Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarships 2026/2027: 13 Positions

Gulu University has opened applications for 13 IUC sandwich PhD scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year, allowing selected researchers to pursue four-year doctoral programmes in Uganda and Belgium. The scholarships are available through the Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) Project, with research opportunities in climate-smart agriculture, nutrition, food technology, environmental management, entrepreneurship, and refugee-host community development.

Applications close on 8 November 2026 at 11:59 PM East Africa Time (EAT). The programme primarily targets Ugandan nationals and refugees living in Uganda. Applicants from other countries who are not refugees must be affiliated with Gulu University. Successful candidates will spend approximately half their PhD period at Gulu University and the other half at a participating Belgian university, with studies expected to begin in February or March 2027.

Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarships 2026/2027: Quick Overview

Scholarship details	Information
Programme	Gulu University Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) PhD Scholarships
Academic year	2026/2027
Number of positions	13
Host institution	Gulu University, Uganda
Belgian partner universities	Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, and other participating institutions where applicable
Degree level	PhD
Study duration	4 years
Study arrangement	Approximately 50% in Uganda and 50% in Belgium
Eligible applicants	Ugandan nationals, refugees living in Uganda, and qualifying Gulu University-affiliated applicants
Main qualification	Relevant master’s degree
Application method	Email submission
Application deadline	8 November 2026, 11:59 PM EAT
Expected PhD start	February–March 2027

What Is the Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarship?

The scholarship is part of a long-term collaboration between Gulu University and higher education institutions in Belgium.

The IUC project aims to strengthen research capacity and support sustainable development in refugee-hosting communities in Northern Uganda.

Its research addresses practical challenges, including food insecurity, environmental degradation, limited employment opportunities, and pressures on agricultural livelihoods.

Selected candidates will pursue their PhDs through a sandwich doctoral arrangement. This means they will be enrolled at participating Belgian universities while spending approximately half of their four-year programme at Gulu University.

Unlike a conventional PhD undertaken entirely abroad, this arrangement connects international doctoral training with research relevant to Ugandan communities.

If you later need to communicate with a prospective Belgian supervisor, our guide on how to email a professor for PhD opportunities explains how to introduce your research background and ask specific questions. For this IUC scholarship, however, follow Gulu University’s stated email application procedure rather than assuming prior supervisor approval is required.

Available PhD Research Areas and Belgian Universities

The 13 scholarship positions cover several interdisciplinary research themes. Applicants should choose a research sub-theme that matches their academic qualifications and research interests.

Research theme	Main research topics	Belgian university
Climate-smart agriculture	Soil fertility, climate-resilient cropping systems, integrated crop-livestock farming	Ghent University; possibly University of Antwerp
Nutrition and food technology	Indigenous fruits and vegetables, nutrition, plant-based food product development	KU Leuven and Ghent University
Agribusiness and entrepreneurship	Inclusive agricultural markets, technology adoption, youth entrepreneurship	KU Leuven or Ghent University
Environmental and natural resources management	Solar cooking, water quality, biochar and soil restoration	University of Antwerp
Refugee-host relations	Land policies, mental health, conflict resolution, sustainable agri-food systems	Ghent University; possibly another partner university

The official call identifies specific research streams under each theme.

Applicants exploring other international doctoral programmes may also consider the Cambridge–Tübingen PhD Fellowship 2027. It offers a four-year machine learning PhD involving institutions in the UK and Germany, although its academic requirements and application procedures differ substantially from those of the Gulu University IUC programme.

Climate-smart agriculture and food security

This research area covers three sub-themes:

2.1: Improving soil quality, fertility, and water retention capacity.
2.2: Developing cropping systems that improve resilience to climate variability and nutritional quality.
2.3: Developing integrated crop-livestock farming systems suited to refugee and host communities.

Applicants should have a master’s degree in biology, environmental sciences, soil science, agricultural sciences, or a related discipline.

Nutrition and food technology

Two research streams are available:

3.1 Nutrition: Investigating how indigenous fruits and vegetables can help address undernutrition and cardiometabolic health challenges.

3.2 Food technology: Developing safe, nutritious, commercially viable products from Ugandan crops, including plant-based dairy alternatives.

