Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

For anyone unsure if their university is U.S.-accredited, check this database of U.S.- accredited universities. Please note, most universities outside of the US are not US-accredited; if you graduate from a non-U.S. accredited university, then obtain an additional degree from a U.S.-accredited university, you would be eligible to apply for Princeton in Africa. All applicants, except for those applying to the Nexus program, must have a 4-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree from a U.S.-accredited university.

Although Princeton in Africa fellowship applicants must not be more than 35 years of age through the duration of the fellowship year, applicants with graduate degrees or a few years of professional experience are encouraged to apply. Please note, however, that our fellowship positions are entry-level placements and we don’t want Fellows to find the work they do unstimulating or unchallenging. In the end, our placement process is about fitting the right candidate with the right organization, so we don’t have a 100% hard and fast rule about how much experience a Fellow should have. The fellowship can be a great fit for applicants with some professional experience if the fellowship seems like a step forward in their career.

Citizens of any country can apply for the general fellowship program, providing they meet the full eligibility requirements for the general fellowship program. Only citizens of African countries may apply for the Nexus program, again providing they meet the full eligibility requirements for the Nexus program. Please note that, in certain cases, visa eligibility for destination countries may be a determining factor in placement.

No, prior experience in an African country is not a prerequisite for the general program.

Since 2010 our program has been open to graduating seniors and alumni of any college or university accredited in the US. No spots are reserved for Princeton alumni. Please note that at the end of the day, we are looking to make the best matches between our applicants and the roles our fellowship organizations have identified for Fellows. PiAf must take into consideration candidates’ skills, backgrounds and preferences as well as our fellowship organizations’ needs. 

• Monday, October 27th, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern: Applications due
• Early December, 2025: Applicants are notified whether they are invited to interview
• January 5-9th, 2026: Virtual interviews
• February-May 2026: Selected candidates are notified about potential posts. Placements are ongoing. 
• Late May 2026: Placements finalized
• June 5-7th, 2026: Mandatory virtual orientation
• June 9 – August 10, 2026: Fellowships begin
• June 8 – August 9, 2027: 12-month fellowships end

Applications will be reviewed throughout the months of November and December and those invited for interviews will be notified by mid-December 2025. Please do not contact the PiAf office asking if you have been selected to interview. Each applicant will be notified whether or not they are selected to interview. If you do not hear from us by mid-December, please check your email account’s spam folder.

On average we receive about 400-500 applications per application cycle.

The deadline for the 2026-27 fellowship application is 11:59 PM Eastern on Monday, Oct. 27th, 2025.

All applications submitted for Princeton in Africa fellowships should adhere to ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). While we know that AI tools can be helpful during the application process, please remember that Princeton in Africa application reviewers want to see your unique voice and experiences reflected in your application materials and that overuse of AI will make it difficult for reviewers to understand your individual motivation and perspective.   Unethical use of AI in application materials is grounds for disqualification from the application process. Please see below for examples of what is considered as ethical and unethical use of AI for your Princeton in Africa application.

Examples of ethical uses of AI for Princeton in Africa application materials:

• Using AI tools to assist in the brainstorming process (AI tools can be helpful in providing questions to kickstart the brainstorming process, but remember that your application materials should ultimately reflect your unique voice and experiences)
• Using AI tools to review grammar and spelling in your application materials

Examples of unethical uses of AI for Princeton in Africa application materials:

• Using AI to translate an essay written in another language
• Using AI-generated content to outline or draft your application materials
• Copying and pasting text directly from an AI generator

The last two PiAf cohorts have worked in 11 countries on the continent, and we expect around the same number for the next cycle. Although the complete list of fellowships will not be finalized until after the application deadline, you may reference the information on recent fellowships on the PiAf website to get an idea of the types of positions that may be offered.

Applicants do not apply for specific fellowship positions, organizations or countries, but rather apply to the Princeton in Africa fellowship program. You may indicate preferences for region, country, and/or position type on your application form. But please note that a certain degree of flexibility may enhance the likelihood of your placement–and Princeton in Africa cannot guarantee that a candidate’s top choices will be met. Overall, the PiAf pairing process is in-depth and we work hard to find the best match for both Fellows and fellowship organizations.

