Call for applications :TDR Postgraduate Scholarship in Implementation Research Academic year 2025–2026

Deadline for applications: 4th May 2025 

DESCRIPTION 

The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, is offering scholarships for a Master’s in Public Health and MSc Applied Health Social Science programme with a focus on Implementation Research (IR) for the 2025–2026 academic year starting in September 2025. The objective of the scholarship programme is to build capacity on IR on four major global health challenges affecting infectious diseases of poverty using a One Health approach: Epidemics and outbreaks; Control and elimination of disease of poverty; Climate change’s impact on health; and growing challenge of Antimicrobial resistance. 

The Programmes are taught in English. Funding for these full scholarships is from the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), based at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland as part of the TDR Postgraduate Training Scheme. The scheme provides training relevant to a career in IR. IR is a growing field that supports the identification of health system bottlenecks and approaches to address them and is particularly useful in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where many health interventions do not reach those who need them the most. Further information on IR is available on our Implementation research training materials web page and in the TDR implementation research toolkit. The goal of this training scheme is to enhance graduate training capacity, boost the number of researchers, and strengthen the capacity of researchers to gather evidence-based knowledge using sound methodology to incorporate into policies and practices in LMICs. Those with research experience in IR in the above-mentioned areas will be prioritized during the selection process. Following the selection process, scholarship recipients will be enrolled in the Programme in September 2025. The program provides on-campus teaching, with the 3 recipients undertaking a dissertation project in Ghana. They will conduct their dissertation on IR on infectious diseases of poverty with a major focus on epidemics and outbreaks; control and elimination of disease of poverty; climate change’s impact on health; or antimicrobial resistance. The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to join the global prestigious alumni platform IR Connect, which will monitor the impact of the training program on their careers and allow them to network with other alumni for further career opportunities. 

ELIGIBILITY 

Applicants should: 

• Be nationals of, and resident in, English-speaking countries of the WHO African region. 

• Be 37 years old or younger; 

• Meet the standard University of Ghana admission requirements for international or local graduate students 

• Be proficient in English; 

• Be an employee of an academic or research institution, not-for-profit organization, or ministry of health or its agencies in an LMIC of the WHO Africa regions; 

• Be able to identify a local supervisor or mentor before the commencement of the program; 

• Be qualified with computer skills including Microsoft Office and Data Analysis Software. 

The final selection of candidates will be done in conjunction with TDR, considering merit, gender, and geographic representation of candidates. EQUITY TDR is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity in science. 

Applicants are encouraged to apply irrespective of gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious, cultural, and social background, or (dis)ability status. 

THE SCHOLARSHIP COVERS 

• Round-trip economy airfare between the home country of the student and Accra, Ghana 

• Tuition and academic fees 

• Basic medical and accident insurance 

• Monthly stipend to cover living expenses for one person during their stay in Accra 

• Support for research dissertation expenses 3

HOW TO APPLY 

To apply for the Master of Public Health or Master of Science in Applied Health Social Science program: 

1. Step One (1): Click HERE and read more about the University of Ghana’s application requirements processes. Click on “APPLY NOW” when you are ready to begin the process. 

2. Step Two (2): Select the appropriate option (either “GHANAIAN APPLICANT” or “INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT”). Then create an account, log in and begin the application process. Be sure to select either a Master of Public Health or an MSc in Applied Health Social Science. 

3. Step Three (3): After completing your application to the University of Ghana (first two (2) steps), click HERE. Log in using your University of Ghana application serial number and pin to apply for the TDR Postgraduate Scholarship in Implementation Research (2025/2026 academic year). You MUST select either a Master of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences) or MSc. in Applied Health Social Science. Complete all fields and upload ALL required documents before submitting. 

4. Only applications that have been completed for all three steps will be processed further. Please note that an application for admission to the University of Ghana is a requirement to be considered for the TDR Postgraduate Scholarship. 

SCHEDULE FOR APPLICATION 

Call for applications 21 February 2025 Deadline for application for TDR postgraduate scholarship 4th May 2025 Deadline for applications to University of Ghana 15th June 2025 Notification of pre-selection 15th July 2025 

Final selection subject to TDR scholarship acceptance 30th July 2025 Academic year begins September 2025 

SELECTION PROCESS AND OFFER ACCEPTANCE 

ONLY Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further assessment through aptitude tests and interviews. Selected candidates will receive an offer letter from the University of Ghana and will have seven (7) calendar days to confirm acceptance or otherwise. The University of Ghana reserves the right to refuse or cancel the scholarship offer if any information provided in support of the application is found to be false. 

For more information, please contact: 

➢ TDR Postgraduate Training Scheme Secretariate, School of Public Health: tdrscholarship@ug.edu.gh

 ➢ Mr. Joseph Aidoo, School of Graduate Studies, University of Ghana: jaidoo@ug.edu.gh