Apply for the STIAS 2025 Iso Lomso Fellowships for African Researchers

Iso Lomso means ‘the eye of tomorrow’ in isiXhosa: seeing towards the future, laying the foundations for tomorrow. The programme is aimed at African scholars who have obtained a doctoral degree within the preceding seven years and who hold an academic position at a university or research institution anywhere in Africa. Candidates should have established a research programme and have completed a post-doctoral fellowship or equivalent post-PhD programme. All disciplines are considered.

Iso Lomso fellowships provide a three-year attachment to STIAS to enable fellows to develop and conduct a long-term research programme of their preference. The aim is to facilitate and support them towards becoming established scholars in their fields.

• Table of Content
• About Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)
• Iso Lomso Fellowships
• Aim and Benefits of Iso Lomso Fellowships
• Requirements for Iso Lomso Fellowships Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Iso Lomso Fellowships
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS)

n today’s knowledge society accessing reliable, appropriate, future-orientated, ground-breaking knowledge and being able to process the technologies and know-how that flows from this knowledge is key. It is also critical to nurture a future generation of independent thinkers and leaders. Leaders who not only understand the realities of a changing world, but also have the abilities and skills to implement new advances to the benefit of society.... continue reading

Iso Lomso Fellowships

Aim and Benefits of Iso Lomso Fellowships

While in residence fellows receive regular STIAS fellow support which includes:

• An economy return flight;
• Comfortable accommodation within walking distance from the institute;
• Individual offices equipped with a PC, telephone and printer;
• A monthly stipend for daily living costs;
• Access to the Stellenbosch University library (including electronic resources) and a high-speed internet connection;
• Participation in the regular STIAS fellows programme, including daily lunch, weekly fellows’ seminars, STIAS public lectures and social events;
• A child care subsidy for fellows accompanied by young children while in residence.

Residence at STIAS

A three-year attachment to STIAS during which time you may spend a total of ten months in residence at STIAS to develop and pursue a long-term research project

Links to sister institutions

The possibility of a residency at a partner institute for advanced study or other research intensive institution abroad

International conferences

Funding to attend up to two international conferences or training workshops anywhere in the world

Your own workshop

Support to convene a workshop with collaborators at STIAS or at their home institution

Support for your institution

Lecturer replacement subsidy for your home institution during residency periods

Requirements for Iso Lomso Fellowships Qualification

To be eligible for the 2025 call, applicants must:

• Be a national of any African country;
• Be born after the 1st of January 1983;
• Have an affiliation at a research or higher education institution in an African country, and continue to do so for the foreseeable future;
• Have obtained a doctoral degree from any recognised higher education institution (worldwide) after the 1st of January 2017;
• Have completed a post-doctoral fellowship or equivalent post-PhD research programme;
• Be in a position to commence a first period of residency at STIAS during 2026.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Iso Lomso Fellowships

Application Timeline:

• Application deadline: 15 February 2025
• Shortlist selection: 30 April 2025
• Final selection: 31 May 2025

Shortlisted candidates may be contacted during May 2025 for any additional information that may be required about their proposed projects. A final selection will be made by the end of May 2025 and successful candidates will be contacted during June 2025. These dates may change and will be updated on the page. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, STIAS fellowships website.