Nordic Africa Institute Virtual Library Programme 2026

The purpose of the Virtual Library Programme at NAI is to provide digital alternatives to present scholarship programmes at NAI, which are all based physically at the Institute. Prominent in the present scholarships, is the access to the institute’s library resources. A virtual access program can both reduce co2 emissions when participants don’t have to travel to the institute, and can also lead to a better diversity among scholarship holders. Especially, scholars may have a family caring situation, which influences their possibilities to be overseas for longer periods.

The purpose is also to strengthen the operational objectives of Co-creation of knowledge and Bridging of African and Nordic perspectives in the institute’s strategy for 2022-2026.

• Table of Content
• About Nordic Africa Institute
• Nordic Africa Institute Postgraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Nordic Africa Institute Postgraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for Nordic Africa Institute Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Nordic Africa Institute Postgraduate Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Nordic Africa Institute Postgraduate Scholarship

The Institute’s library is specialized in literature on contemporary Africa and focuses on social sciences. The e-resources within the program are Africa-specific resources, complementing more general e-resources usually available at university libraries. Please note, access to standard e-journal packages is not included in the program. Current e-resources included are:

• African books collection – African studies portfolio: Consists of 206 titles from publishers across the African continent. New titles are added regularly.
• African Writers series: 330 online edition of modern African literature (fiction) in full text.
• AllAfrica: Aggregates and distributes news from African news organizations, own reporters and more. Archives include millions of articles from 1996 onwards.
• CAIRN: E-journal package 17 titles, named Bouquet African & Middle Eastern Studies.
• Oxford bibliographies online: Peer-reviewed bibliographies, African Studies and Geography
• Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Peer-reviewed, regularly updated encyclopedias, African History.
• SA News: African News Agency with full text news reports and SA Media with 120+ South African newspapers/periodicals 1978 onwards. Articles are indexed in Afrikaans and English.
• Sabinet Social Sciences and Humanities journal package: 215 titles, mainly from Southern Africa

The 12 months digital access does not cover any financial or in-kind support. Please also note that e-resources may differ over time, depending on library negotiations with individual publishers.

A limited number of places are available and places are offered on the basis of NAI’s strategic priorities, in terms of how capacity development support can be most effective.

Requirements for Nordic Africa Institute Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification

The programme is directed at researchers based in Africa and engaged in Africa-oriented research. The research topic should be within the disciplines of Social Sciences and Humanities, and with a focus on contemporary Africa.

The research should also be relevant to the core principles of the UN Agenda 2030, as indicated in the five impact areas of the Institute.

The programme is open to:

• PhD students and researchers employed by an African-based university or research centre and who have an active and established collaboration with a researcher in a Nordic country (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway or Iceland).

The Institute strives to achieve a fair distribution of scholarship positions in regards to gender and geographic focus. Priority will be given to researchers coming from less well resourced institutions related to library resources

Documents Required for Application

Apply online and upload the following documents:

• Description of research project
• Letters of support: A signed letter of support from the collaborating Nordic researcher, and a signed letter of support from the applicant’s Head of Department or other senior scholar in the same field, which confirms current African work place/affiliation and field of research.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. Kindly also note that the application must be in English.

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars' Program at ALCHE 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more information, kindly visit Nordic Africa Institute scholarship webpage.