EU-Funded · Global Gateway Initiative
2026/2027 intake — applications now open

NOTE: Candidates can only use the scholarship to study outside their own country.

Postgraduate Excellence in Pharmaceutical & Health Sciences

Empowering African postgraduate researchers through intra-African mobility, collaborative training, and cross-continental research partnerships.

Explore Mobilities Apply for Scholarship
/
Programme Impact
€1.4M
EU Funding
Global Gateway Initiative
Scholarships
Masters, PhD & postdoctoral
Partner Universities
Across Africa & Europe
African Countries
Building cross-border networks
EXCEL-PHARM postgraduate interns at University of Port Harcourt
2026–2029
Programme
About The Project

Building Excellence
Across Africa

Challenges in accessing pharmaceutical agents for infectious and non-infectious diseases across Africa have far-reaching implications, including high mortality and morbidity, reduced life expectancy and productivity, and perpetuating cycles of poverty and underdevelopment. The lack of adequate health and pharmaceutical preparedness has hindered effective responses to these health crises. The project "Enhancing Postgraduate Excellence in Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences through Intra-African Mobility (EXCEL-PHARM)" seeks to enhance human capacity, promote innovation, and foster collaboration among African universities in line with the EU's vision of sustainable, inclusive development in health for Africa.

2026–2029 Programme
Cross-Regional Collaboration
EU Global Gateway
Learn More About Us

Intra-African Mobility

Cross-border scholarships enabling postgraduate training at partner institutions across Africa

Research Excellence

Joint research programmes in pharmaceutical sciences, public health, and biomedical disciplines

Pan-African Network

Connecting leading universities across West, East, and Southern Africa with European expertise

EU Partnership

Co-funded by the EU Global Gateway Initiative, bridging African and European academic excellence

Available Mobilities

World-Class Training Opportunities

17 specialized programmes across pharmaceutical sciences, public health, and biomedical research

Master of Biotechnology and Innovative Therapy
UCAD
Senegal

Master of Biotechnology and Innovative Therapy

The Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Biotechnology) aims to train professionals capable of playing a key role in research, develo...

View Details
MSc in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics
SU
South Africa

MSc in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics

Advanced programme in molecular genetics, genomics, and personalised medicine, with access to Africa's largest biomedical research institute...

View Details
PhD Pharmaceutical Technology
UCC
Ghana

PhD Pharmaceutical Technology

Research-focused doctoral programme in pharmaceutical technology, covering advanced formulation science, drug delivery systems, and manufact...

View Details
View All 17 Mobilities
Our Consortium

Meet Our Partner Institutions

6 leading universities across 6 countries — each with dedicated teams, programmes, and research focus

Coordinating Institution
University of Cape Coast

University of Cape Coast

Ghana, West Africa

The University of Cape Coast's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences represents Ghana's commitment to pharmaceutical excellence, combining modern pharmacy education with traditional African medicine research. Established in 2018, SoPPS has rapidly developed a comprehensive Doctor of Pharmacy program across five specialized departments. With over 80,000 students, UCC serves as a major educational hub in West Africa, excelling in herbal medicine research through its dedicated Herbal Medicinal Product and Evaluation Unit, bridging the gap between traditional African therapeutic practices and evidence-based pharmaceutical science.

4 Mobilities · Team & News
View Full Profile
University of Port Harcourt

University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria, West Africa

The University of Port Harcourt — popularly known as "Unique UniPort" — is one of Nigeria's avant-garde tertiary institutions with a mandate to empower the Niger Delta region and the country academically. Established in 1975 as a College of the University of Lagos, the university gained full autonomous status in 1977 and is located about 18 kilometres northwest of Port Harcourt — Nigeria's Garden City, home to the country's second largest seaport and the hub of the petroleum and gas industry. UniPort is uniquely situated at the intersection of West Africa's tropical rainforest and the wetlands, swamps, and mangrove forests of the Niger Delta. Recognised by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the university offers programmes across the arts, engineering, social sciences, and sciences, and runs effective extension services through specialised research institutes and centres. As of 2022, UNIPORT hosts 72 bachelor's, 125 master's-level, and 106 doctoral-level programmes, with a total student population of 33,501, a teaching staff strength of 1,456, and administrative staff of 2,008. The Africa Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR, www.aceputoruniport.edu.ng) — the EXCEL-PHARM managing centre — is a World Bank-funded regional hub for interdisciplinary postgraduate training and research in public health, toxicology, nutrition, and nursing sciences.

