Centre for Epidemic Response & Innovation (CERI) 2025 African STARS MSc Fellowship

The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) (Senegal), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, invite applications for the African STARS Fellowship; a fully funded opportunity to pursue an MSc in Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases and Pathogen Genomics at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

• Table of Content
• About Stellenbosch University
• African STARS MSc fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of African STARS MSc fellowship
• Requirements for African STARS MSc fellowship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for African STARS MSc fellowship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University (SU) is home to an academic community of 29 000 students (including 4 000 foreign students from 100 countries) as well as 3 000 permanent staff members (including 1 000 academics) on five campuses. ?The historical oak-lined university town amongst the Boland Mountains in the winelands of the Western Cape creates a unique campus atmosphere, which attracts local and foreign students alike. On the main campus, paved walkways wind between campus buildings – some dating from previous centuries; others just a few years old. Architecture from various eras attests to the soun... continue reading

African STARS MSc fellowship

Application Deadline	26 Jun 2025
Country to study	South Africa
School to study	Stellenbosch University
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	Stellenbosch University
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of African STARS MSc fellowship

The African STARS Fellowship covers the full cost of the MSc programme, including:

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation
• Living stipend
• Research-related expenses
• Air Travel expense
• Health insurance

Requirements for African STARS MSc fellowship Qualification

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Born in and / or living in Africa
• 35 years of age or younger at the time of application
• Hold a BSc Honours (NQF level 8) or equivalent 4-year degree (≥65%) in:
  • Bioinformatics, Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science,
  • Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Interview date, Process and Venue for African STARS MSc fellowship

Program Details

This two-year, multidisciplinary MSc programme is designed to equip African scientists with the expertise needed to lead innovative research in infectious diseases and pathogen genomics.

• Duration: 2 years (Feb 2026 – Jan 2028).
• Location: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
• Structured 9-month lecture block, including a compulsory Statistics and Bioinformatics module, followed by elective capita selecta modules in Infectious Diseases or Pathogen Genomics, offering flexibility to address emerging research priorities.
• Over 1 year of hands-on research training within Stellenbosch University’s world-class infectious disease laboratories to complete a bioinformatics research project.
• Career development workshops tailored to the needs of researchers in low- and middle-incomecountries (LMICs).
• Ongoing mentorship from a dedicated team of supervisors based at Stellenbosch and partnering institutions.

Application Deadline

June 26, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Stellenbosch University on docs.google.com to apply

Step 1: Click here to apply for the African STARS Fellowship (Scholarship)

Note: This form is only for the scholarship application.

Deadline: 26 June 2025

Step 2: Submit a formal application to Stellenbosch University for admission to the MSc Programme.

Deadline: 31 August 2025 (International), 30 September 2025 (South Africans)

For more details, visit African STARS MSc Fellowship webpage