Deadline: January 31, 2025
The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is accepting applications for the Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship 2025. The Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship supports a one-year leave from teaching and administrative responsibilities by offering a stipend up to US$10,000 to permit the completion of a dissertation that advances research on peacebuilding, security, and development topics.
This program also offers two workshops each year to help fellows further develop their chapters and complete the writing of their doctoral dissertations. Facilitators at the workshops help strengthen the capacity of fellows for scholarly writing, including academic publications. They offer fellowships to support the completion of doctoral degrees and to promote next generation social science research in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Program Components
Through the Next Gen Completion Program, fellowship recipients can expect the following:
- Innovative Research: To make progress towards completing their dissertations on peacebuilding, security, and development topics within one (1) year. Fellows develop their dissertation chapters, complete, and defend their PhDs drawing on evidence-based knowledge that will inform regional and global scholarly debates.
- Workshops: Participate in one mandatory APN and Next Gen workshop occurring in July in an African country. The workshop will help further develop their chapters and complete the writing of their doctoral dissertations; disseminate findings; explore ways to make their work more accessible through publications, presentations, and other means to multiple scholarly and policy constituencies.
- African Scholarship and Knowledge Production: Contribute to the APN and Next Gen program’s digital forums and social media platforms (Kujenga Amani, Facebook, and X).
- Fostering Community, Professional Development and Networking
- Be part of a network of highly visible and active African scholars and practitioners capable of projecting African perspectives and voices onto global discourses, knowledge and practices of peacebuilding, security, and development.
- Fellows will receive mentorship from highly experienced senior scholars in the field. There are opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
- Gain new knowledge and skills to advance their careers as academics or practitioners in their chosen fields.
Eligibility
All applicants must:
- be citizens of any African country
- be enrolled and working towards a PhD in an accredited university, or affiliated to an institution in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda
- be in the final year of writing and have completed at least two doctoral dissertation chapters
As of May 2015, the program prioritizes applicants holding a faculty position or demonstrating a durable commitment to higher education in Africa, but does not restrict eligibility to such individuals.
The program seeks to promote diversity and encourages historically marginalized persons and communities including women, Indigenous people, gender diverse, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, among others to apply.
Application
Applications consist of an online application form, a research proposal and bibliography, current CV, proposed research timeline, proposed research budget, two reference letters, and a language evaluation(s) (if required).
To apply and obtain more information regarding the Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship, please refer to the 2025 APN and Next Gen Application Guidebook.
For more information, visit SSRC.
