Frequently Asked Questions

To be eligible for the 2027-28 Princeton in Africa Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be young professionals or current undergraduates graduating by June 2027 at the time of application.*
• Hold a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or a Ph.D. from either:
  • A 4-year U.S.-accredited university, or
  • A locally-accredited university based in an African country
• Have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English as defined by the CEFR (Level C1 and above). Professional proficiency in French or Portuguese 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, 1992).
• Hold a passport that is valid until at least 6 months after the end of the fellowship year.

*All 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. If you graduate from a university that is not accredited in the U.S. or in an African country, then later obtain an additional degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or in an African country, you would be eligible to apply for Princeton in Africa.

General applicants must have a 4-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree from a U.S.-accredited university. Nexus Applicants must have a 4-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree from a locally-accredited university located on the African continent.

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 want all Fellows to find the work they do stimulating and challenging. In the end, our placement process is about fitting the right candidate with the right organization, so we don’t have any “hard and fast rules” 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.

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

Citizens of any country can apply for the fellowship program, provided they meet the full eligibility requirements. Citizens of African countries who reside on the African continent with degrees from African universities are considered Nexus applicants. 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 program.

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. 

The application for 2027-28 Fellowships is available here. To begin an application, select the link for “apply now”. The link will open the login page. Select the link under the login buttons for “create account”. Complete the User registration form. Note the email address you use to create the account. This will be your username.

The deadline for the 2027-28 fellowship application is 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, Oct. 26th, 2026.

• Monday, Oct. 26th, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time: Application Deadline
• Early to Mid-December 2026: Applicants notified whether they are invited to interview
• January 6th-9th and January 12th, 2027: Virtual interviews
• February-May 2027: Selected candidates notified about potential posts. Placements ongoing. 
• Late-May 2027: Fellowship placements finalized
• June 4th-6th, 2027: Mandatory virtual orientation for 2027-2028 Fellowship cohort
• June 8th-August 18th, 2027: Fellowships begin
• June 7th-August 17th, 2028: 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 2026.

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.

If you have already created an account in the Global Programs System, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Make sure your username is the same email address you used to create your account. 
2. If you forgot your password, select the non-princeton login button and select “Forgot your password”. Enter the email address you used to create the account. The system will automatically send you a temporary password and instructions to reset. This message will be sent from noreply@princeton.edu. If you do not receive it in your inbox, please check your junk mail and spam folders.
3. If you are using a VPN, exit the VPN and login from your internet browser directly. VPN often interferes with connection to GPS.
4. Logout of GPS and close any open GPS windows. Clear your browser cache.
5. Try using a different internet browser.
6. Try using an incognito window.

After you have tried all of these steps, reach out to globalps@princeton.edu for assistance.

• INTERVIEWS: Should you be invited for an interview, you must be available for one of the interview sessions that will be held in January 2027. Interview dates are: January 6th-9th and January 12th, 2027. PiAf staff will be contacting those invited to interview by mid-December 2026 with more information. Please do not contact the PiAf office about interview invitations. 
• ORIENTATION: Those candidates who receive a fellowship placement are required to attend every day of PiAf’s MANDATORY virtual pre-departure orientation program in real time. The orientation will be held during Eastern Daylight Time business hours from June 4th-6th, 2027.
• YEARLONG COMMITMENT: All Fellows must make a yearlong commitment. Fellowships will end 12 months after one’s start date (end dates will fall between June and August 2028 depending on the start date).

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 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

Applicants who use AI in their application materials tend to produce content that is generic and that does not give the review committee a good sense of who that applicant is, putting them at a disadvantage over applicants who compose their own content in full.

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

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.

The last two PiAf cohorts have worked in 12 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. However, 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.

Princeton in Africa is broadening its efforts to connect exceptional emerging leaders with organizations and investors shaping Africa’s growing innovation economy, from startups to tech-driven initiatives leveraging public-private partnerships and venture capital. Through this targeted program, Fellows will gain hands-on experience while helping organizations drive innovation, expand economic opportunity, and advance scalable solutions, building a lasting talent pipeline for Africa’s future.

Princeton in Africa applicants who are interested in Innovation Fellowship posts should indicate their preference in their applications and submit the supplemental essay question in the application portal. 

Some of the skills we are looking for in the Innovation Fellow include but are not limited to data analysis, product development and technology management. 

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. Candidates 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.

There is no 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
  • Must be in English
  • Use a readable font size (size 10pt or larger)
  • 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.

