SSRC 2025 Next Generation Social Sciences Program

Published: 11 Oct 2024

The Next Generation Social Sciences programme, launched in June 2011, responds to a shortage of experienced faculty in African higher education. The Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa program provides fellowships to nurture the intellectual development and increase retention of early-career faculties in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The Next Generation Social Sciences fellowships are:

• Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship
• Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Fellowship
• Doctoral Dissertation Completion Fellowship

SSRC Next Generation Social Sciences program

Benefits of SSRC Next Generation Social Sciences program

• The doctoral dissertation research fellowship supports research costs of up to US$15,000 on a topic related to peace, security, and development.
• The doctoral dissertation proposal fellowship supports short-term research costs of up to US$3,000 to develop a doctoral dissertation proposal.
• The doctoral dissertation completion fellowship supports a one-year leave from teaching responsibilities and a stipend up to US$15,000 to permit the completion of a dissertation that advances research on peace, security, and development topics.

Requirements for SSRC Next Generation Social Sciences program

All candidates must:

• Be citizens of and reside in a sub-Saharan African country
• Hold a master’s degree
• Be enrolled in a PhD program at an accredited university in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, or Uganda
• Have an approved dissertation research proposal

The program seeks to promote diversity and encourages women to apply.

Selection Process

Strong proposals will offer clear and concise descriptions of the project and its significance. Proposals should display a thorough knowledge of the relevant social science literature that applicants will engage and the methodologies relevant to the project. In addition, applicants must demonstrate that all proposed activities are feasible and can be completed in a timely manner. All proposals will be evaluated for these criteria by an independent, international committee of leading scholars from a range of social science disciplines.

Next Generation Social Sciences Fellows must be willing to attend two workshops sponsored by the SSRC each year that are intended to help early-career faculty produce scholarly publications. We anticipate awarding as many as 45 fellowships in total across all categories each year.

Duration of Next Generation Social Sciences Fellowship: 

Fellowships are offered each year. The doctoral dissertation research fellowship is about 6-12 months

Application Deadline

January 31, 2025

How to Apply