Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to study abroad without worrying about tuition fees? For many African students and young scholars, studying at a top international university sounds exciting until the cost enters the conversation. Tuition, travel, accommodation, and daily living expenses can quickly turn a dream into something that feels out of reach. But every once in a while, an opportunity appears that changes that equation.
The ALC Fellowships for African Scholars 2026/2027 offer talented Africans the chance to study and train in peace, security, and development through a programme linked to King’s College London. More importantly, the fellowship is designed to support scholars academically and professionally while removing much of the financial burden that normally comes with studying abroad.
Beyond the funding, this programme focuses on something equally valuable: Leadership, Research and Policy influence. For young scholars who want to make an impact across the continent, this fellowship could become a major turning point.
What Is the ALC Fellowship?
The fellowship is organised by the African Leadership Centre in partnership with King’s College London. Established in 2010, the ALC focuses on building a new generation of African leaders working in peace, security, and development.
The programme runs for 18 months and integrates:
- An MSc in Global Leadership and Peacebuilding at King’s College London
- Mentorship and leadership training
- Research and policy analysis
- Simulation exercises and institutional visits
- A six-month placement at an African university, regional organisation, or Centre of Excellence
This is not one of those fellowships where participants only attend workshops and disappear afterward. Fellows become part of a long-term professional and academic network focused on African-led solutions.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship targets young African scholars and junior faculty members interested in careers connected to peace, development, governance, and security.
Applicants should generally:
- Be citizens of an African country
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree
- Demonstrate interest in peace, security, and development issues
- Show research potential
- Be willing to return and contribute to their institutions or communities after the fellowship
The programme is especially relevant for candidates from fields such as:
- Political science
- International relations
- Law
- Development studies
- History
- Peace and conflict studies
- Related disciplines
Interestingly, previous direct work in security studies is not mandatory. What matters more is your commitment, intellectual curiosity, and leadership potential.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
One reason this fellowship attracts attention every year is the strong support structure.
Selected fellows benefit from:
- Academic training at King’s College London
- Tailored mentorship
- Research support
- Networking opportunities
- Policy engagement experience
- Institutional placements across Africa
The programme is widely described as fully funded for selected fellows, although applicants should always review the official application details carefully to confirm the exact financial coverage for their intake year.
Application Deadline
According to the current call for applications, the deadline is May 24, 2026.
Applicants are encouraged to begin early because the process involves both the ALC application portal and admission requirements connected to King’s College London.
Candidates must submit applications through the official ALC fellowship portal.
- You can read the full fellowship call document here: ALC Fellowship Call for Applications PDF
- Official application portal: ALC Fellowship Application Portal
Final Thoughts
Opportunities like this are competitive. There is no point pretending otherwise. But strong fellowships are rarely looking only for perfect CVs. They want people with clear motivation, intellectual depth, leadership potential, and a convincing vision for impact in Africa. If you care deeply about governance, peacebuilding, development policy, or security issues on the continent, this fellowship could genuinely change the direction of your career. You should also check out our post on 8 Funding Opportunities for African Entrepreneurs Closing Soon Apply Now for more opportunities currently open to Africans.
If you are actively searching for more international study opportunities, you should also read our post on 30 Fully Funded Masters Scholarships for International Students in 2026. It highlights several fully funded programmes currently open to international students across different fields and countries.
