Applications Closed | Master's Fellowship in AI Governance and Harm Mapping
Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in the Master’s Student Fellowship in AI Governance and Harm Mapping at the African Hub on AI Safety, Peace and Security, University of Cape Town.
Due to the high volume of applications received, the application has reached the target number of applications and was therefore closed on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the end of the business day. Applications received by the closing date will be considered as part of the selection process. The application is therefore now closed, and no further applications will be accepted.
We appreciate your interest in this opportunity and wish you all the best with your other applications and future academic and professional pursuits. We encourage you to continue checking our platforms for future opportunities and calls that may be of interest to you.
Thank you once again for your interest in the African Hub on AI Safety, Peace and Security.
The African Hub on AI Safety, Peace and Security at UCT is seeking a Master's student to research how AI-related harms manifest across African contexts and identify the governance gaps that leave them unaddressed. Using "harmscapes" thinking — which treats harm as layered and structural rather than a series of isolated incidents — the research will help shape a scalable, context-sensitive AI safety risk framework for resource-constrained African settings.
Details:
- Supervisors: Dr. Annette Hübschle and Prof. Jonathan Shock (UCT)
- Duration: Full-time, 2 years (2026–2028)
- Funding: ~R150,000/year (R300,000 total) — covers tuition, living costs, and research support (travel, fieldwork, data tools, conferences)
- Programme: Subject to admission into a Master's programme at UCT (LLM, MPhil, MSc, or equivalent)
- Ideal background: Law, governance, public policy, criminology, or related social science, with interest in AI governance and structural harm analysis
How to apply: Send a motivation letter, CV (max 4 pages, with referees), and full transcripts to Nwabisa Thwani (nwabisa.thwani@uct.ac.za), cc Dr. Hübschle (a.hubschle@uct.ac.za), subject line "AI Safety Hub Master's Student Fellowship Application – Harm Framework." Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
Full call for applications (including minimum/desirable requirements) attached below.
Call for Applications: Master's Fellowship in AI Governance and Harm Mapping