The list of fellowships available for the upcoming fellowship year has not yet been finalized. However, you may use the list of current fellowship organizations as a guideline for posts likely to be offered next year. Updated lists of prospective host organizations will be available throughout the application process; these are subject to change until all Fellows are placed.

There’s no longer an application fee.

THE 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.

REQUIRED UPLOADS TO THE ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL:

• (All Applicants) Resume or CV.
  • Must be in PDF form, no more than two pages 
  • Include your name, email, phone number, relevant experience, and a section for hard skills
  • Use a readable font size 
  • Tip: Even if you are an alumnus of a college or university, we recommend requesting that your institution’s career services review your resume before submitting.
• (All Applicants)  Letter of recommendation (LOR)
  • Please have your recommender submit your LOR through the fellowship application. You will be prompted to enter your recommender’s contact information, and the system will email them a link to complete the form and upload their letter. Further instructions are included in the application. 
  • The LOR must:
    • Be specific to your application for Princeton in Africa
    • Include the recommender’s name, title, organization, email, phone and mailing address
    • Be no more than 2 pages
    • Be written in English
    • Be uploaded as a PDF or Word document 
    • Follow the naming convention “ApplicantLastname.ApplicantFirstname.LOR”
  • We are only able to accept one LOR per applicant. Please do not ask multiple people to submit recommendations on your behalf. If we receive more than one LOR for your application, only the first submitted will be reviewed.
• (Nexus Applicants only) Proof of University Enrollment.
  • Document(s) must be in English and in PDF format. PiAf will accept any ONE of the following:
    • Official enrollment verification (with English translation, if needed) OR
    • Scanned copy of diploma (with English translation, if needed) OR
    • Letter on university letterhead (in English) signed by a university administrator or professor that includes all of the following:
      • Dates of enrollment
      • Degree obtained
      • Area of study
      • University representative’s email and phone number

REQUIRED MATERIALS TO BE EMAILED TO PRINCETON IN AFRICA:

• (All Applicants) Official Digital Transcript
  • Must be sent directly from your university registrar to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org
  • Acceptable methods include:
    • Secure online transcript services (e.g., Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Credentials Solutions)
    • Direct email from university registrar through their official email
  • Please do not forward your transcript yourself. Only registrar-to-PiAf submissions are accepted, as these transcripts have been digitally signed and certified by your institution’s registrar’s office.
  • Please contact your university’s registrar’s office for more information about ordering a digital official transcript before reaching out to PiAf. 
  • If your university does not offer electronic or PDF official transcripts, please email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org well in advance of the application deadline.

PiAf is not accepting any mailed, hard copy application materials. If your university does not provide a digital official transcript, please reach out to your registrar to ask which options they provide, then email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

Placements take place from February to May. Most placements occur in March and April, although in previous years some placements have been made as early as February and as late as June. All placements are made on a rolling basis, up until the time of the mandatory orientation in June. Due to the number of candidates and organizations with which PiAf works, it is impossible to announce all decisions at once or on a set date. PiAf does, however, aim to make placements as quickly as possible. Please note that everyone in the candidate pool is not guaranteed a fellowship placement or an interview with one or more host organizations.

After interviews in January, those invited into the candidate pool are asked to confirm their interest in being in the candidate pool. Those who do not reply will be removed from the candidate pool. Before being put forward to an organization, candidates are first contacted by PiAf staff to determine their interest in a specific fellowship post. They are able to ask questions about the post before being sent forward. When a candidate agrees to be put forward, a PiAf staff member will notify them when their materials (resume and bio) have been sent to the host organization for their review. The host organization has a two-week period within which they need to review and interview the candidates PiAf has presented to them. By the end of the two weeks, the organization notifies PiAf which candidate they select to be their Fellow. PiAf will then send an offer to that successful candidate and the candidate will have 3 days to consider the offer and get back to PiAf with a response. 

PiAf encourages candidates to consider this 2-week timeline part of their decision-making process. During this time they should be speaking with advisors, mentors and loved ones, doing online research on the host organization and reading Fellow reports on the post (if available) to decide if this post would be a good fit for them. PiAf only sends a few candidates forward for each post so chances are high that a candidate who interviews with a host organization could be made an offer. We ask that only candidates who are seriously interested in the post agree to be put forward to prevent host organization staff from dedicating their valuable time to uninterested candidates.

