and beyond business. We define impact as systemic social change which is informed by theory and practice. In this work, our community is our greatest asset: the Skoll Centre hosts a rich network of Visiting Fellows and other affiliates, including Skoll Centre Fellows and Early Career Research Fellows. Read more about the Skoll Centre here.
Applications are open to researchers with interdisciplinary projects from a broad range of research areas linked to the Skoll Centre’s four pillars of work:
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What leadership practices and organising approaches facilitate sustainable, innovative, and impactful social change?
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What forms of partnerships and financing are needed to support systemic social change?
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How can we ensure impact measurement is useful and meaningful for the individuals, organisations, and communities at the heart of social change?
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How can we effectively and responsibly catalyse impact at scale, scaling up while also scaling deep?
The Fellow will be based in Oxford during Trinity term and work with Oxford researchers at Saïd Business School and other departments where appropriate (we would welcome collaborations with other departments), to develop research-practice initiatives, research seminars, or to contribute to the Impact Lab or other Learning Labs, and/or develop new ideas for future research collaborations.
The Fellow will be welcomed into the Oxford community at the Skoll Centre and Saïd Business School more broadly. The Fellow would be supported as part of the research community during their fellowship, with a view to develop a longer-term relationship and collaboration.
This scheme aims to bring an African scholar in classical studies to Oxford. It is open to earlier career scholars in any branch of classical studies who hold a permanent post in an African university; we particularly encourage application from scholars who are still engaged in studying for a PhD. The successful candidate will be resident in Oxford, but will be expected to go once a week to London (1 hour away by public transport, which will be fully funded) to attend a seminar at the Institute of Classical Studies; the Institute is co-sponsoring this scheme along with Corpus Christi College, Oxford and AfOx. Corpus Christi College will make the fellow a Visiting Member of their Centre for the Study of Greek and Roman Antiquity.
These fellowships aim to connect researchers based at an African institution to any department of the University of Oxford so that they may collaborate on a project in the area of improving equitable access to healthcare in low- and middle-income countries.
As described by Wellcome (which provides the funding for this strand of fellowships), the barriers to equitable access include inadequate healthcare systems, lack of infrastructure, pricing practices, and sub-optimal regulatory and procurement processes. Any application for a project that aims to address one or more of these barriers, or other causes of inequality in global access to healthcare, will be in scope for these fellowships.
While in Oxford the visiting Fellow will work with their collaborating department and across other disciplines where appropriate, to develop research ideas, projects and events. This can include research papers, ideas for co-led projects and future joint research developments.
Frequently Asked Questions for Fellowship Applicants
Applications will be reviewed primarily on the quality and value added of the proposed research agenda, the fit between the applicant and the Oxford host, and the feasibility of the proposed activities in the timescale of the fellowship.
Visiting Fellows must be of postdoctoral or equivalent status at the time of application. Applicants must be holding an appointment in an African academic or research institution at the time of application.
Yes. You are required to enter the details of the proposed Oxford host academic and the department at which you intend to undertake your fellowship in the application. You may already have established links or, alternatively, can search the AfOx database for potential collaborators and contact them before making the application. Please engage with and agree on the proposed project and timelines with your Oxford host before making the application. Applications sent without the consent and support letter from the proposed Oxford host will be immediately disqualified.
The Oxford collaborators will host the fellows in their respective departments and provide academic support during the fellowship. AfOx will provide the funding, logistics and social support before and during the fellowship The Oxford host will be required to send a statement of support indicating their willingness to be the academic contact during the fellowship. It should be in PDF format, on headed paper, and signed. Any applications received whose statements do not match these criteria will be considered ineligible.
Please note prospective fellows must engage with and agree on the proposed project with Oxford collaborators before making the application. Applications sent without the consent and support letter from the proposed Oxford host will be immediately disqualified.
You can search the AfOx database or use The University of Oxford Divisions and Departments list for potential collaborators and contact them before making the application. When developing new relationships with colleagues in Oxford we suggest a good way of making contact is to;
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Introducing yourself and the AfOx fellowship you are applying for.
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Include a paragraph outlining your proposed project
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Explain how this intersects with your proposed collaborators research interests.
No, there is no limit on the number of applications Oxford collaborator can support.
No, you cannot apply for a Fellowship if you have an existing affiliation at the University of Oxford. Submission of an application by a candidate currently affiliated with the University of Oxford will automatically disqualify the applicant.
The application should be completed by the prospective visiting fellow. Applications will not be considered until a statement from the Oxford academic host/collaborator has been received.
Fellows will be affiliated with the University of Oxford for 12 months starting in October 2023 and running until September 2024. This includes 10 months of virtual engagement during which fellows will have remote access to resources available at Oxford University for research, writing, and strengthening research leadership skills. A 2 month in-person visit to Oxford will be held during Trinity term (May-June 2024).
During the 10 months of virtual engagement fellows will have remote access to resources available at Oxford University including library access and support to strengthening research leadership skills.
During the in-person fellowship selected Fellows will be provided with an en-suite, single occupancy study bedroom. A temporary University card for access to the University and college buildings and temporary membership to the host college’s Senior Common Room will be granted for the period of residency. The fellowship will also include return economy flight ticket, airport transfer, visa fee and a maintenance allowance for incidental expenses during the residence ( up to £250 per week according to University guidelines).
Fellows will be affiliated with the University of Oxford for 12 months, including 10 months of virtual engagement and a 2 month in-person visit to Oxford during Trinity term.
AfOx will send supporting documents for visa application to successful applications, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to make a timely visa application and ensure that they meet all other requirements.
We will not support express visa applications.
The visa fee and related expenses will be reimbursed upon arrival in Oxford.
You can only apply via the link of the Fellowship page. Email applications will not be considered. Applications submitted after midnight -UTC- June 9th 2023 will not be considered.
Successful applicants will be contacted no later than two months from the application closing date. If you have not heard back from us within two months please assume your application was unsucccesful. We will not be able to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Yes, it is not necessary for your collaborator to be part of the host colleges, but they must be affiliated to the University of Oxford.
You are eligible to apply if you are a national of any African country or have indefinite leave to remain in any African country. You must also have a position in an African university/research institution domiciled in an African country and are a legal resident in the host country of your institution.
Our database only includes Oxford collaborators who have already signed onto it. You are welcome to identify a suitable collaborator from their University of Oxford webpage and contact them directly.
No, you can only apply for one fellowship. Submission of multiple applications will automatically disqualify the applicant.
The application process allows one to make changes to the application while it is still in draft form and to save it on the platform until a later time or date when one is ready to submit. An application can no longer be edited once it has been submitted.
No, the AfOx fellowship includes both the virtual and in-person elements and the selected fellows will be required to participate in both.
Frequently Asked Questions for Fellowship Collaborators
No. The main aim of the visiting fellowships is to foster the development of new collaborations and while it may support existing research links, it is not intended to be used as alternative additional support for already established collaborations or ongoing projects.
The department will be required to provide work space, building access and library services for the fellow. AfOx will take charge of all the logistics for the fellows including travel, accommodation and stipend.
No. AfOx fellows are drawn from a range of disciplines, and are selected on the basis of their subject expertise. For research projects where Africa is the specific region interest, then this might be necessary. Otherwise, we welcome and strongly encourage Oxford colleagues who have never worked in Africa to consider this as an opportunity to work with global partners with similar research interests.
If you have any questions please email us at afox@ndm.ox.ac.uk