The African Centre for Cities (ACC) invites applications for two Masters scholarships as part of the CLAIMS to Energy Citizenship project, funded by DANIDA (2024-2028). The deadline for submission is 07 September 2024.
Purpose:
The ACC has secured funding for two Masters student positions (as well as two PhD scholarships) as part of the CLAIMS project, funded by DANIDA (2024 – 2028). The project focuses on energy transitions in South Africa and has three work packages:
- WP1 will focus on everyday practices related to energy access.
- WP2 will focus on the sub-national state and processes of transitioning energy systems.
- WP3 will aim to draw insights from WP1 and WP2 together to craft a multi-scalar and multi-actor view of infrastructural citizenship.
The current call is for two of the Masters scholarships for students registering for the MPhil in Urban Studies – Southern Urbanism programme at the ACC. We are seeking applicants who are interested in issues of urban infrastructure and claims around energy access and provision at the scale of the everyday and/or urban statecraft.
Successful applicants will be part of the 2025 cohort of the Southern Urbanism MPhil and will be required to design their dissertation research in alignment with the themes and aims of the broader CLAIMS project.
Conditions
The successful incumbent will be required to:
- Register for full-time study in the MPhil in Urban Studies – Southern Urbanism programme at the School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics (APG), UCT.
- Comply with the University’s approved policies, procedures and practices for the postgraduate sector.
- Engage actively in the overall project, including attending and contributing to project meetings, workshops, reading groups and other events of the project, the ACC and the APG.
- Undertake research tasks related to the overall project.
Successful candidates may not hold scholarships and salaried/full-time employment concurrently.
Value and tenure
The value of this award is ZAR 245 000 per year. The award is renewable for a second year, on condition of satisfactory progress, specifically the quality of the dissertation proposal. Additional funding will be available for fieldwork and travel costs.
Academic criteria
Applicants must hold a four-year Bachelors (undergraduate + Honours) degree or another Masters degree by the time of registration in February 2025.
Application requirements
All applications should include:
1. A letter of application which covers:
- The reasons for applying for participating in the project
- An overview of how the applicant’s profile responds to the minimum requirements of the advert, indicating what previous work or research experiences are relevant to the criteria;
- What the applicant will additionally bring to the project team (in terms of experience, approach etc.);
- A quick overview of how the applicant would approach the study energy access and provision in Cape Town, including an indication of the questions they think are most relevant and interesting?
- A two page CV
- Copies of academic transcripts
- A 1-page writing sample (e.g., an abstract/introduction of a previous dissertation chapter, scholarly article, or long-form essay).
Either names (and contact details) OR letters of reference from at least two academics who have taught, supervised or worked alongside the applicant. In case of relevant professional experience, letters from one academic and one professional referee are welcome.
Selection
The scholarship shall be awarded by a committee consisting of the PI of the Project, the lead researcher of the project, and two external ACC representatives. The scholarships shall be awarded on the basis of academic ability for full-time study at the University of Cape Town School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics.
UCT Indemnity
The University of Cape Town reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, The University of Cape Town reserves the right to change the conditions of award or to make no awards at all.