3 Mobilities · Team & News
View Full Profile
Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar

Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar

Senegal, West Africa

Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD) is one of West Africa's oldest, largest, and most prestigious public universities, located in Dakar, Senegal. Its origins trace back to the African School of Medicine established in 1918 and the French Institute of Black Africa (IFAN) created in 1936, both of which laid the foundation for higher education in the region. The institution was formally founded as the University of Dakar in 1957 and later renamed in 1987 to honor the renowned historian and scientist Cheikh Anta Diop. Today, UCAD is a comprehensive university hosting six major faculties, numerous schools and institutes, and a student population exceeding several tens of thousands, including learners from across Africa and Europe. The university is also a leading research hub in West Africa, with robust research infrastructures — including IFAN — and extensive laboratory networks across disciplines such as health, environmental sciences, and technology. UCAD maintains active membership in international academic bodies like the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and the Association of African Universities, reaffirming its global academic engagement.

3 Mobilities · Team & News
View Full Profile
Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University

South Africa, Southern Africa

Stellenbosch University is a research-intensive public institution in South Africa, officially established as a university in 1918, with roots dating back to 1866. Located in the Western Cape Province, it offers 10 faculties — including AgriSciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine and Health Sciences, Science, Theology, and Military Science — to over 35,000 students across multiple campuses, with more than 150 undergraduate and 800 postgraduate programmes. Stellenbosch holds the highest weighted research output per full-time staff member of any South African university. Its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026, is the focal point for the EXCEL-PHARM partnership. Physically located in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, the FMHS hosts over 5,000 students across more than 90 postgraduate programmes at Honours, Masters, and Doctoral level. The Faculty is anchored by the Stellenbosch University Biomedical Research Institute (SUBRI) — a landmark R1.2 billion facility that brings together over 500 researchers working on Africa's most pressing health challenges, from tuberculosis and HIV to cardio-metabolic and neurological diseases.

4 Mobilities · Team & News
View Full Profile
Makerere University

Makerere University

Uganda, East Africa

Makerere University is the largest university in Uganda and one of the highest-ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa. Established as a technical school in 1922, it attained Medical School status in 1924 before evolving into a University College (1937–1963) offering degrees of the University of London. It became part of the University of East Africa in 1963 and gained full independence in 1970 when that federation was dissolved into three national universities — University of Nairobi, University of Dar es Salaam, and Makerere University. Today, Makerere operates under a collegiate system with nine colleges and one School of Law. Its College of Health Sciences anchors pharmaceutical and health sciences education, offering programmes from undergraduate to PhD level, including a PhD in Health Sciences, Master of Public Health (MPH), and Master of Pharmacology. The university admits approximately 45,000 students, of whom 15% are postgraduates and 8% are international students. Makerere's key functions are Training, Research and Innovations.

3 Mobilities · Team & News
View Full Profile
EU Technical Partner
Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa

Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa

Portugal, Europe

The Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon (FFUL) embodies European pharmaceutical excellence as Portugal's premier pharmacy faculty and EXCEL-PHARM's vital EU partner. FFUL's research powerhouse, iMed.ULisboa (https://imed.ulisboa.pt), unites over 200 researchers in a vibrant translational research ecosystem that transforms pharmaceutical innovations into life-saving medicines. With impressive research productivity in 2024 — more than 350 publications (86% in Q1 journals), 22 active patents, and 17 PhD completions — FFUL demonstrates sustained scientific impact. As part of Portugal's largest and highest-ranked university, FFUL brings crucial European perspectives, regulatory expertise, and international research networks to the consortium.

0 Mobilities · Team & News
View Full Profile

Explore all 6 institutions

Full profiles, programmes, team members, and research news

All Partner Institutions
Latest Updates

News & Announcements

Stay informed about project developments, events, and opportunities

View All News
Applications Now Open

Ready to Advance
Your Career?

Join Africa's leading pharmaceutical and health sciences training programme — funded by the European Union

Applications are open for the 2026/2027 intake — start yours today.

Apply for Scholarship Browse Mobilities
West Africa East Africa Southern Africa Europe