💼 Job
Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and Desmond Tutu Health Foundation University of Cape Town PhD Scholarships 2026: 2 Funded Doctoral Scholarships Worth R315,000 Per Year - Global South Opportunities
About this opportunity
The Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Cape Town (UCT), have announced a call for applications for two funded PhD scholarships for candidates seeking to undertake doctoral research within established global health research programmes in South Africa.
The opportunity is aimed at research-ready candidates who have completed a relevant Master’s degree and are interested in pursuing a rigorous, publication-oriented PhD with strong academic mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration and opportunities to develop advanced research and analytical skills.
Each scholarship provides R315,000 per year for up to four years, subject to the applicable conditions and satisfactory academic progress. The scholarship is intended to contribute towards tuition and living costs while the successful candidates undertake formal PhD registration at UCT.
The application deadline is 14 September 2026.
Requirements
Eligible Fields of Study
The scholarship is open to candidates from relevant disciplines connected to health and global health research.
Examples of suitable backgrounds include:
• MBChB
• Public Health
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Epidemiology
• Biostatistics
• Behavioural Science
• Other related disciplines
Applicants should demonstrate how their academic and research background aligns with doctoral-level research in the UCT Department of Medicine and the broader research environment.
Experience in areas such as HIV, PrEP, mental health, men’s health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases or related areas of applied health research may be advantageous.