Frequently Asked Questions

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;

• Introducing yourself and the AfOx fellowship you are applying for.

• Include a paragraph outlining your proposed project

• 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.

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