Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship 2027: How to Apply for SEK 450 Daily Stipend and Free Uppsala Research

Nordic Africa Institute opens 2027 research scholarship

The Nordic Africa Institute has opened applications for its 2027 Nordic Scholarship Programme, offering master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers an opportunity to spend one month conducting Africa-focused research at the institute in Uppsala, Sweden.

The programme provides financial support for travel and accommodation while giving selected researchers access to a workspace, computer facilities and a research environment focused on African studies.

Applications are open to eligible researchers regardless of nationality. However, there is a crucial condition that prospective applicants need to understand: candidates must be affiliated with a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland.

The programme is aimed at strengthening knowledge production on Africa while creating stronger links between African studies researchers and Nordic research communities.

Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship 2027: What the Programme Offers

The Nordic Scholarship Programme is designed as a short-term research residency rather than a conventional degree scholarship.

Successful applicants will spend one month at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, where they can work on their Africa-oriented research project within an academic environment dedicated to research on the continent.

The programme provides free accommodation in a centrally located part of Uppsala and a desk and computer in a shared office at the institute.

Selected researchers will also receive a daily subsistence allowance of SEK 450 during their stay.

Travel support is included, with the programme covering the cost of the least expensive fare from the applicant’s residential address in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland to Uppsala and back.

The scholarship also provides free photocopying up to 1,000 copies.

Who Can Apply for the Nordic Scholarship Programme?

The programme is open to master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers working in the social sciences or humanities.

Applicants must be conducting studies or research with an Africa-focused component.

Citizenship does not determine eligibility. Researchers from any country may apply if they satisfy the programme’s affiliation requirement.

The important requirement is that the applicant must currently be affiliated with a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland.

This means a student living in Nigeria or another country who is not affiliated with an eligible Nordic university or research centre would not meet the stated eligibility condition simply because they are studying an Africa-related subject.

The programme is primarily designed for researchers already connected to Nordic academic institutions.

Africa-Focused Research Is at the Centre of the Scholarship

The Nordic Africa Institute says the scholarship programme is intended to contribute to capacity building in the production of knowledge about Africa.

Applicants therefore need to demonstrate that their proposed research has a clear Africa-oriented focus.

The research proposal should explain the academic context of the project, its objectives, methodology, theoretical foundation and expected work during the stay at the institute.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to researchers who have reached a stage where access to an academic research environment, focused writing time and specialist resources could help advance their work.

Research Proposal Requirements for Applicants

A major part of the application is the research project outline, which should be between three and five pages.

Applicants are expected to clearly identify their research topic and explain how it fits within their academic discipline.

The proposal should outline the methods that will be used to complete the research, including data-gathering techniques and the expected timeframe.

Candidates must also provide a brief explanation of the theoretical basis of their research project.

In addition, applicants need to submit a separate one-page work plan explaining precisely what they intend to accomplish during their time at the Nordic Africa Institute.

The work plan should be specific to the one-month residency rather than simply repeating the broader objectives of the research project.

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Documents Required for the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship

Applicants should prepare an up-to-date CV containing relevant academic and research experience. The CV should also include a list of publications where applicable.

The research project outline of three to five pages is required, along with the one-page work plan.

Applicants must also provide a signed letter of support from their supervisor or head of department.

The reference letter must confirm the applicant’s current institutional affiliation and field of research.

These requirements mean candidates should begin preparing their applications well before the deadline, particularly where a supervisor or department head needs to provide supporting documentation.

How Much Does the Nordic Scholarship Pay?

The scholarship provides a SEK 450 daily subsistence allowance during the research stay.

In addition to the allowance, selected scholars receive free accommodation in Uppsala and access to a desk and computer in a shared office at the Nordic Africa Institute.

Travel expenses for the least expensive fare between the applicant’s residential address in an eligible Nordic country and Uppsala are also covered.

The programme therefore combines living support with practical research resources rather than providing only a cash award.

What Makes the 2027 Programme Different?

The most important detail prospective applicants should understand is that the Nordic Scholarship Programme is not a general scholarship for anyone who wants to study in Sweden.

It is a targeted research opportunity for people already pursuing Africa-oriented research through an eligible institution in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland.

The one-month residency also gives the programme a different structure from traditional master’s and PhD scholarships that fund an entire degree.

For researchers who already have institutional affiliation in the Nordic region, the opportunity can provide dedicated time, facilities and academic exposure to advance a specific research project.

Nordic Scholarship Programme 2027 Deadline

The application deadline is October 11, 2026.

Candidates should make sure they have completed their research proposal, work plan, CV and institutional reference before submitting their applications.

Since the programme requires confirmation of current affiliation and a defined research project, applicants should not treat it as a last-minute scholarship application.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship

Who can apply for the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship 2027?

Master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences or humanities can apply if they are conducting Africa-oriented research and are affiliated with an eligible university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland.

Can international students apply for the Nordic Scholarship Programme?

Yes. Applicants may apply regardless of citizenship, provided they meet the institutional affiliation and research requirements.

Can students in Nigeria apply for the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship?

Not solely on the basis of being Nigerian or studying Africa-related subjects. The applicant must be affiliated with a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland.

Is the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship fully funded?

The programme covers eligible travel expenses, accommodation and a daily subsistence allowance. It also provides workspace and computer access during the research stay.

How much is the Nordic Africa Institute scholarship stipend?

The programme provides a subsistence allowance of SEK 450 per day.

How long is the Nordic Scholarship Programme?

The scholarship provides a one-month research stay at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden.

What fields are eligible for the Nordic Scholarship?

The programme is intended for master’s students, PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers in the social sciences and humanities whose work is Africa-oriented.

What documents are needed for the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship?

Applicants need an updated CV, a three-to-five-page research project outline, a one-page work plan and a signed letter of support from a supervisor or head of department confirming their affiliation and research field.

Does the scholarship cover accommodation?

Yes. Selected scholarship holders receive free accommodation in a centrally located area of Uppsala.

Does the programme pay for travel to Sweden?

The programme covers travel expenses for the least expensive fare from the applicant’s residential address in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland to Uppsala and back.

When is the Nordic Africa Institute Scholarship deadline?

The deadline for the 2027 programme is October 11, 2026.