African Studies PhD

The PhD in African Studies is an interdisciplinary research programme, usually undertaken full-time over three years, or part-time over six years.

As a doctoral candidate of this programme, you will make an original contribution to our knowledge of Africa by pursuing an extended and focused piece of research on a topic of interest to you.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

The Centre of African Studies is a recognised Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) outlet, which means that our teaching and training has been quality assured at a national level.  

You will be encouraged to participate in taught Masters level courses to assist your intellectual development and support your research, including research-oriented training courses.

Supervision

Your doctoral research will be supported with extensive supervision. The research conducted by our staff is internationally regarded, and many are recognised as leaders in their field.

You will need to contact potential supervisors prior to applying for the programme. You can review the SPS staff list to identify areas of expertise relevant to your interests:

• School of Social and Political Science: People

Further training and support 

  The School of Social and Political Science provides ESRC-recognised research training courses for Social Science students across the University. You can access core, intermediate and advanced research training courses tailored to the needs of your project.

The University’s Institute for Academic Development also provides a range of courses and events to assist with methodological training and career development. 

• Institute for Academic Development   

As a PhD student at the School of Social and Political Science, you will have full access to a number of dedicated facilities in the Chrystal Macmillan Building, such as desk areas for quiet and collaborative study.   You will also have access to the University’s outstanding research libraries and archive facilities.

The University’s Main Library is one of the largest academic libraries in the world with more than 2,300 study spaces. The Main Library has built up one of the finest collections of African studies texts in the UK. Through the UK’s Standing Conference on Library Materials on Africa, the Library additionally maintains collections on Zambia and Malawi.

Other research facilities in the city centre include the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish Records Office. The National Library of Scotland has major collections relating to Africa, including through the Church of Scotland’s mission papers.

Proximity to the Scottish Parliament and other institutions of national government provides further research opportunities.

Senior research students are often involved in course planning and teaching, which helps to equip them for future academic careers. Our research graduates are highly employable; many remain in academia while some become researchers in Africa and elsewhere, and all develop skills which allow them to work anywhere in the world.

In recent years, graduates of the PhD in African Studies have accepted prestigious academic appointments and influential roles in non-profit, governmental, and international organisations. Their work is recognised within the academy for its creativity and rigour. In 2022, the African Studies Association (UK) named one of our graduates, Dr Simeon Koroma, the winner of the Audrey Richards Prize for the best doctoral thesis in the prior two years

Recent graduates have received lectureships at the University of Manchester, the University of Bath, and the University of Nottingham. Others are working as postdoctoral researchers at the London School of Economics & Political Science, the Tampere Institute for Advanced Studies, the University of Glasgow, and the Ohio State University.

The skills developed during this programme are in demand outside of academia. Students studying topics such as post-conflict environments, state-led development, refugee displacement, and missionary schooling have gone on to work for:

• the UN
• the EU
• the Scottish government
• environmental charities

To understand the type of work conducted by PhD African Studies students, you can explore the profiles of recent graduates:

• African Studies PhD graduates

The Centre of African Studies (CAS) hosts a weekly seminar series where visiting speakers discuss recent research and publications. PhD students are expected to attend and contribute to visiting speaker seminars.

There are numerous other regular events within the School of Social and Political Science, including research and reading groups. 

CAS also hosts an annual conference. The 2024 event, 'Security in Africa: Actors, Logics, and Futures', was co-hosted with the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Security Research. It featured 50 presenters and keynote speakers, including Dr Comfort Ero (President and CEO of the International Crisis Group), Professor Gilbert Khadiagala (University of Witwatersrand), and Professor Kristof Titeca (University of Antwerp).

CAS participates actively in Africa-focused events in Edinburgh, such as:

• panels highlighting contemporary African authors at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the world's largest book festival
• Africa in Motion, the UK's largest African film festival

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent, and a UK masters degree with an overall mark of 65% or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money
  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

• School of Social and Political Science Scholarships

• UK Research Council Awards

For specialised guidance on submitting a competitive scholarship application, please follow the requirements and recommendations and how to contact relevant academic staff as advised here:

• Important information and recommendations

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding