Deadline: May 24, 2026
Applications are open for the African Leadership Centre Associate Fellowship in Peace, Security and Development for African Students 2026/2027. This associate fellowship bursary is available to African students applying for the MSc Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London, for the 2026/27 academic year (beginning in September 2026). It is available to students studying full time only. The bursary is available to young Africans who are pursuing careers in leadership, security, and development.
Established in 2010, the African Leadership Centre (ALC) seeks to build an inter-generational community of transformative leaders producing cutting-edge knowledge that serves as a catalyst for a new peace, security and development agenda in Africa. To this effect, the Centre produces and deploys multi-dimensional forms of knowledge, builds an inter-generational community of value driven leaders, facilitates a catalytical ‘public square’ to set a new agenda for Africa, and enhances the ALC Hub to produce and manage knowledges. The Centre pursues its vision of building an inter-generational community of value driven transformative leaders from its bases in Nairobi, Kenya and King’s College, London.
Benefits
- Successful applicants will receive a bursary that covers 25 per cent of the MSc Global Leadership and Peacebuilding tuition fees at King’s College London for the 2026/27 academic year in addition to five thousand pounds (£5,000) as a contribution to their living expenses in London.
- This fellowship combines rigorous academic research, impactful writing, and policy analysis on leadership, security, and development issues. It uses modalities of learning that integrate a master’s programme on Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London with a uniquely tailored mentoring programme—comprising numerous group-mentoring sessions, simulation practices, one-on-one and peer-to-peer mentoring sessions, institutional visits, and attachment.
- After the MSc programme, Associate Fellows will also have an option to undertake a paid six-month attachment to a leading African university, regional organization, or centre of excellence.
- Upon completion, associate fellows emerge with academic knowledge, research skills, mentorship training, and practical experience, connected to a network of distinguished African experts in peace, security, and development to propel their careers forward.
Eligibility
- Candidates must be able to demonstrate the following values during all phases of the programme: promoting African led ideas and processes of change; independent thinking; integrity; pursuit of excellence; recognition of youth agency and respect for diversity in all its forms.
- Candidates must have citizenship in an African country.
- Successful candidates must hold valid travel documents prior to acceptance.
- Candidates need to demonstrate an interest in pursuing careers in the field of peace, security and development.
- A final confirmation of offer of a place on the programme depends on securing unconditional acceptance into the MSc in global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London by the University’s deadline. Please note that for most students from the global south passing an English Language Proficiency Test is mandatory to gain unconditional acceptance to the MSc programme at King’s College London.
- A final confirmation of offer of a place on this programme depends on successful candidates obtaining a student visa.
Application
Applicants interested in this associate fellowship should apply for both the associate fellowship and the MSc programme.
The following documents are required before your application is considered complete:
- A fully completed application questionnaire on the online application system.
- A supporting statement of 500 to 750 words—outlining why you want to join this programme, what unique contribution you would bring, and what change you envision contributing to in your community or area of work after the programme.
- Two letters of recommendation (to be received directly from your referees by the deadline of 24 May 2026, 23:59 hrs EAT).
- A recent curriculum vitae, maximum 2 pages.
Apply for the Associate Fellowship
Apply for the MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding
For more information, visit African Leadership Centre Associate Fellowship.
