EU Pledges Shs19.8bn for 15 Joint PhD Scholarships in Health & Environment Research  

The European Union (EU) has pledged €4,658,684 (approximately Shs19.8 billion) to fully fund 15 joint PhD scholarships under a new international research programme connecting African and European universities, including Makerere University.

The initiative, known as HEALENAE (Health and Environment in Africa and Europe), will support doctoral research exploring the intricate links between environmental change, climate crises, and health outcomes, with a comparative focus on Africa and Europe.

“This funding reflects the EU’s confidence in Makerere University and its research capabilities,” said Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.

Dual PhD Degrees Across Continents

Successful candidates will be enrolled at two partner universities, one in Africa and one in Europe, graduating with a joint or dual PhD degree. The participating institutions include: Makerere University, Uganda; University of Oslo, Norway; University of Cape Town, South Africa; KU Leuven, Belgium; University of Edinburgh, UK; University of Nairobi, Kenya and Aarhus University, Denmark.

The scholarships are open to students in anthropology, sociology, and related humanities disciplines who hold an internationally recognised Master’s degree. “The program is ideal for candidates with a strong grounding in social sciences, humanities, and anthropology,” said Prof. Lotte Meinert of Aarhus University.

Research Focus Areas

The PhD projects will cover a wide range of topics, including: Agricultural intensification and health transformations, Climate change migration and elderly care, Environmental toxicity and urban health, Biodiversity, livestock, and zoonotic diseases, Epidemics, disease, and state formation in Africa, Youth migration, climate adaptation, and health outcomes, Gendered cancer epidemics and environmental impacts and Food, health risks, and biosecurity.

“Students will also benefit from writing retreats, specialised training schools, and fieldwork of up to 12 months,” said Dr Godfrey Siu, Director of Makerere’s Child Health and Development Centre.

Local Leadership and Mentorship

At Makerere, students will receive guidance from local supervisors, including Dr Siu, Dr Herbert Muyinda, Prof. Stella Neema, and international supervisors such as Prof. Meinert.

“While academic expectations may differ across universities, PhD training follows a similar structure globally. Makerere ensures students complete mandatory courses in research methods and scholarly communication,” Dr Siu explained.

Prof. Julius Kikooma, Director of Graduate Training at Makerere University, also highlighted that the dual-degree program strengthens Makerere’s goal of becoming a research-led university through advanced PhD training.

Application Details

The scholarships are fully funded for three years, covering tuition, fieldwork, conferences, writing retreats, and research training. Students will spend at least one semester at the partner university in Europe or Africa.

Interested applicants can apply through the HEALENAE website by March 1, 2026: https://phd.arts.au.dk/applicants/open-and-specific-calls/healenae-project-2.

This initiative marks a first in Uganda, offering multiple joint PhD scholarships under a single international program, and aims to build capacity in environmental and health research while fostering Africa-Europe collaboration.

Credit: Mak News