Princeton in Africa does not confirm receipt of individual materials. Please do not call the PiAf office with application-related questions. Applicants may instead track their application materials through their application portal. They may also contact their institution’s registrar’s office or the person who is submitting the letter of recommendation with these inquiries.

No, you do not need to submit transcripts from a study abroad program or a school you transferred from.

Your letter of recommendation (LOR) should be written by an employer, volunteer supervisor or professor who knows you well and should pertain specifically to your application to Princeton in Africa. You might consider asking someone who can speak to your character as well as your skills, strengths, and abilities in the workplace, in a difficult or stressful setting, in a foreign country, in a leadership situation, or in tackling a significant academic project. Recommendation letters must be specific to your PiAf application and should focus on your leadership and past job/internship performance. The letter must be signed, dated and submitted as a PDF.  Your recommender should name the letter of recommendation file “ApplicantLastname.ApplicantFirstname.LOR.”

Your application will not be complete until your recommender submits your LOR to our online form. Please request your recommendation well in advance of the application deadline by entering your recommender’s contact information in the relevant section of our application. Our application system will send an automated message to your recommender that will allow them to complete a recommendation form and upload your recommendation letter. You will be able to view when the recommendation has been submitted in your application portal.

You may only ask ONE recommender to submit on your behalf. If we receive multiple recommendations for your application, we will only review the most recently submitted recommendation. Any additional recommendations will not be reviewed or considered.

We DO NOT assist in coordinating this process, answer requests for information about the submission of LORs or confirm the submission of LORs. All applicants are responsible for guaranteeing the submission of their LOR in advance of the deadline. Please be sure to request your recommendation letters well in advance and follow up with your recommender to ensure the letter of recommendation is submitted on time.

We recognize that applicants have diverse interests and may submit applications to other programs or organizations. This does not, in any way, affect your consideration for our fellowship. This information helps us get a better sense of you and what kind of fellowship post might be a good match.

PiAf does not have a minimum GPA requirement. Your academic record is just one component of your application which will be taken into consideration by the selection committee.

Princeton in Africa is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not receive funding from Princeton University. However, we are affiliated with Princeton University and are therefore able to offer our fellowship application through Princeton’s application system. Applicants to the Princeton in Africa fellowship program are applying only to Princeton in Africa, not to any programs administered by Princeton University.

Interviews:

PiAf is now conducting all interviews virtually. Interviews will take place on January 5-9th, 2026. More information will be provided in mid-December to those applicants who are invited to interview.

No. There is an application process for all host organizations each year. This process is completed before the closing of the fellowship application, for this reason, it is not possible for Fellows to suggest their own organization.

In 2023, Princeton in Africa expanded our model to include the Nexus program! Princeton in Africa Nexus pairs 5 Nexus Fellows educated and resident on the African continent with 5 general co-Fellows educated at U.S.-accredited institutions. These Fellows work together in the same host organizations on the African continent for a co-Fellow exchange of skills, knowledge, leadership, and technical expertise. The Nexus program is an addition to PiAf’s signature fellowship program tailored for young leaders educated at a U.S.-accredited institution.

The program is designed to enrich our Fellows’ experience and professional growth on the African continent and bring young professionals educated in African institutions into our community of over 700 alumni spanning all over the world. More information about the Nexus Program can be found here.

• The eligibility requirements for the Nexus program can be found here and on our Apply page.

• The application requirements for the Nexus program can be found on our Apply page.

Princeton in Africa is planning to place 5 Nexus Fellows via the Nexus program for the 2025-26 cycle.

No, there is no limit to the number of applications PiAf will accept for this placement.

No, all Nexus Fellows will be placed outside of their home countries.

Nexus applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or Ph.D. from an African institution and be resident on the African continent. Nexus applicants who hold a degree from an African institution and a non-U.S. university outside of the African continent will still be eligible to apply for the Nexus program as long as they reside on the African continent at the time of application. Nexus applicants who hold a degree from an African institution that is U.S.-accredited are eligible to apply for both programs, provided that they meet the requirement for residency on the African continent. If the applicant only has a degree from an accredited 4-year U.S. college or university that is not located on the African continent, they would be considered for the general fellowship program. Applicants who have U.S. dual citizenship are not eligible to apply for Nexus, even if they graduated from an African institution and live on the African continent.

