African Economic Research Consortium PhD Scholarships 2023-2024

The aim of the scholarship is to sustain the development in sub-Saharan Africa through training of locally based professionals in economics by provision of support in policy research and graduate training.

African Economic Research Consortium PhD Scholarships 2023 | Eligibility Criteria

For the AERC PhD Scholarship 2023, applicants are required to :

Admission into the participating universities: The applicants shall have applied and been admitted into one of the participating universities to pursue a PhD programme in Economics or any other related field.
Academic Qualifications: A minimum of Second Class Honours Upper Division or equivalent in the field of Economics, Agricultural Economics, or related fields from an accredited institution. In addition, applicants shall have a Master’s degree with coursework and thesis in Economics, Agricultural Economics, or related fields from a recognized university.

Coursework Requirements: Core topics to have been taken in the Master’s include microeconomics, macroeconomics, quantitative methods, and econometrics.
Publication: Having at least one publication in a refereed journal will be an added advantage. This shows that the applicant has the capacity and ability in doing research work amounting to scholarly output.

Economic Management, Research, or Training in the Public Sector: Evidence of experience in economic management, research, or training in the public sector is an added advantage. Work experience can either be in waged employment or on project duties relevant to economic development and policy.

Encouragement of Female Applicants and Those from Post-Conflict and Fragile States: Female applicants and those from post-conflict and fragile states, particularly alumni of the AERC PhD Bridge Programme classes of 2017 and 2018, are encouraged to apply. This initiative targets increasing diversity and inclusion in economic research and policy formulation.

Participating Universities

University of Cape Town, South Africa
University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
University of Nairobi, Kenya
University of Ibadan, Nigeria

University of Benin, Nigeria
University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon
University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

Félix Houphouet-Boigny University, Côte d’Ivoire

Application Deadline: August 31st, 2023

Application Procedures

The following are the procedures for applying for the African Economic Research Consortium PhD Scholarships:

Submission of Admission Application: Interested applicants must primarily apply directly to a respective university for admission to PhD studies. The procedure and requirements are usually available on the website of the university concerned or its office.
Admission Letter: With an admission letter from the university applied to, proving admission to the PhD, the scholarship application process can be undertaken.
Get all documents ready: All documents that are to be submitted with the AERC PhD Scholarship application form must be prepared by an applicant. Such documents include:

Academic Transcripts and Certificates: Undergraduate and Master’s
Curriculum Vitae/Resume: This simply outlines your educational background, work experience, research experience, publications if any, and any other relevant information.
Statement of Purpose: This gives information on research interests and career goals and why one wants to pursue a Ph.D. in Economics.
Letters of recommendation from academic referees who would readily vouch for the applicant’s academic abilities, research potential, and suitability for a doctoral program.
Copy of admission letter from the University

Upload Documents: The following required documents shall be uploaded on the AERC scholarship application portal or platform. Be sure that all documents are well formatted and labeled as required.
Application Form: Fill out the scholarship application form with complete and valid information. Fill in fields asking for personal information, academic background information, research interests, and any other additional information.
Apply: Fill out the application form and upload all documents required; remit the information provided for accuracy and completeness. Submit the application before the deadline.

Monitor Application Status: After submitting the form, applicants shall continue to check the update on their submitted application on the AERC scholarship online application portal or any designated channel. Be ready to respond to any request for more information or follow-up by the scholarship administrators.

>Application cover letter
>Curriculum vitae
>Evidence of admission at any of the participating universities
>Certified copies of transcripts and certificates.

Visit the Official Website for Further Details