The application for the 2025-26 Princeton in Africa fellowship is now closed.

Applications for the 2026-27 fellowship will open in late August of 2025.

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:

• General applicants must be young professionals or current undergraduates graduating by June 2025 at the time of application.*
• General applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or a Ph.D. from a 4-year U.S.-accredited university.
• General applicants must have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading and writing English as defined by the CEFR (Level C1 and above). Additionally, professional proficiency in French is preferred at some posts.
• General applicants must be not more than 35 years of age for the duration of the fellowship year (through August 2026). General applicants for the 2025-26 fellowship year must have a birthdate that falls on or after September 1, 1990.
• General applicants must have a passport valid through the end of the fellowship year (August 2026).

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

Nexus Program Eligibility:

• Nexus applicants must be young professionals or current undergraduates graduating by June 2025 at the time of application.*
• Nexus applicants must have an undergraduate degree or a Master’s degree (or equivalent), or a Ph.D. from an African university.
• Nexus applicants must not be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or equivalent advanced academic programs during their fellowship year.
• Nexus applicants must have full professional proficiency in speaking, reading and writing English as defined by the CEFR (Level C1 and above). Additionally, professional proficiency in French is preferred at some posts.
• Nexus applicants must be not more than 35 years of age for the duration of the fellowship year (through August 2026). Nexus applicants for the 2025-26 fellowship year must have a birthdate that falls on or after September 1, 1990.
• Nexus applicants must have a passport valid through the end of the fellowship year (August 2026).
• Nexus Applicants must 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

PiAf cannot accept any application materials emailed directly by applicants, please see below for a list of application materials and how they are to be submitted. You can find additional information regarding these requirements on our FAQs and in the online application.

• (All Applicants) Complete Online Application — submitted via online form.
• (All Applicants) Resume or CV — attached to online application, 2 pages max
• (All Applicants) Unofficial transcript — attached to online application (accompanied by an English translation, if necessary). Transcripts must be in English, should be in PDF format and no larger than 256KB.
• (All Applicants) Official transcript — sent directly from your university to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org, additional information in FAQs linked above. Note that PiAf only accepts digital official transcripts that are sent directly from your university to our offices via secure online platform or email (accompanied by an English translation, if necessary).
• (All Applicants) One letter of recommendation — submitted directly by your recommender via online form.
• (Nexus Applicants Only) Proof of university enrollment —  attached to online application. Must be in English, in PDF format and no larger than 256KB. For this requirement, PiAf will accept any ONE of the following:
  • An official enrollment verification document (accompanied by an English translation, if necessary)
  • A scanned copy of the applicant’s diploma (accompanied by an English translation, if necessary)
  • A letter in English on university letterhead signed by a university administrator or professor indicating the dates of enrollment, degree obtained, and area of study. The university representative’s email and phone number must be included in the letter.

Incomplete Applications will not be accepted. Princeton in Africa cannot confirm the receipt of application materials. We ask that you not call the Princeton in Africa office with questions about the application. Please send any inquiries to piafapp@princetoninafrica.org.

PLEASE NOTE: 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.

The Placement Process

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 17, 2024!

We will be holding an info session for prospective applicants on September 17th from 12:00-1:30 PM (EDT). 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, 2024
Application goes live

Tuesday, Sept 17th, 2024 at 12:00-1:30 PM Eastern
Information Session for prospective applicants

Sunday, October 27th, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern
Application Deadline

Early December, 2024
Applicants notified about interviews

Early January, 2025
Fellowship interviews (conducted virtually)

February-May 2025
Ongoing acceptance and placements

June 6 – 8th, 2025
MANDATORY Virtual Orientation

June 10-August 8, 2025
Fellowships begin

June 10-August 8, 2026
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.