About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
Nordic Scholarship Programme 2026: One-Month Research Opportunity at the Nordic Africa Institute
The Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) is inviting applications for its Nordic Scholarship Programme, an opportunity designed to support researchers and students undertaking Africa-focused research in the social sciences and humanities.
The programme gives successful applicants an opportunity to undertake a one-month research stay at the Nordic Africa Institute, where they can access specialised library collections, work within the Institute's research environment and connect with researchers and academic networks focused on contemporary Africa.
The scholarship aims to strengthen knowledge production about Africa while encouraging collaboration and connections between Africa-focused researchers and Nordic research communities.
Applications are open to master's students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and mid-career researchers who meet the programme's academic and institutional eligibility requirements.
The application deadline is 11 October 2026.
About the Nordic Scholarship Programme
The Nordic Scholarship Programme is administered by the Nordic Africa Institute, a research institution dedicated to strengthening knowledge and understanding of contemporary Africa.
The programme supports researchers whose work contributes to knowledge about Africa and seeks to strengthen relationships between researchers working on Africa-related subjects and Nordic academic communities.
Selected scholars are given the opportunity to spend one month at the Nordic Africa Institute. During this period, they can use the Institute's research resources, engage with researchers and research hosts, and dedicate time to advancing their own academic projects.
The opportunity can be particularly valuable for researchers whose work requires access to specialised collections and resources relating to contemporary Africa.
Who Can Apply?
The Nordic Scholarship Programme is intended for applicants conducting Africa-oriented research within the social sciences or humanities.
Eligible applicants may include:
Master's students
PhD candidates
Postdoctoral researchers
Mid-career researchers
One important feature of the programme is that citizenship does not determine eligibility.
However, applicants must meet a specific institutional requirement. They must be affiliated with and based at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland both when they apply and when they take up the scholarship.
This means that researchers who are not citizens of a Nordic country may still be eligible if they are appropriately affiliated with and based at an eligible university or research centre in one of the four countries.
Applicants should therefore carefully confirm that their institutional affiliation satisfies the programme's requirements before submitting an application.
What Does the Nordic Scholarship Cover?
The Nordic Scholarship Programme provides financial and practical support for the scholar's one-month research stay at the Nordic Africa Institute.
The scholarship covers:
Travel expenses
Accommodation
A subsistence allowance
Workspace in a shared office at the Institute during the research stay
These provisions allow selected researchers to dedicate focused time to their academic work while benefiting from the Institute's specialised research environment.
The programme therefore offers more than financial assistance. It provides an opportunity to spend concentrated research time at an institution specialising in contemporary Africa and to engage with researchers working in related areas.
Research Resources and Academic Benefits
A major benefit of the scholarship is access to the Nordic Africa Institute's extensive library collections on contemporary Africa.
During their stay, scholars can consult research materials including:
Books
Periodicals
Newspapers
Government publications
Other materials relating to contemporary Africa
Recipients can also be connected with ongoing research at the Institute through NAI research hosts.
This can create opportunities for intellectual exchange, academic discussion and professional networking with researchers working on Africa-related subjects.
For master's and doctoral students, access to these resources may support dissertation research and other academic projects.
Postdoctoral and mid-career researchers can use the research stay to deepen ongoing work, consult specialised collections, explore new academic connections and engage with Nordic research communities.
Areas of Research
The scholarship is intended for research focused on Africa within the social sciences and humanities.
Potential applicants may therefore be working on subjects such as:
African politics
Development
Governance
African societies
History
Culture
Economics
International relations
Social and political change
Other relevant social science and humanities disciplines
Applicants should be able to clearly explain how a research stay at the Nordic Africa Institute would contribute to their particular academic project.
A strong application should demonstrate how the Institute's library collections, research environment and research hosts would provide meaningful value to the proposed research.
Duration of the Scholarship
The Nordic Scholarship Programme provides a one-month research stay at the Nordic Africa Institute.
The scholarship is awarded once per year, meaning that eligible researchers should pay close attention to the annual application deadline.
Because the programme is designed as a short-term research stay, it may be particularly suitable for scholars who need concentrated access to specialised research materials, institutional resources and academic networks rather than a long-term degree programme.
How to Apply
Interested researchers should apply through the official Nordic Africa Institute application channel.
Before submitting an application, candidates should carefully review the current programme information and confirm that they meet the requirements relating to:
Research field
Academic or professional status
Institutional affiliation
Location of their university or research centre
Proposed use of the Institute's research resources
Applicants should pay particular attention to the requirement that they must be affiliated with and based at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland both at the time of application and when taking up the scholarship.
Candidates should also clearly demonstrate why spending one month at the Nordic Africa Institute would strengthen or advance their proposed research.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the Nordic Scholarship Programme is 11 October 2026.
Eligible researchers are encouraged to begin preparing their applications early and ensure that their proposed research is clearly connected to the Institute's collections, research environment and Africa-focused academic expertise.
Applicants should also confirm that they will continue to meet the institutional affiliation requirements at the time they take up the scholarship.
Why Consider the Nordic Scholarship Programme?
For eligible researchers working on Africa-focused subjects, the Nordic Scholarship Programme offers an opportunity to combine financial assistance, specialised research resources and academic networking through a focused one-month research stay.
The programme can be especially useful for researchers who need access to materials on contemporary Africa or who would benefit from engaging with scholars and research activities at the Nordic Africa Institute.
Another important feature is its broad range of eligible career stages. The programme can support researchers from master's-level study through PhD research, postdoctoral work and mid-career research.
By facilitating access to specialised resources and encouraging connections between African-focused researchers and Nordic research communities, the programme contributes to wider efforts to strengthen Africa-focused knowledge production and international academic collaboration.
Final Thoughts
The Nordic Scholarship Programme provides an opportunity for eligible Africa-focused researchers to spend one month at the Nordic Africa Institute while accessing specialised research collections, academic workspace, financial support and professional networks.
The opportunity is open to master's students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and mid-career researchers working in the social sciences and humanities, provided they meet the programme's institutional requirements.
Importantly, applicants do not have to be Nordic citizens. However, they must be affiliated with and based at a university or research centre in Sweden, Finland, Denmark or Iceland at both the application stage and when taking up the scholarship.
Researchers who meet these requirements and believe that the Nordic Africa Institute's resources could strengthen their work should consider pr
How to apply