Princeton in Africa Fellowships 2026/2027 for young African graduates.
Princeton in Africa (PiAf) is a non-profit organization that provides year-long, paid post-graduate fellowships with diverse partner organizations across Africa. The program is open to graduates from U.S.-accredited institutions as well as universities across Africa through its Nexus program, offering fellows the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience while contributing to impactful work on the continent.
Eligibility Requirements for General Applicant:
To qualify for the 2026–27 Princeton in Africa Fellowship, applicants must be young professionals or graduating undergraduates (by June 2026) from a four-year U.S.-accredited university, holding at least a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree. They must demonstrate full professional proficiency in English (CEFR Level C1 or higher), while proficiency in French is preferred for certain placements.
Additionally, candidates must be 35 years of age or younger throughout the fellowship year (born on or after September 1, 1991) and possess a valid passport through August 2027. Importantly, applicants cannot be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or similar advanced academic program during the fellowship year.
Eligibility Requirements for Nexus Applicant:
To be eligible for the 2026–27 Princeton in Africa Nexus Fellowship, applicants must be young professionals or undergraduates graduating by June 2026 from an accredited African university, holding at least a bachelor’s, master’s (or equivalent), or Ph.D. degree. They must have full professional proficiency in English (CEFR Level C1 or higher), with French preferred for some placements. Candidates must also be no older than 35 years during the fellowship year (born on or after September 1, 1991) and hold a valid passport through August 2027.
In addition, applicants must be citizens of an African country and currently reside in Africa; those holding dual U.S. citizenship are deemed ineligible. Nexus candidates are also required not to be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or equivalent advanced academic program during the fellowship year. Nexus applicants do not need to be enrolled in any graduate, doctoral, or similar advanced academic program during the fellowship year.
Timeline:
Application Deadline: Monday, October 27, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Eastern Time)
Notification of Interview Status: Early December 2025
Virtual Interviews: January 5–9, 2026
Placement Notifications (Ongoing): February–May 2026
Final Placement Confirmation: Late May 2026
Mandatory Virtual Orientation: June 5–7, 2026
Fellowship Start Date: June 9 – August 10, 2026
Fellowship End Date (12 months): June 8 – August 9, 2027
Applications will be reviewed in November and December 2025, and all applicants will be notified by mid-December whether or not they have been selected for an interview. Candidates are advised not to contact the PiAf office to inquire about their status; instead, they should check their email (including spam folders) if they have not received any notification by mid-December.
Deadline: Oct. 27th, 2025.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Princeton in Africa Fellowship
