PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD

PASET / Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (hosted at icipe)

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Details checked on 30 October 2026. Dates and amounts change every year. Always confirm on the official page.

Who can apply

Citizens of sub-Saharan African countries that take part in PASET (some calls are for named countries only, such as Mozambique and Senegal). You need a master's degree in ICT or big data, food security, minerals and materials, energy or climate change. Women and young faculty get priority. Bangladeshi nationals are not eligible.

Watch: how to apply

About this opportunity

Managed by icipe (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology) in Nairobi and funded by African governments, the World Bank, and the Government of Korea, PASET-RSIF is Africa’s flagship doctoral training network in Applied Sciences, Engineering, and Technology. Scholars enroll at one of 15 African Host Universities and spend 6 to 12 months in a fully funded "sandwich" research placement at an international partner institution in the USA, Europe, Japan, or Korea.

How to apply, step by step

1. Check that you are eligible. Citizens of sub-Saharan African countries that take part in PASET (some calls are for named countries only, such as Mozambique and Senegal). You need a master's degree in ICT or big data, food security, minerals and materials, energy or climate change. Women and young faculty get priority. Bangladeshi nationals are not eligible.
2. Note the deadline. Jun – Sep (probable; RSIF publishes a call for each cohort, often in mid-year - the sixth-cohort guidelines appeared in Aug 2024; check rsif-paset.org) Confirm the exact date on the official page.
3. Prepare your documents. Official Transcripts: Certified Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates and official transcripts in a relevant STEM discipline.; Letters of Recommendation: 2 signed academic/professional recommendation letters, plus an official letter of support from the applicant's employer (if currently employed as junior faculty at an African university).; Personal Statement / Essay Prompts: A rigorous PhD Research Proposal / Concept Note addressing one of RSIF’s five thematic priority areas (ICT/Big Data/AI, Food Security/Agribusiness, Minerals/Mining/Materials Engineering, Energy including Renewables, or Climate Change) plus a Personal Motivation Statement.; Host University Admission: Proof of provisional admission or active application at one of the designated RSIF African Host Universities..
4. Apply on the official page. Open the official application page and submit your application before the deadline.

How applicants are selected

Independent External Scientific Review (evaluates scientific merit, methodology, and industrial relevance of the PhD proposal), Academic Track Record & Publications, and Priority Weighting for female STEM researchers and junior university faculty under age 35.

Profile of past winners

A 30-year-old female lecturer or researcher with a Master’s in Renewable Energy, Materials Science, or Agricultural Biotechnology and 1–2 co-authored journal papers whose PhD project solves a tangible industrial or environmental bottleneck in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Free materials

Templates, checklists and guides to help you apply.

Browse all free materials →

Tips from our advisors

1. Read the eligibility line by line before you write anything. Most rejections are eligibility mismatches, not weak essays.
2. Contact potential supervisors before you apply. Send a one-page research summary and a short, specific email.
3. Spend most of your time on the criteria with the highest weight in the selection breakdown above.
4. Start at least 8 to 12 weeks early. Certified transcripts, translations and referee letters usually take longer than expected.
5. Ask your referees at least 4 weeks ahead and give them your CV, your draft SOP and the deadline.
6. Explain the impact you want to make for women in your field, not only your own career.

Quick answers

Who can apply for PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD?

Citizens of sub-Saharan African countries that take part in PASET (some calls are for named countries only, such as Mozambique and Senegal). You need a master's degree in ICT or big data, food security, minerals and materials, energy or climate change. Women and young faculty get priority. Bangladeshi nationals are not eligible.

What does PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD cover?

Fully funded PhD at one of the RSIF African host universities: tuition, stipend, research funds, travel and medical insurance, with a 6 to 24 month sandwich placement at an international partner

When is the deadline for PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD?

Jun – Sep (probable; RSIF publishes a call for each cohort, often in mid-year - the sixth-cohort guidelines appeared in Aug 2024; check rsif-paset.org) Dates change every year, so confirm on the official page.

Where can I study or work with PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD?

Host countries: Japan, Mozambique, Senegal, United States, South Korea.

What documents do I need for PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD?

Official Transcripts: Certified Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates and official transcripts in a relevant STEM discipline.; Letters of Recommendation: 2 signed academic/professional recommendation letters, plus an official letter of support from the applicant's employer (if currently employed as junior faculty at an African university).; Personal Statement / Essay Prompts: A rigorous PhD Research Proposal / Concept Note addressing one of RSIF’s five thematic priority areas (ICT/Big Data/AI, Food Security/Agribusiness, Minerals/Mining/Materials Engineering, Energy including Renewables, or Climate Change) plus a Personal Motivation Statement.; Host University Admission: Proof of provisional admission or active application at one of the designated RSIF African Host Universities..

How are applicants selected for PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD?

Independent External Scientific Review (evaluates scientific merit, methodology, and industrial relevance of the PhD proposal), Academic Track Record & Publications, and Priority Weighting for female STEM researchers and junior university faculty under age 35.

How much work is the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) PhD application?

High: PhD Research Concept Note + Master’s/Bachelor’s Transcripts + 2 Recommendation Letters + University Admission/Endorsement