The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), in collaboration with the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), invites aspiring African researchers to apply for the 2025–26 COMPASS Fellowship Scheme. This fellowship is designed to support emerging public health leaders from sub-Saharan Africa in tackling the region’s most pressing infectious and emerging diseases.
What is the COMPASS Fellowship Scheme?
The Creating Opportunities for Master’s Programmes for Africa: Support and Scholarships (COMPASS) is a prestigious initiative aimed at strengthening research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa. It includes:
1# Training Component
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- A fully funded two (02) year MSc by Distance Learning (DL) from LSHTM.
- Available master’s programs: MSc Clinical Trials (by Distance Learning), and MSc Epidemiology (by Distance Learning).
2# Internship Component
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- A 6- or 12-month research or policy internship at the fellow’s home institution or a host institution in sub-Saharan Africa with active LSHTM collaboration.
- Internships can be selected from an LSHTM-curated list or proposed by the applicant.
Applicants may apply for:
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- A full fellowship (training + internship),
- A training-only award, or
- An internship-only award.
Benefits of the Fellowship
- Full coverage of MSc tuition fees
- Internship support (living allowance, mentorship, institutional hosting)
- Academic and professional mentorship by LSHTM faculty and global partners
- Access to global research networks and practical experience
- Flexible learning via distance education.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a sub-Saharan African country
- Be employed in sub-Saharan Africa for the last 12 months
- Work in research areas of critical public health need, including:
- HIV, TB, malaria
- Neglected infectious diseases
- Diarrhoeal and respiratory infections
- Maternal and child health
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Climate-linked infectious diseases
- Co-infections and comorbidities
- Receive employer support with a commitment to retain the fellow for 2 years post-completion
- Not receive other external funding for their MSc
Special consideration will be given to:
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- Women
- Non-Anglophone applicants (with English proficiency)
- Applicants from African countries with limited research infrastructure
- Candidates with arranged or open internship placement preferences.
Academic Entry Requirements
For new entrants:
- A second-class honours degree or equivalent in a relevant field, OR
- A professional qualification with at least 3 years’ relevant experience.
For current MSc DL students:
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Must be in their first year of registration or final year if already beyond year two.
The last date to apply for the EDCTP COMPASS Fellowship Scheme 2025–26 is 15 August 2025 at 23:59 BST.