The Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) has officially launched its call for the 2026 Iso Lomso Fellowship, an initiative aimed at the “eye of tomorrow.”
This program is specifically designed to provide African scholars with the resources and time needed to establish themselves as leaders in their respective fields.
Selected participants will benefit from a unique three-year attachment to STIAS, which centers on long-term research projects of the scholar’s choice.
The fellowship is structured around residential periods in South Africa, typically starting with a longer stay in 2027 followed by subsequent visits through 2029.
Funding and benefits
STIAS offers a comprehensive support package to ensure that fellows can focus entirely on their intellectual pursuits while in residence.
This funding covers an economy return flight and provides comfortable accommodation located within walking distance of the institute.
Financial support includes a monthly stipend to cover daily living costs, along with a dedicated childcare subsidy for fellows traveling with young children.
Scholars are also provided with private, fully-equipped offices and high-speed internet to facilitate their research.
In addition to physical resources, fellows gain full access to the Stellenbosch University library and its extensive electronic databases.
The fellowship also emphasizes community, offering daily lunches and weekly seminars where scholars can engage with an international cohort of researchers.
Application requirement
To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must be nationals of an African country and hold an academic position at a university or research institution on the continent.
Candidates must have earned their doctoral degree from a recognized institution after January 1, 2018.
The program is targeted at early-career academics, requiring that applicants be born after January 1, 1984.
Furthermore, candidates must have already completed a post-doctoral fellowship or an equivalent post-PhD research program before applying.
Selection is highly competitive, based on academic excellence, the originality of the proposed research, and its relevance to knowledge production in Africa.
STIAS also evaluates the feasibility of the research design and the potential for the project to foster interdisciplinary discourse.
The institute maintains a commitment to diversity, considering gender representation and a variety of nationalities and disciplines during the final selection process.
Shortlisted candidates may be contacted in May 2025 for further details regarding their research proposals.
Deadline
The application window is currently open, and all interested scholars must submit their materials by the final deadline of February 15, 2026.
A final selection will be confirmed by the end of May 2026, with successful candidates being contacted in June 2025. Click here to apply. Explore more global calls on our Opportunities page
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