Relevant qualifications include nutrition, medical sciences, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, food science, food technology, and related fields, depending on the sub-theme.

Researchers with relevant life-science backgrounds may also explore the HBKU Scholarship 2027 in Qatar, which supports eligible master’s and PhD applicants through an English-medium graduate programme.

Agribusiness and entrepreneurship

Research theme 4 examines how agricultural enterprises and inclusive business models can improve livelihoods.

The three sub-themes cover socioeconomic cooperation mechanisms (4.1), adoption of agricultural technologies (4.2), and inclusive entrepreneurship in refugee-host communities (4.3).

Suitable applicants may have qualifications in economics, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, rural development, marketing, consumer behaviour, or social sciences.

Environmental and natural resources management

The University of Antwerp leads research in three areas:

5.1: Long-term adoption of solar cookers as alternatives to charcoal and fuelwood.
5.2: Water quality monitoring and discharge dynamics.
5.3: Biochar applications for soil improvement and climate resilience.

The official announcement specifies different academic backgrounds for each sub-theme, including environmental science, engineering, biological sciences, soil science, and natural resources management.

Importantly, sub-themes 2.1 and 5.3 refer to the same PhD research position, rather than two separate scholarships.

Refugee-host relations and sustainable development

Research theme 6 covers legal, social, and psychological dimensions of refugee-host community relationships.

Its sub-themes examine agri-food laws and land policies (6.1), mental health and agricultural livelihoods (6.2), and conflict resolution mechanisms (6.3).

Relevant master’s qualifications include law, peace and conflict studies, education, psychology, counselling, international relations, social work, sociology, and political science.

Who Is Eligible for the Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarships?

Applicants must meet the general eligibility conditions and the academic requirements of their chosen research stream.

The official announcement specifies that candidates must:

Be Ugandan nationals, refugees living in Uganda, or qualifying applicants from other countries who are affiliated with Gulu University.
Hold a relevant master’s degree from an accredited university.
Have relevant bachelor’s and master’s degree training from recognized institutions.
Not hold another scholarship or be currently pursuing or have previously completed a doctoral degree.
Demonstrate leadership responsibilities and/or community service.
Have good written and spoken English.
Commit to completing the PhD within four years, spending half the period in Uganda and half in Belgium.
Be willing to participate in academic and community capacity-building activities.
Demonstrate a commitment to ethical research and respectful engagement with refugee and host communities.

Refugee applicants must possess a valid Refugee Identity Card or Family Attestation.

Previous research experience in refugee settlements in Uganda or a related setting is an added advantage, rather than a compulsory requirement.

Gulu University staff and qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Scholarship Funding and Benefits

The Gulu University IUC Project offers 13 PhD scholarship positions, but the official announcement does not specify a monthly stipend or confirm individual funding components such as tuition, accommodation, travel, or insurance. Applicants should request the detailed financial conditions directly from the IUC project office.

Selected candidates will have the opportunity to undertake research and doctoral training at participating Belgian universities while maintaining a substantial research component in Uganda.

The official contact email is psu.iuc@gu.ac.ug.

Applicants comparing international PhD funding packages can also review the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027, which explains confirmed tuition and maintenance support, eligibility, and course-specific funding deadlines.

Required Documents for the PhD Scholarship Application

Applicants must prepare the following materials:

One-page cover letter: Explain your motivation, relevant experience, suitability, and selected research sub-theme.
Curriculum vitae: Maximum three pages, including academic achievements, research experience, publications, and other relevant information.
Research concept: Maximum three pages, explaining your understanding of the selected research topic and how you propose to investigate it.
Supporting documents: Copies of academic documents, academic reference letter(s), national or refugee identification, and passport data page.

Applicants preparing the required three-page research concept can use our PhD research proposal writing guide to develop focused research questions, a suitable methodology, and a realistic research plan.

All application documents must be combined into one PDF file.

The university provides a filename example such as IUC_2.1_Samson, identifying the intended research stream and applicant’s surname.

How to Apply for Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarships 2026/2027

Applications must be submitted by email rather than through a separate online application portal.

Step 1: Review the research sub-themes. Download the complete scholarship announcement and identify the research area that matches your qualifications.

