FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027–2028Fully Funded for African Public Health Professionals
Train as a public health leader across sub-Saharan Africa — all travel and accommodation covered.
Apply for the FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027–2028, a professional development programme designed to strengthen outbreak preparedness, infectious disease response and public health training capacity across sub-Saharan Africa.
- Host
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and programme partners
- Mode
- Hybrid: online learning and three in-person workshops
- Age limit
- None
- Degree
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent proficiency in a relevant field (Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Biology, or allied health sciences); equivalent proficiency may be accepted under the programme criteria.
- Experience
- At least two years in the public health or biomedical sector
Can you apply?
Applicants must meet the programme’s professional, geographical and academic requirements.
1. Regional eligibility
Applicants must originate from and be employed in sub-Saharan Africa. The programme is intended to strengthen public health capacity in this region and is not a general worldwide fellowship.
2. Relevant professional experience
Applicants must have at least two years of professional experience in either the public health or biomedical sector. Experience related to infectious disease management, prevention and control is preferred.
3. Relevant academic or professional background
Applicants must have a degree or proficiency in at least one of the following fields:
- Public Health
- Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Microbiology
- Biology
- Allied health sciences
Applicants should review the official requirements if their qualification falls within a related but differently named discipline.
4. Employer endorsement
Applicants must provide an endorsement document from their current employer confirming that they are permitted to participate alongside their employment.
The endorsement must confirm that the employer will release the applicant to attend all three in-person workshops and support implementation of the teaching case study at the home institution.
5. Recommendation letter
Applicants need a recommendation from at least one current, contactable reference. The reference must be no older than three years and include contact details, including an email address and telephone number.
6. English-language proficiency
Advanced English proficiency is required. The official programme page lists the following accepted evidence:
- IELTS score of 6.0
- TOEFL Paper score of 550
- TOEFL Computer score of 213
- TOEFL Internet score of 79–80
- Native-speaker status
- Completion of higher education in English, supported by written proof
Applicants should follow the official instructions on how to document their English proficiency.
7. Equipment and internet access
Participants need a computer with a stable internet connection, functioning audio and a microphone for the virtual activities. Participation using only a mobile phone or tablet is not permitted.
What you get
The programme provides financial support for participation in its three required in-person workshops. However, it does not provide a general stipend for living expenses throughout the fellowship.
Benefits and funding
- No tuition fees: Participants do not pay tuition fees for the fellowship.
- Economy-class flights: Travel costs for the three workshops are covered by the fellowship budget.
- Visa fees: Visa fees associated with workshop participation are covered.
- Accommodation: Accommodation for the three in-person workshops is covered.
- Meals: Daily meals are provided during the workshops.
- Online learning: Participants complete distance-learning activities and eLearning modules between the workshops.
- Professional development: Fellows develop teaching case studies and learn how to deliver training within their home institutions.
- Certificate and academic credits: Successful participants receive a certificate and 10 ECTS credits from the University of Basel.
Are there any hidden charges?
The official programme page does not list a tuition fee or application fee. Nevertheless, applicants should budget for costs that are not explicitly covered.
| Expense | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | No tuition fees |
| Application fee | No fee listed |
| Flights for the three workshops | Covered |
| Workshop visa fees | Covered |
| Workshop accommodation | Covered |
| Meals during workshops | Provided |
| Daily allowance or per diem | Not provided |
| Personal spending | Not specified as covered |
| Internet and additional mobile data | May be an out-of-pocket expense |
| Other costs outside the stated workshop budget | Not confirmed as covered |
Important: The organisers explicitly state that no daily allowances or per diems will be paid. Participants may also need to purchase additional mobile airtime for online activities. The official page recommends arranging a German visa appointment early because processing can take time.
Before booking appointments or making any payments, applicants should confirm the relevant arrangements with the programme organisers.
Applying
- 01Review the official call: Read the eligibility requirements and confirm that your origin, current employment, professional background and experience meet the criteria.
- 02Prepare the documents: Obtain your employer’s endorsement and recommendation letter, prepare your motivation letter in English, and gather evidence of English proficiency.
- 03Complete the online application: Use the official FOR-GHP application link.
- 04Submit before the deadline: Ensure that the form and all required documents are submitted by 21 October 2026 at midnight CET.
- 05Prepare for the next selection stage: If shortlisted, be ready to complete the seven eLearning modules and subsequent assessment and interview.
Official application page: https://go4ghp.de/for-ghp
Common questions
Is the FOR-GHP Fellowship fully funded?
It is a funded training fellowship, but it is not a full living-cost scholarship. The programme covers economy-class flights, visa fees and accommodation for the three workshops, and provides meals during the workshops. It does not pay a daily allowance or per diem.
Is the application open?
Yes. The official programme page states that applications are open for the 2027–2028 cohort. The deadline is 21 October 2026 at midnight CET.
Can applicants from India apply?
The programme requires applicants to originate from and be employed in sub-Saharan Africa. An applicant based in India would not meet this regional eligibility requirement unless their circumstances satisfy the programme’s stated criteria.
Is a master’s degree mandatory?