Yes, Nexus applicants must have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading and writing English as defined by the CEFR (Level C1 and above).

Yes, all selected Nexus Fellows are required to attend the full 2026-27 Princeton in Africa virtual orientation in real-time. 

Fellowships are 12 months long. Depending on the organizations where they are placed, Fellows will begin work between June 9 and August 10, 2026 and will complete their fellowship one year later, between June 8 and August 9, 2027. This timing largely depends on the needs of the fellowship organizations. Please let us know early on if you have specific preferences in terms of timing, but note that these preferences cannot always be accommodated. You must be prepared to make a 12-month commitment when applying to PiAf, so please consider this when finalizing your start date, especially when planning post-fellowship commitments such as graduate school.

It is recommended that new Fellows attempt to overlap with the previous Fellow in their position (where possible). Even if only for a few days, this overlap period will greatly assist the new Fellow with getting settled and oriented.

PiAf fellowships are only one year long. Some Fellows do remain with their host organization or elsewhere in Africa longer than one year, but they do so in their own capacity. (That is, they receive a job offer from the organization or they make their own arrangements to work/volunteer for another organization.)

• Check out PiAf’s Website
• Attend PiAf’s Information Session Webinar. Join our email list for more information.
• Contact piafapp@princetoninafrica.org with questions and to get on our mailing list.
• Read reports from former Fellows located here (Please email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org for login information).
• Read the bimonthly Fellows Flyer located here. 
• Check out our Fellows’ IG Takeover on our Instagram.

Note: Please do not call the PiAf office with application questions as we are unable to answer questions by phone. Please consult the list of FAQs on the PiAf website before emailing your questions to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

These issues vary from country to country. For example, some countries have higher levels of crime than others. Fellows are advised to remain alert, to behave responsibly, and to be cautious about their activities.

PiAf’s Programs Committee vets each host organization and fellowship post and PiAf staff have regular check-ins with the staff in each office. Fellows are briefed at the mandatory pre-departure orientation on health, safety, and security, including preparation for emergencies and the importance of keeping abreast of local and regional news. All Fellows must comply with PiAf’s travel policies and restrictions and notify PiAf of any travel they do, in addition to any health, safety, or security issues they experience.

Along with medical insurance, PiAf provides medical evacuation coverage, security evacuation coverage, and emergency assistance support to all Fellows.

All PiAf Fellows will be expected to agree to PiAf’s commitment to diversity and no-tolerance policy for racism, discrimination or harassment.

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

Fellows should expect to cover:

• $350 program placement fee, paid upon acceptance of a fellowship post.
• Round-trip air travel to and from their fellowship post in their host country.
• Pre-departure medical expenses (e.g. immunizations, malaria prevention medications, personal medications). This also includes doctor or clinic costs associated with completing the mandatory medical clearance form. A Fellow may be able to cover some of the medical costs associated with health check-ups, immunizations, and malaria prevention directly from the stipend received from the fellowship organization. However, as each individual’s health needs are different, Fellows should be prepared to pay for pre-departure medical expenses out-of-pocket. Current students should visit their university health center for advice on necessary immunizations and preparations and to complete the medical clearance form.
• In some cases, costs associated with acquiring visas and work permits.
• Sundries and recreational travel.

Note: Princeton in Africa is committed to ensuring that all applicants are able to participate in the fellowship program without regard to need. Once placed in a fellowship organization, Fellows with a demonstrated financial need should speak directly with us. We will work with applicants to ensure that financial considerations do not prevent any applicant selected for a fellowship from participating.

Princeton in Africa/fellowship organizations aim to cover:

• On the ground expenses, including housing and living stipend.*
• Medical, medical evacuation and security evacuation insurance 
• Mid-year retreat in Africa (including partial travel grant for travel to and from the retreat location). 

*The stipend is meant to cover the basic cost of living in your fellowship location, and will vary based on in-kind benefits provided by your host organization (including meals, housing, etc.). Stipends are carefully calculated to account for basic costs depending on location, but may not cover leisure travel or other extraneous expenses. For example, a stipend in a major city where housing, meals and transportation are not provided might be over $1000 USD per month, whereas a stipend for a Fellow living in a less urban area where housing, meals and transportation are provided might be around $350 USD per month. Stipends are not meant to cover outside costs, including costs in Fellows’ home countries.

