African Studies (Collaborative) | Graduate Admissions

A first of its kind in Canada, Carleton University’s collaborative PhD with Specialization in African Studies has launched its inaugural cohort for the 2023/2024 academic year across three units: Anthropology, Sociology and International Affairs. Designed for graduates of the master’s programs in the humanities and the social sciences who, through interdisciplinary research wish to enrich and deepen their training in a particular discipline or area of study by developing expertise in African Studies.

The collaborative master’s program with a Specialization in African Studies is especially designed for Carleton University master’s students in participating programs in the Faculties of Arts and Social Science, Public Affairs, and the Sprott School of Business who wish to enrich their training by developing expertise in African Studies through interdisciplinary dialogue.

Capital Advantage

This collaboration gives you access to the best concentrated expertise on African Studies in Canada. Ottawa provides you with easy access to non-governmental organizations working in fields such as international development, human rights and the environment, as well as federal government departments such as Global Affairs, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, and Export Development Canada. Rich holdings of archival material are available in the National Archives of Canada. Ottawa is also home to a growing number of African-Canadian and diaspora community groups, African diplomatic representatives and Africanist faculty.

Application Information

Applicants wishing to apply to the collaborative PhD or master’s program with a specialization in African Studies must indicate this in their application(s) to the participating program(s).

Applicants interested in applying for the specialization African Studies after beginning their PhD or master’s program must contact the Institute of African Studies for more information.

Note: applicants applying to the MA: International Affairs program or the Master of Journalism program must contact the Institute of African Studies for more information regarding applying to the collaborative master’s program in African Studies.

Participating Programs – PhD

Participating Programs – Master’s

Research Highlights

International development (e.g., law, gender, economics, post-conflict, governance, health, human rights, private sector, historicity)
Colonialism and postcoloniality
Diaspora migration
Media and new technologies
Race, gender, class and languages in African histories, societies, cultures, and polities
Literatures, films, music and oral histories