TRACEEP - Transforming Water-based Education through Exchange and Partnership
First MSc/MPhil/MTech and PhD Scholarship call

SCHOLARSHIP MOBILITY PROGRAMMES 

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and outstanding candidates for full-time study in any of the Postgraduate academic mobility scholarship programmes of the TRACEEP under the following Higher Education Institutions:  

1. Rhodes University (Institute for Water Research), South Africa (RU) 
• MSc Water Resource Science 
• MSc Hydrology 
• PhD Water Resource Science
2. Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria (FUTMINNA) 
• MTech Applied Hydrobiology 
• MTech Applied Hydrogeology 
• PhD Applied Hydrobiology
3. Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal (UCAD) 
• MSc Hydrogeology / Geology Department
• MSc Integrated Management and Durable development in West African Littoral (GIDEL)/ Geography Department
4. University of Kinshasa (Regional School of Water), Democratic Republic of Congo (UNIKIN) 
• M.Sc. Water Resources (Targeting six elective specialisations)
• Water and Environment
• Water, Energy and Solar Pumping
• Water and Navigation
• Water Supply and Sanitation
• Waste Water Treatment
• Water, Irrigation and Agricultural Management
• MSc Water Governance 
• PhD Water Resources
5. University of Cape Coast, Ghana (UCC) 
• MPhil Oceanography and Limnology
• PhD Oceanography and Limnology

TYPE OF MOBILITY SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are for degree-seeking long-term mobility that leads to an award of a degree at the host institution. 

Target Groups 

Target Group 1: 

Students who are registered or have previously obtained a degree from any of the TRACEEP partner institutions: RU, UNIKIN, FUTMINNA, UCAD and UCC. 

Target Group 2: 

Students who are registered or have obtained a degree from any recognized/accredited Higher Education Institution (HEI) established in an African Union Member State apart from TRACEEP partner institutions.

VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIP 

 For successful applicants, TRACEEP funding will cover the following areas: 

• Participation costs e.g. tuition/registration fees) of students. 
• Research costs e.g., field work, laboratory consumables. 
• Student allowance: MSc/MTech/MPhil: 890 Euro per month, and PhD: 1 230 Euro per month. 
• Insurance (Health, accident, and travel). 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA  

General eligibility: 

To be eligible for support from TRACEEP, applicants must: 

• be a national of an African Union member state and resident in Africa at the time of application. 
• meet both institutional and partnership requirements for admission. 
• be prepared to move from home country or country of residence to a country where TRACEEP has a partner institution. Scholarships are attached to mobility and therefore you cannot apply to an institution in the country where you are a citizen or where you reside.
• Applicants who have received a scholarship under the Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2022 - 2027 do not qualify for a scholarship. However, if you benefited from previous intra-Africa mobility scheme e.g. 2016 - 2020 projects, you are eligible. If unsure, please contact us at traceep@ru.ac.za
• Successful candidates cannot hold another EU-funded scholarship (e.g. Erasmus, Erasmus +) for the same mobility period as TRACEEP.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must also fulfil the academic eligibility criteria of the partner institution(s) of their choice: 

Rhodes University (Institute for Water Research), South Africa 

• MSc Water Resource Science (24 months; 2 academic years) 

Candidates must be in possession of at least a second-class Bachelor Honours degree in any of the following natural Sciences field: Microbiology, Zoology, Botany, Ecology, Water Resource Science/Management, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Applied Mathematics or a closely related field.  The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required. SAQA Certificate is required. You do not need to have obtained a SAQA certificate at the time of application. 

• MSc Hydrology (24 months; 2 academic years) 

Candidates must be in possession of at least a second-class Bachelor Honours degree in the field of hydrology, physical sciences, physical geography, geology, environmental science, water engineering, Applied Mathematics or a closely related field from a recognized institution. 

The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of the English Language is required. SAQA Certificate is required. You do not need to have obtained a SAQA certificate at the time of application.  

• PhD Water Resource Science (36 months; 3 academic years) 

Candidates must be in possession of a Master degree in any of the following natural Sciences field: Microbiology, Zoology, Ecology, Water Resource Science/Management, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Applied Mathematics or a closely related field from a recognized institution. 

The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required. SAQA Certificate is required. You do not need to have obtained a SAQA certificate at the time of application. 

Federal University of Technology (Department of Animal Biology; Department of Geology), Minna, Nigeria (FUTMINNA)  

• A candidate applying for Postgraduate Studies in the Federal University of Technology, Minna must have obtained five (5) Credits in WAEC (West African Examination Council) and GCE (General Certificate Examination) (Ordinary Level) or their equivalents in their home countries in not more than two sittings.  

• MTech Applied Hydrobiology (20 Months): 

Candidates are required to have at least a second-class Bachelor Honours degree in Zoology, Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Fisheries, Water Resource Science/Management, or a closely related field from a recognized institution. The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required.   

• MTech Applied Hydrogeology (20 Months): 
• Candidates are required to have at least a second-class Bachelor Honours degree in Hydrology, Geology, Geoscience, Hydraulics, Civil Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Water Resource Science/Management, or a closely related field from a recognized institution. The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required. 

