Call for The African Creativity Beyond Borders Prize Programme 2026 is open now !!!
The African Creativity Beyond Borders Prize Programme has secured 4 fully funded PhD scholarships, starting in October 2026. There are multiple research areas in which they seek proposals from students interested in joining the programme. Of the four funded scholarships, one may be made available to international applicants.
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The Programme builds on King’s Africa Regional Networks, which are part of its strategic engagement with Africa, with international collaborations and partnerships, such as the African Leadership Centre in Nairobi and the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) on Creative Economies, with strategic international partners like the University of Lagos (Nigeria), the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and Stellenbosch and Rhodes University (South Africa).
The Programme can successfully respond to numerous calls from policy (UKRI, Sutton Trust), as well as academic research undertaken within KCL with the support of APPG Creative Diversity (Creative Majority Report) to increase the diversity of our creative economy, especially from the Global Majority.
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They train future leaders in academia, the creative economy, and policy to understand, acknowledge, include, and promote the contributions of African creativity nationally, regionally and globally. They research the contemporary contribution of the African continent and the evolution of African heritage and cultures in diasporic networks. They aim to reshape future access, representation, and equity in the UK and beyond.
The scholarship welcome applications from people with academic qualifications in relevant fields (arts, humanities, creative practice, social sciences, policy and development studies). They would like to specifically encourage applications from candidates who identify as Black / Mixed Black and/or have diasporic or heritage roots in Africa. Funding will be for 4 years, both UK and international applicants are eligible, but only 1 in 4 studentships can be awarded to international applicants. The students will get annual stipend (UKRI rate: £22,780 (incl LWA) full-time for 2025/26).
Location:
UKBenefits
- Full tuition fees covered
- Annual stipend (UKRI rate: £22,780 (incl LWA) full-time for 2025/26)
- Research training and support
- Opportunities to attend conferences and workshops
Eligibilities
- Academic qualifications in relevant fields (arts, humanities, creative practice, social sciences, policy and development studies)
- Passion for understanding, researching and supporting African creativity in the UK and internationally
- Interest in equality, diversity and inclusion
- Commitment to interdisciplinarity and intercultural dialogue
- Drive to generate impact and policy engagement
- Applications from candidates who identify as Black / Mixed Black and/or have diasporic or heritage roots in Africa will be prioritized
Application Process
- Before you apply, please check the specific entry requirements for each PhD programme in the individual pages, and once ready, complete the application via Apply Now link.
- Please include a copy of your CV within the King’s Apply portal. Please make sure that in your prior education, degrees and their outcomes (final grades) are included, as well as the title and final mark of your MA/MSc dissertation. Please also include the contact details of two academic referees.
- A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (up to 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment.
- A research proposal is required. The research proposal should build on the area of research identified above and the supervisors’ and project partner’s expertise, but also highlight how your own knowledge and background support the research and can contribute to its delivery.
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, you will also be required to provide copies of your official degree certificate.
- A reference is required for an application.
Application Deadline: February 13, 2026
Application ClosedOfficial link