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.
  • Transcripts must be in English (or include an English translation)
  • In the event of multiple degrees, if one is from a U.S.-accredited institution, please submit that transcript. 
  • Please contact your university’s Registrar’s office for more information about ordering a digital official transcript before reaching out to PiAf with questions. 
  • 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 well in advance of the application deadline.

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 first 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.

When you enter a recommender’s name and “send request”, the system immediately sends the notification to your recommender. This message will come from noreply@princeton.edu. If your recommender informs you that they did not receive the recommendation request, try these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check your application to be sure that you have entered the correct email address and there are no typos.
2. Advise the recommender of the email address you entered for them, that the notification would have come from noreply@princeton.edu, and the date (or approximate date) they would have received it.
3. Ask them to check their spam/junk folders.
4. After you have done all of the steps above, reach out to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

If your recommender received the request from noreply@princeton.edu but is having difficulty submitting their recommendation through the system, please contact piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

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.

PiAf is now conducting all interviews virtually. Interviews will take place on January 6-9 and January 12th, 2027. 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.

Launched in 2023–24, the Princeton in Africa Nexus fellowship expands opportunities for talented young African leaders educated and residing on the African continent to participate in the Princeton in Africa fellowship. The program continues PiAf’s mission of promoting the exchange of skills, knowledge, leadership, and technical expertise across the fellowship community while strengthening organizations across Africa. All Nexus applicants must be citizens of an African country who are residing on the African continent and who are recent graduates or graduating seniors of a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD program at an African university. Additional information regarding Nexus can be found here as well as in our FAQs.

All applicants to the 2027-28 Princeton in Africa fellowship must meet the same eligibility criteria. Nexus applicants are those who are citizens of an African country and reside on the African continent, and who are recent graduates or graduating seniors of a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD program at an African university. Please see our Apply page and additional FAQs on our website to learn more. Learn more about the Nexus program here.

The application requirements are the same for Nexus and General applicants. Please see our Apply page for more information about eligibility requirements.

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

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

Yes, all Fellows are required to attend the full 2027-28 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 8 and August 9, 2027 and will complete their fellowship one year later, between June 7 and August 8, 2028. 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 outside the auspices of Princeton in Africa. (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 on September 15, 2026. Join our applicant email list for more information.
• Review the Fellows Flyers from current and past fellowship cohorts.
• Read reports from former Fellows located here (Please email piafapp@princetoninafrica.org for login information).
• Read the bimonthly PiAf Newsletter located here. 
• Check out our Fellows’ IG Takeover on our Instagram.
• Contact piafapp@princetoninafrica.org with questions and to get on our mailing list.

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. Emails with questions that are answered in the FAQs or elsewhere on the website will not receive a reply.

Safety and security issues vary from country to country. 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. Fellows are advised to remain alert, to behave responsibly, and to be cautious about their activities. 

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. 

Fellows should expect to cover:

• $350 nonrefundable program placement fee, paid upon acceptance of a fellowship post.
• Depending on the 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. Applicants should visit their local 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.
• Partial cost of travel to mid-year Retreat.

Princeton in Africa/host organizations aim to cover:

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

Fellowship packages vary post-to-post; details will be provided in the offer letter prior to a Fellow’s acceptance.

*The stipend is meant to cover the basic cost of living in a fellowship location and will vary based on in-kind benefits provided by the host organization (including meals, housing, etc.). Stipends are not meant to cover personal costs that are not directly related to the PiAf fellowship, including costs in Fellows’ home countries.

Note: PiAf is committed to ensuring all applicants are able to participate in the program regardless of their financial situation. Once placed with a host organization, a financial assistance application is available to Fellows with demonstrated need. Fellows can ask questions about the process to PiAf staff during the placement process.

The fellowship stipend is meant to cover the basic cost of living in a fellowship location, and will vary based on in-kind benefits provided by the host organization (including meals, housing, etc.). Stipends are carefully calculated to account for basic costs depending on location, but are not meant to 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 sites of program implementation; others are based in rural areas and work at program sites every day. 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 database (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 PiAf 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 housing. 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.

Each year, Princeton in Africa organizes a mid-year retreat to bring all Fellows in the cohort together in-person. The retreat offers time to connect, reflect, and celebrate as a community while preparing for the remainder of the fellowship year.

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 shops, 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 database (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. More information is also available through the Fellows Flyers.

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. Fellows 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 in preparation for the end of your fellowship year. Based on your location, you may face some issues with internet connectivity or find other challenges. However, Fellows have successfully navigated this process in the past, even taking graduate entrance exams during their PiAf fellowships. 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.