• PhD Applied Hydrobiology (36 Months; 3 academic years): 

Candidates must be in possession of a Master degree in any of the following natural Sciences fields: Zoology, Ecology, Biology, Environmental Science, Fisheries, Water Resource Science/Management, or a closely related field from a recognized institution. The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required.   

University Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal (UCAD)  

• MSc Hydrogeology (24 months; 2 academic years)

Candidates are required to hold a BSc in geology or Civil Engineering / Geology or a closely related discipline.

• MSc Integrated Management and Durable development in West African Littoral (GIDEL) (24 months; 2 academic years)

Candidates are required to hold a BSc in geography/Geology/ Environment or a closely related discipline

For candidates coming from abroad institutions other than CAMES (regional African Institutions), UCAD requires an equivalence of the degree (where candidates should present their degree, curriculum, and transcript from BSc to MSc). The language of instruction is French. A working knowledge of French is required. 

University of Kinshasa (Regional School of Water), DRC (UNIKIN) 

• MSc Water Resources (24 months; 2 academic years)

The programme offers a combination of water resources management and engineering components. Applicants must hold at least a second-class Bachelor Honours degree in Agricultural Sciences, Civil Engineering, Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Hydrology, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, or a closely related field. The language of instruction is French. However, some courses may be delivered in English within the framework of the mobility programme, particularly when lecturers from partner institutions provide teaching locally. The programme spans four semesters (two academic years), totaling 120 credits, i.e., 30 credits per semester. Two semesters are devoted to core courses, one semester focuses on specialization and an internship, including the development of an integrated project or case study according to the six aforementioned tracks, and the final semester is dedicated to research and the writing of the Master’s thesis.  

• PhD Water Resources (36 months; three academic years)

Eligible for admission to the Doctoral (PhD) Programme in Water Resources is any candidate holding a Master’s degree in Water Resources (Water Resources Management and Engineering) or a recognized equivalent qualification in a closely related field. 

Admission is subject to the submission of a research proposal deemed acceptable, fulfilment of the predefined academic requirements, and successful completion of an entrance examination conducted before an ad hoc jury. 

University of Cape Coast, Ghana (UCC) 

• MPhil Oceanography and Limnology (24 months; 2 academic years)

Candidates seeking admission to the MPhil Oceanography and Limnology programme must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Second Class Honours (Lower Division) or its equivalent in the Biological Sciences or related fields from a recognised university. The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required. Candidate will be subject to an oral interview. 

• PhD Oceanography and Limnology (36 months)

Candidates seeking admission to the PhD Oceanography and Limnology programme must have an MPhil or MSc degree with substantial research component in Oceanography, Limnology, Ecology, Environmental Science or any related field from a recognised university. The language of instruction is English. A working knowledge of English Language is required.  Candidate will be subject to an oral interview.

Evidence of instruction either English or French in your home university where you earned your degree is sufficient proof of Language proficiency. Example of such evidence is your academic transcript or a testimonial from your university to that effect. 

TO APPLY: 

Read the guidelines carefully at the programme website here: www.ru.ac.za/traceep

Carefully complete the application form available here: https://ru.infoready4.com/CompetitionSpace/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2010082

 SUBMIT: 

All applicants must submit the following documents: 

• Certified copies of academic degrees, 
• Official transcripts, 
• Two (2) page CV, 
• A formal identity document (e.g., international passport, national identity card, driver license or any other officially recognized form of identification indicating your nationality), 
• 250-word motivation stating why you should be awarded a scholarship, 
• two (2) reference letters (one academic and one non-academic). The academic referee must be able to attest to your academic standing. 
• PhD applicants must submit a short proposal not exceeding three (3) pages, excluding references. Proposals must be aligned to any of the project concept notes accompanying this advert. 

Notes: 

• Incomplete applications will not be considered. 
• Female applicants, persons with disabilities, and applicants from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
• All application will be treated confidentially.

Evaluation of application

Application will be evaluated using the following criteria

1. Academic merit of the applicant
2. Quality of the research proposal (PhD and MPhil candidates only)
3. Quality of the motivation

In deciding final award, reference will also be made to gender equity, quality of the referee letters, designated groups and geographical spread.

CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO APPLY:

https://ru.infoready4.com/CompetitionSpace/#freeformCompetitionDetail/2010082

Application Deadline: 

The deadline for submission of applications is 8 May 2026. Submitted applications will be acknowledged within three (3) working days. 

 Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the competitive selection process by email on or before 7 June 2026. 

 Additional Notes:

Successful candidates will be expected to commence their studies for the next academic session on a rolling basis depending on institutional requirements.

 Where the mobility start date is substantially delayed due to unforeseen circumstances affecting international travels, the project management committee (PMC) reserves the right to allocate a student to another host university to overcome these delays.

Enquiries: 

For administrative enquiries contact TRACEEP secretariat: traceep@ru.ac.za

Academic institutional contacts: 

Rhodes University – Prof Nelson Odume: n.odume@ru.ac.za 

FUTMINNA – Associate Prof Victoria Chukwuemeka: chucks.vic@futminna.edu.ng 

UNIKIN – Prof Raphael Tshimanga: raphael.tshimanga@unikin.ac.cd 

UCAD – Prof Serigne Faye: serigne.faye@ucad.edu.sn

UCC – Dr Paul Kojo Mensah: pkmensah@ucc.edu.gh

Last Modified: Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:25:37 SAST