PhD Scholarship Announcement for academic year 2026/2027

Step 2: Prepare your research concept. Explain the research problem, relevant questions, proposed methodology, and how your work relates to the selected sub-theme. Keep the document within three pages.

Step 3: Prepare your cover letter and CV. Follow the one-page and three-page limits, respectively.

Step 4: Combine your documents. Merge the application materials and supporting documents into one PDF file, using the university’s required naming convention.

Step 5: Submit your application. Send the PDF to:

psu.iuc@gu.ac.ug

The email subject should identify the scholarship and selected sub-theme. For example:

Application for IUC PhD Scholarship, sub-theme 2.1_Samson

Submit before the deadline. Applications must arrive by 8 November 2026 at 11:59 PM EAT (UTC+3). Late applications will not be considered.

The university expects to process applications during November 2026. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Candidates who have not heard from the project team by mid-December 2026 should consider their applications unsuccessful.

Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Your Research Concept Must Fit the Advertised Sub-Theme

One of the most important aspects of this scholarship is that applicants are not simply proposing any PhD topic within agriculture, environment, or social sciences.

The IUC project has already defined its research priorities. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed research contributes to the selected sub-theme and the project’s wider objectives.

For example, an applicant interested in soil science should not submit a general proposal about agricultural productivity without explaining how the research addresses soil quality, fertility, water retention, or biochar in the intended context.

The same principle applies to applicants from social sciences, engineering, nutrition, and economics.

There are two application details worth particular attention.

First, research theme 4 has an additional instruction. Applicants must rank their preferences among its three topics and develop a research concept, including research questions and proposed methodology, for their first-ranked topic. The concept must not exceed three pages.

Second, research streams 2.1 and 5.3 are linked to the same PhD position. Applicants should recognize this overlap when selecting their research focus.

A strong application should therefore establish a clear connection between the applicant’s previous training, the advertised research problem, the proposed methodology, and the communities the research is intended to benefit.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

Some requirements in this call are easy to overlook.

Submitting a generic research proposal without identifying the relevant sub-theme could make it difficult to demonstrate suitability.

Exceeding the document limits is another avoidable mistake. The cover letter must be limited to one page, while both the CV and research concept have a three-page maximum.

Applicants should also avoid sending separate attachments when the university explicitly requires one combined PDF file.

Finally, applicants interested in research theme 4 must remember its topic-ranking requirement. This is additional to the general application instructions.

Ready to Apply for International PhD Scholarships

The Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarships 2026/2027 offer 13 doctoral positions across agricultural, environmental, nutrition, business, and social research fields. Applicants should carefully review the official research requirements, prepare a focused research concept, and submit their complete application by 8 November 2026 at 11:59 PM EAT.

Official links:

Application email: psu.iuc@gu.ac.ug

Official enquiry telephone: +256 750 351119

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarship open for 2026/2027?

Yes. The application period runs from 9 October to 8 November 2026, with a closing time of 11:59 PM East Africa Time.

How many PhD scholarships are available?

There are 13 sandwich PhD scholarship positions available through the IUC project.

Can international students apply?

The programme primarily targets Ugandan nationals and refugees living in Uganda. Applicants who are citizens of other countries and are not refugees must be affiliated with Gulu University at the time of application.

Can refugees living in Uganda apply for the IUC PhD scholarships?

Yes. Refugees living in Uganda are among the targeted applicants. They must hold a Refugee Identity Card or Family Attestation, meet the relevant academic requirements, and satisfy the other scholarship eligibility conditions.

Is IELTS required?

The official announcement requires good written and spoken English but does not specify an IELTS or TOEFL score. Admission requirements at the relevant Belgian partner university may need to be confirmed separately.

Do applicants need a master’s degree?

Yes. Applicants must hold a master’s degree from an accredited university in a field relevant to their selected PhD research area.

Is a research proposal required for the Gulu University IUC PhD Scholarship?

Yes. Applicants must submit a research concept of no more than three pages explaining their understanding of the selected research sub-theme and how they would investigate it. Applicants to research theme 4 must also rank their three topic preferences and prepare the concept for their first-ranked topic.

Will successful applicants study entirely in Belgium?

No. The scholarship follows a sandwich PhD structure, with approximately half the study period at Gulu University in Uganda and the other half at the relevant Belgian partner university.

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