Call for Applications: Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards for African Students in South African Ph.D. Programmes (up to ZAR 50,000 )
The African Critical Inquiry Programme (ACIP) is excited to announce the 2025 Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards, aimed at supporting African doctoral students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in Ph.D. programmes at South African universities. These awards will support dissertation research on relevant topics related to public culture, cultural institutions, and public scholarship in Africa. The grants vary in amounts, with a maximum of ZAR 50,000 awarded depending on the scope of the research.
About the African Critical Inquiry Programme (ACIP)
ACIP focuses on advancing inquiry and debate around the roles of public culture, cultural institutions, and scholarship in shaping identities and society in Africa. Through collaboration between scholars and cultural practitioners, ACIP fosters research on the politics of knowledge production, the colonial and postcolonial divide, and the importance of critical pluralism versus nationalist discourse. ACIP is a partnership between the Centre for Humanities Research at the University of the Western Cape and the Laney Graduate School of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).
Eligibility Criteria
The Ivan Karp Doctoral Research Awards are open to African postgraduate students (regardless of citizenship) currently registered in a Ph.D. programme at a South African university. Applicants must be researching topics related to the focus areas of ACIP, including but not limited to:
- Public culture institutions
- Museums and exhibitions
- Public scholarship practices
- Culture, communication, and media
- Theories, histories, and systems of thought related to public culture and scholarship
Applicants should be able to demonstrate how their proposed research aligns with ACIP’s core concerns and goals. The research proposal must be approved by the applicant’s institution prior to submission to confirm eligibility. The award will support on-site research to help applicants complete their dissertations. Research cannot be conducted at the applicant’s home institution unless it holds unique resources that are essential for the project.
Application Process
Applications are encouraged from students who employ a range of methodologies in the humanities and humanistic social sciences, including archival work, fieldwork, interviews, surveys, and quantitative data collection. Proposals should be written in clear, intelligible prose for a multidisciplinary selection committee. Applicants should demonstrate thorough knowledge of the relevant concepts, theories, and methodologies in their discipline, and provide a detailed, realistic research design with a well-justified project budget.
Applicants should consult the ACIP website resources to assist with writing a strong proposal and crafting a well-prepared budget. Specific guidelines are available at:
Required Documents for Submission
To apply, eligible candidates must submit the following documents in a single file attachment in the order listed:
- Completed cover sheet (available online at the ACIP webpage)
- Abstract of the proposed research project (maximum 250 words)
- Research proposal (no more than 1800 words, double-spaced, 2.5 cm margins, font no smaller than 11 point)
- Bibliography of up to two pages
- Project budget with a breakdown of expenses supported by the award
- Curriculum Vitae
- Current academic transcript and proof of registration at the applicant’s institution
- Two referee letters, including one from the applicant’s supervisor. These should be sent directly to the selection committee.
Please note that funding will only support dissertation research, not dissertation writing, editing, printing, tuition, conference participation, or previously completed research. Equipment purchases, such as laptops or audio-visual tools, may be supported only if they are directly necessary for the research and cost-effective, accounting for no more than 20% of the total budget.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary ACIP Selection Committee based on the merit and quality of the proposed research. Award amounts will be determined by project needs, with the maximum award being ZAR 50,000. Successful applicants will be notified by late July 2025.
Final Expectations
Awardees will be required to attend the African Critical Inquiry Workshop the following year and may have the opportunity to consult with scholars during the workshop. Once the research is completed, awardees must submit a final research report and a financial report. The award must be acknowledged in the dissertation and any resulting publications.
Closing Date
Applications must be received no later than Thursday, 1 May 2025. Incomplete applications or those that do not adhere to the format guidelines will not be considered.
How to Apply
Please submit all application materials as a single file attachment to [email protected] with the subject line “ACIP 2025 Research Award Application.”
For more details, visit the ACIP website or the Ivan Karp and Corinne Kratz Fund Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ivan.karp.corinne.kratz.fund.
This award is generously funded by the Ivan Karp and Corinne Kratz Fund.
For further inquiries, contact ACIP at [email protected].
