The 2026-27 Fellowship Application will be available here soon!

Please check back in late August of 2025 for the 2026-27 fellowship application. To learn more about PiAf, please join our 2026-27 applicant mailing list here.

Eligibility & Application Requirements

Please note there are different eligibility requirements for our general fellowship program and our Nexus program. Please see both sets of eligibility requirements outlined below. Applicants would only be eligible to apply for both programs if they are currently residing on the African continent and have a bachelors or postgraduate degree from an African institution that is U.S.-accredited.

General Fellowship Program Eligibility:

To be eligible for the 2026-27 Princeton in Africa Fellowship, general applicants must:

• Be young professionals or current undergraduates graduating by June 2026 at the time of application.*
• Hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or a Ph.D. from a 4-year U.S.-accredited university.
• Have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading and writing English as defined by the CEFR (Level C1 and above). Professional proficiency in French is preferred for some posts.
• Be no older than 35 years of age for the duration of the fellowship year (born on or after September 1, 1991).
• Hold a passport valid through the end of the fellowship year (August 2027).

*General applicants must not be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or equivalent advanced academic programs during their fellowship year.

Nexus Program Eligibility:

To be eligible for the 2026-27 Princeton in Africa Fellowship, Nexus applicants must:

• Be young professionals or current undergraduates graduating by June 2026 at the time of application.*
• Hold a bachelor’s, master’s (or equivalent), or a Ph.D. from an African university.
• Have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading and writing English as defined by the CEFR (Level C1 and above). Professional proficiency in French is preferred for some posts.
• Be no older than 35 years of age for the duration of the fellowship year (born on or after September 1, 1991).
• Hold a passport valid through the end of the fellowship year (August 2027).
• Have citizenship in an African country and have current residency in an African country. Applicants with dual U.S. citizenship will not be considered.

*Nexus applicants must not be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or equivalent advanced academic programs during their fellowship year.

Learn more about the Nexus Program

Application Requirements

To apply, please complete all sections of our online application. Please review the list below for all required components and follow the instructions on the online application carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Additional details can be found in our FAQs page and in the application.

Required for All Applicants:

• Online application questionnaires
• Resume or CV
  • Maximum 2 pages with font size 10 or higher
  • PDF Format
• Official Transcripts
  • Must be sent directly from your university to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org via a secure online platform or official university email.
  • Transcripts must be in English (or include an English translation). Additional details available in our FAQs.
• One Letter of Recommendation
  • Submitted directly by your recommender via online form.

Additional Requirement for Nexus Applicants Only:

• Proof of University Enrollment – PiAf will accept any ONE of the following:
  • Official enrollment verification (with English translation, if needed)
  • Scanned copy of diploma (with English translation, if needed)
  • Letter on university letterhead (in English) signed by a university administrator or professor that includes:
    • Dates of enrollment
    • Degree obtained
    • Area of study
    • University representative’s email and phone number
  • Document(s) must be in English and in PDF format.

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Additional Notes:

• Princeton in Africa does not confirm receipt of individual materials. Applicants may instead track their application materials through their application portal.
• Please do not call the PiAf office with application-related questions. Instead, please direct all inquiries to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

Policy Updates:

• Beginning with the 2026-27 Fellowship Application Cycle, applicants will only need to request an official transcript be submitted to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org directly by their university. An unofficial transcript will no longer be required.   
• As of 9/17/22, Princeton in Africa is no longer requiring applicants to pay a $75 non-refundable application fee.

The Princeton in Africa Fellowship Experience

A Princeton in Africa fellowship experience is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for personal and professional development and growth. It is often described as a way to get a foot in the door of the field of development on the African continent. It is also an opportunity to join a growing community of passionate PiAf alumni.

The fellowship experience varies greatly depending on placement and organization. Some Fellows work closely with a supervisor or colleague(s); others work more independently. Some Fellows work in offices that are filled with local staff; others work with a high number of expatriates. Some Fellows live in urban areas like Johannesburg and Nairobi; others are based in very rural areas with limited resources.

No matter the host organization or the location, all fellowships are 12 months long and all Fellows experience support from Princeton in Africa staff, alumni, and other Fellows. Community is a PiAf guarantee.

Expenses For The Fellowship

The Princeton in Africa experience is an investment on the part of each Fellow, each fellowship organization, and Princeton in Africa. The following funding arrangements are in place.

Fellows cover:

• $350 program placement fee upon acceptance of a post
• Round-trip airfare to and from post in their host country.
• Pre-departure medical expenses (immunizations, malaria prevention meds, personals meds, visit for completing medical release form)
• Depending on post, Fellow may contribute to visa or work permit costs

Note: PiAf is committed to ensuring all applicants are able to participate in the program regardless of financial need. Once placed, there is an available financial aid application for Fellows with demonstrated need. Applicants with demonstrated need upon completion of their application should reach out directly to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

Princeton in Africa/Fellowship Organizations cover*:

• Housing and living stipend
• Certain visas/work permits
• Medical insurance, medical evacuation insurance, security evacuation insurance
• Mid-year Retreat partial travel allowance and meals/housing

*Fellowship packages vary post-to-post: details will be provided in the offer letter prior to a Fellows acceptance

Note: Fellowship stipends are to cover living costs directly related to the fellowship. Stipends are not meant to cover outside costs, including costs in Fellows’ home countries.

Learn More about Princeton in Africa

Join our Prospective Applicant Session on September 16, 2025!

We will be holding an info session for prospective applicants on Tuesday, September 16th 12:00-1:30 PM Eastern. Please sign up for our prospective applicant mailing list here to receive updates about our Prospective Applicants Info Session.

A recording of the session will be sent to the full Princeton in Africa applicant mailing list. Please email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org with any questions.

Consult these resources for more information about Princeton in Africa:

• Current Fellowship Organizations
• Expected Roles & Sectors – broken down by organization and location
• Fellows Report Database – provides detailed information about past fellowship experiences. Gain access by emailing piafapp@princetoninafrica.org
• Nexus Program – learn more about the Nexus program for graduates of African universities, launched in 2023
• PiAf Placement Process Infographic – learn more about our placement process and timeline

Application & Fellowship Timeline:

Late August, 2025
Application goes live

Tuesday, Sept 16th, 2025 at 12:00-1:30 PM Eastern
Information Session for prospective applicants

Monday, October 27th, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern
Application Deadline

Early December, 2025
Applicants notified about interviews

Early January, 2026
Fellowship interviews (conducted virtually)

February – May 2026
Ongoing acceptance and placements

June 5 – 7th, 2026
MANDATORY Virtual Orientation

June 9 – August 10, 2026
Fellowships begin

June 8 – August 9, 2027
Fellowships end

For more information about the application process, check the online application form or the Frequently Asked Questions page. To learn more about the Fellowship program, please review the Current Fellows page, Where We Work page, and Fellow Support page.