Fellows who have demonstrated need can apply for financial assistance; the application for financial assistance is available to Fellows upon accepting the fellowship.

The fellowship stipend is meant to cover the basic cost of living in your fellowship location, and will vary based on in-kind benefits provided by your host organization (including meals, housing, etc.). Stipends are carefully calculated to account for basic costs depending on location, but may not cover leisure travel or other extraneous expenses. For example, a stipend in a major city where housing, meals and transportation are not provided might be over $1000 USD per month, whereas a stipend for a Fellow living in a less urban area where housing, meals and transportation are provided might be around $350 USD per month. Stipends are not meant to cover outside costs, including costs in Fellows’ home countries.

Fellows who have demonstrated need can apply for financial assistance; the application for financial assistance is available to Fellows upon accepting the fellowship.

Please note that basic costs of living likely will not be fully covered if fellowships are moved to a remote setting due to an emergency situation.

Your work environment will depend on the host organization with which you work. Some Fellows work closely with a supervisor or colleagues; others work more independently. Some Fellows work in offices that are filled with country-national staff; others work with a high number of international staff members. Some Fellows are based in an organization’s main country office and occasionally take trips to the field; others are based in rural areas where every day feels like fieldwork. It is important to remember that all work environments have pros and cons, and that PiAf will do its best to match you with a work environment that is the best fit. We encourage you to read the Fellows’ Reports in our reports data base (you will need to email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org for the login information) to learn more about Fellows’ day-to-day work experiences at various posts.

Community building among Fellows in the same fellowship class as well as among alumni is an important component of our fellowship program. PiAf encourages Fellows to be in touch with each other before, during and after the fellowship year. Although they may be working in different countries with dissimilar organizations on unrelated issues, PiAf Fellows often have many things in common and can therefore greatly support each other.

The amount of contact Fellows actually have with each other depends on the available posts. For example, some Fellows are based in the same city and thus it is likely that their social circles may cross or they may even choose to share an apartment. Other Fellows may be in different cities in the same country or region; these Fellows may see each other less frequently but visit each other on weekends or holidays. Others may be the only Fellows in their host countries.

A Fellow’s social life will depend on where they are placed. Major urban areas generally offer a larger social scene and a variety of shops, restaurants, bars, and other locales that Fellows may enjoy frequenting. In smaller cities and more rural areas, Fellows may find fewer foreigners, but the opportunities for interaction with community members may be easier to come by. We encourage you to read the Fellows’ Reports in our reports data base (you will need to email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org for the login information) to learn more about Fellows’ experiences at various posts and check out our Fellows’ IG Takeover on our Instagram.

PiAf provides support to Fellows as they transition into (and, at the end of the year, out of) their respective placements; PiAf also assists Fellows in case of an emergency. It is therefore important that Fellows keep in touch with PiAf about their travel and their whereabouts. Fellows are required to let PiAf staff know when they travel, if they become sick or injured, or if they have a security incident. A member of PiAf’s staff will also check in with each Fellow regularly throughout the year, and will be available for check-ins as needed.

Fellows must adhere to all PiAf policies, including the Travel Restrictions Policy that lists locations Fellows must not travel to during their fellowship year.

Fellows are also required to submit formal reports about their fellowships throughout the year (at the 3-month mark, the 6-month mark, and at the conclusion of the fellowship) as well as participate in PiAf communications through submitting materials for the bimonthly Fellows Flyer newsletter, Fellow Instagram Takeovers, or other media. PiAf Fellows whose posts are sponsored are required to submit updates about their posts to the sponsor.

Fellows may also be asked to assist PiAf in other ways, such as offering guidance to prospective Fellows or providing additional feedback or information about their location, fellowship, or organization.

Princeton in Africa advises each applicant to speak to their campus’s financial aid office when looking into deferring loans. Fellows must coordinate with their loan providers directly to defer their loans. However, PiAf can provide supplemental documentation explaining that the Fellow is participating in the yearlong PiAf program.

Yes, it is possible to apply to such programs while abroad. Based on your location, you may face some challenges in Internet connectivity or find other challenges. However, Fellows have successfully navigated this process in the past, even taking graduate entrance exams while in Africa. If you anticipate the need to travel for an extended period of time for interviews, you must discuss this early with Princeton in Africa and the host organization, ideally during the interview process.