USF Urban Studies Foundation Announces 2026 International Fellows

The Urban Studies Foundation (USF) has officially introduced its 2026 cohort of International Fellows, comprising scholars based in Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. These accomplished researchers are set to explore and expand critical discourses on how urban life is imagined, governed, and experienced across diverse contexts in the Global South.

Fellowship Purpose and Vision

The USF International Fellowship supports early-to-mid-career academics from the Global South by offering time, resources, and international exposure to enhance their scholarly work. The programme is designed to foster impactful research, enable global collaboration, and bring new perspectives to urgent urban challenges.

Through dedicated mentorship and institutional hosting, fellows benefit from an enriching academic environment that helps refine their work and strengthen transnational knowledge networks. The Fellowship underscores USF’s broader mission to promote interdisciplinary and globally inclusive urban studies.

Research Themes and Focus Areas

This year’s fellows will pursue research on themes central to contemporary urban studies, including:

• Financialisation of housing
• Urban waste and circular economies
• Water infrastructure and governance
• Youth aspirations in urban contexts
• More-than-human urbanism
• Postcolonial urban politics
• Participatory urban upgrading
• Urban narratives and imaginaries

Apply also: Call for Applications: Raisina Young Fellows Programme

Together, these themes reveal the complexity and richness of urban life in the Global South and provide fresh insights into shared global urban transformations.

2025–2026 USF International Fellows

The selected scholars for this fellowship cycle are:

• Dr Richard Apatewen Azerigyik, Koforidua Technical University, Ghana
• Dr Michael Gameli Dziwornu, Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, Ghana
• Dr Raina Ghosh, Digital Empowerment Foundation, India
• Dr Galuh Syahbana Indraprahasta, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia
• Dr Lazarus Jambadu, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
• Dr Mukta Naik
• Dr Maria Raquel Passos Lima, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Dr Gustavo Prieto, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil
• Dr Solam Mkhabela, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Apply also: Rio de Janeiro University Scholarship

Host Institutions and Global Collaboration

Each Fellow will collaborate with a host institution located in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These institutions offer academic mentorship, intellectual exchange, and collaborative opportunities that connect regional research to broader global debates.

USF extends its gratitude to these partner institutions for their ongoing support, which enables scholars from underrepresented regions to contribute meaningfully to urban research.

Mentorship and Scholarly Community

A vital component of the Fellowship is the mentorship provided by a distinguished group of academics. The 2025–2026 mentors include:

• Prof. Marie Huchzermeyer
• Prof. Tim Bunnell
• Dr Aidan Mosselson
• Prof. Rivke Jaffe
• Dr Marie Kolling
• Prof. Wilbard Kombe
• Prof. Stephen Walker
• Dr Anant Maringanti

Apply also: State University of Campinas Scholarship

These mentors bring deep expertise in areas such as urban political ecology, housing and infrastructure policy, cultural and decolonial urbanism, and critical geography. Their continued involvement, including the return of former fellows and past mentors, reflects the collaborative spirit and strength of the USF network.

Expanding Equitable Urban Scholarship

The Urban Studies Foundation remains dedicated to expanding opportunities in urban research for scholars from the Global South. By addressing historical imbalances in academic recognition and providing access to resources and networks, the Fellowship supports a more balanced and inclusive global discourse.

Former Fellow Dr Ruth Massey captured this impact, stating, “An excellent opportunity to further my career as an urban geographer. Having dedicated time away from everyday university responsibilities allowed me to make progress on my writing and develop the proposal for my monograph.” Her testimony underscores the transformative potential of the programme.

Looking Ahead: Fellowship Applications

The next round of applications for the USF International Fellowship will open in early 2026. Interested candidates should begin preparing by reviewing the previous application guidelines available on the USF website.