African Creativity Beyond Borders

Award details

About The African Creativity Beyond Borders

Bridging knowledge and expertise across the Arts and Humanities, Social Science, and Public Policy, we train future leaders in academia, the creative economy, and policy to understand, acknowledge, include, and promote the contributions of African creativity nationally, regionally and globally. We research the contemporary contribution of the African continent and the evolution of African heritage and cultures in diasporic networks. We aim to reshape future access, representation, and equity in the UK and beyond.
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Background

The Programme builds on King's Africa Regional Networks, which are part of its strategic engagement with Africa, with international collaborations and partnerships, such as the African Leadership Centre in Nairobi and the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (CoRE) on Creative Economies, with strategic international partners like the University of Lagos (Nigeria), the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and Stellenbosch and Rhodes University (South Africa).
The Programme can successfully respond to numerous calls from policy (UKRI, Sutton Trust), as well as academic research undertaken within KCL with the support of APPG Creative Diversity (Creative Majority Report) to increase the diversity of our creative economy, especially from the Global Majority.

About the PhD Studentships

The African Creativity Beyond Borders Prize Programme has secured 4 fully funded PhD scholarships, starting in October 2026. Of the four funded scholarships, one may be made available to international applicants. For details about the potential projects covered by these studentships, please visit: https://www.african-creativity-beyond.org/apply.html.

Award value

Funding will be for 4 years.  

Both UK and international applicants are eligible, but only 1 in 4 studentships can be awarded to international applicants.

• Full tuition fees covered
• Annual stipend (UKRI rate: £22,780 (incl LWA) full-time for 2025/26)
• Research training and support
• Opportunities to attend conferences and workshops

Important Information for International Students: It is the student's responsibility to apply for their Student Visa.Please note that the studentship does not cover the visa application fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) required for access to the National Health Service. The IHS is mandatory for anyone entering the UK on a Student Visa and is currently £776 per year for each year of study.

Eligibility criteria

We welcome applications from people with:

• Academic qualifications in relevant fields (arts, humanities, creative practice, social sciences, policy and development studies)
• Passion for understanding, researching and supporting African creativity in the UK and internationally
• Interest in equality, diversity and inclusion
• Commitment to interdisciplinarity and intercultural dialogue
• Drive to generate impact and policy engagement

We would like to specifically encourage applications from candidates who identify as Black / Mixed Black and/or have diasporic or heritage roots in Africa.  

Application process

Key dates

• Application deadline:  13 February 2026
• Shortlisting will take place after applications close during February/March 2026
• Interviews will take place in March/April 2026
• Outcomes will be notified during May 2026
• Start date: October 2026

 

To Apply, visit: Apply - African Creativity Beyond Borders for full details

Selection process

Project selection will be conducted through a panel interview chaired by one of the African Creative Beyond Borders Programme Directors, with prospective supervisors, project partners, or other faculty members in attendance.

Contact Details

Email: african-creativity-beyond@kcl.ac.uk