The official page specifies a degree or proficiency in a relevant field, including public health, medicine, epidemiology, microbiology, biology or allied health sciences. It does not state that a master’s degree is mandatory for every applicant.
Is work experience required?
Yes. Applicants must have at least two years of professional experience in the public health or biomedical sector.
Does the fellowship provide a monthly stipend?
No monthly stipend or daily allowance is listed. The financial support is directed towards participation in the three in-person workshops.
Will participants receive a certificate?
Yes. Participants who successfully complete the programme receive a certificate and 10 ECTS credits from the University of Basel.
Who can apply?
Nationality: Applicants originating from and employed in sub-Saharan Africa
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent proficiency in a relevant field (Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Biology, or allied health sciences); equivalent proficiency may be accepted under the programme criteria.
Age: None
Full description
Apply for the FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027–2028, a professional development programme designed to strengthen outbreak preparedness, infectious disease response and public health training capacity across sub-Saharan Africa. The fellowship combines online learning, mentorship, practical case-study development and three in-person workshops in Germany, Ghana and Uganda.
The programme runs for approximately 18 months and follows a Training-of-Trainers approach. Participants are expected to apply what they learn in their home institutions and help strengthen the skills of other public health professionals.
Application deadline: 21 October 2026, midnight Central European Time (CET).
What Is the FOR-GHP Fellowship?
The Fellowship in Outbreak Readiness for Global Health Protection (FOR-GHP) aims to improve the ability of public health professionals and institutions to prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks.
The programme focuses on strengthening professional competencies, supporting regional collaboration and developing trainers who can transfer knowledge to colleagues in their own institutions.
Participants engage with topics related to outbreak management, infectious disease prevention and control, One Health, global health security and practical training methods.
The fellowship is particularly suited to professionals who want to strengthen their technical skills while contributing to the preparedness and resilience of public health systems in their countries.
Programme Structure and Key Dates
The fellowship uses a blended Training-of-Trainers model consisting of three in-person workshops, distance-based learning and self-study eLearning modules.
| Programme activity | Scheduled dates |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | 21 October 2026, midnight CET |
| Seven eLearning modules | 1 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 |
| Selection interviews | January 2027 |
| First workshop — Hamburg, Germany | 12–17 April 2027 |
| Second workshop — Accra, Ghana | 11–15 October 2027 |
| Third workshop — Kampala, Uganda | 3–7 July 2028 |
1. Online learning and selection
Selected applicants will be invited to complete seven eLearning modules. Their performance, a pre-qualification test, a short essay and other selection criteria will contribute to the selection process. Interviews are expected to take place in English via Zoom in January 2027.
2. First workshop in Hamburg
The first in-person workshop will focus on developing relevant outbreak-readiness competencies. After the workshop, participants will develop a teaching case study for use in their professional settings.
3. Second workshop in Accra
Participants will pilot-test their teaching case studies and receive feedback to improve their training materials and methods.
4. Implementation at the home institution
Between the second and third workshops, fellows will implement their teaching case studies at their own institutions. This is an important part of the programme’s objective of building sustainable local training capacity.
5. Final workshop in Kampala
The final workshop will include the Sustainability Strengthening Initiative and activities intended to support continued collaboration and the long-term application of learning.
Required Application Documents
Prepare the following documents before submitting your application:
- Completed online application form
- Motivation letter in English, submitted as a PDF
- Employer endorsement using the programme’s provided template
- Recommendation letter from an eligible reference, including contact information
- Evidence of English-language proficiency, as applicable
The programme also uses a multi-stage selection process, so applicants selected for the initial stage should be prepared to complete the eLearning modules, pre-qualification test and interview.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Final Note
The FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027–2028 is a relevant opportunity for experienced public health and biomedical professionals from sub-Saharan Africa who want to strengthen their outbreak preparedness skills and train others within their institutions.
Its workshop travel, visa and accommodation support can reduce major participation costs, but applicants should remember that no daily allowance is provided and additional personal or online participation expenses may remain.
The deadline is 21 October 2026 at midnight CET. Review the official requirements and prepare the employer endorsement, recommendation and motivation letter before submitting your application.
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All quick facts
- Host Institution
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine and programme partners
- Partner Organisations
- Robert Koch Institute, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), and Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)
- Location
- Hamburg, Germany; Accra, Ghana; Kampala, Uganda; with online learning between workshops
- Duration
- Approximately 1.5 years, from late 2026 to July 2028
- Mode
- Hybrid: online learning and three in-person workshops
- Nationality
- Applicants originating from and employed in sub-Saharan Africa
- Minimum Degree Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent proficiency in a relevant field (Public Health, Medicine, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Biology, or allied health sciences); equivalent proficiency may be accepted under the programme criteria.
- Work Experience
- At least two years in the public health or biomedical sector
- Age Limit
- None
- Application Deadline
- 21 October 2026, midnight CET
- Application Fee
- Free
- Stipend / Salary / Financial Support
- No tuition fees; economy-class flights, visa fees and accommodation for the three workshops are covered; meals are provided during the workshops. No daily allowance is paid.
- Certificate / Academic Credit
- Certificate and 10 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits from the University of Basel upon successful completion
