Deadline: 15-Nov-22

The Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) established under the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) for Development Impact Project and hosted by the Centre for Coastal Management, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, invites suitably qualified national, regional and international applicants into its MPhil and PhD degree programmes.

• The specific objectives of ACECoR are to:
  • Enhance capabilities of young African scholars in the thematic areas of Coastal Geomorphology and Engineering, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Disaster Risk Management and Migration, Ecosystems and Biodiversity Science and Blue Economy, Governance and Social resilience.
  • Provide demand-driven applied research data and innovation for relevant industries and sectors in above themes.
  • Develop regional data support systems on marine and coastal issues.
  • Create multi-sectoral networks for marine and coastal for integrated approach to resolving coastal degradation in West Africa.
  • Provide career development for faculty through international exchange programme and in-service training.

Areas of Research

Students will undertake their research in one of the following programme areas:

• Integrated Coastal Zone Management
  • Forestry Engineering
  • Disaster Risk Management and Migration
  • Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning
  • Marine Conservation and Protected Areas
  • Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
  • Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
• Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience
  • Students are required to apply micro-and-macro economic theories and techniques in the following research areas:
    • Coastal/Marine Resource Valuation
    • Coastal Resource/Marine Resource Governance, Management, Laws and Policies
    • Coastal Livelihoods
    • Coastal/Marine Tourism and Recreation
    • Marine/Coastal Businesses
    • Maritime Transport and Trade
    • Fisheries and Aquaculture
    • Gender, Social resilience and sustainable development in Africa
    • Marine/Coastal Minerals Exploitation
    • Renewable Energy
    • Marine Biotechnology
    • Social and Environmental Impact Assessment
    • Coastal/Marine Resource Use and Human Rights

Programme on Offer

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Degree Programmes
• MPhil in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• MPhil in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree Programmes
• PhD in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• PhD in Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience
• Applicants are to note that for the 2022/2023 academic year, the ACECoR scholarship will mainly focus on the new Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience programmes; very limited scholarships will be provided for the Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Oceanography and Limnology, and Fisheries Science programmes.

Eligibility Criteria

• The ACECoR scholarships are available to all African nationals who meet admission requirements of University of Cape Coast. Priority will be given to female applicants as well as applicants from West and Central African countries.
• Admission Requirement
  • MPhil – The minimum admission requirement for the MPhil programmes is a first degree (Second Class Lower Division or equivalent) in a relevant Social sciences, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Science or Engineering discipline, from a recognized university. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate strong interest in research, development and innovation in science and technology, as well as the ability to work optimally and independently in an international multidisciplinary environment.
  • All candidates must submit the following (indicating the preferred area of research):
    • Completed Scholarship Application form
    • Certified true copy of academic certificates and transcripts
    • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    • Statement of Motivation
    • Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one from a former lecturer/supervisor)
    • A 2-3 page research proposal in the preferred area of research
• Applicants must pass a selection interview and satisfy any additional requirements prescribed by the Department that hosts their programme of interest before they will be admitted.
• PhD – The minimum admission requirement for the PhD programmes is a two- year master’s degree with research in a relevant Science or Engineering discipline or equivalent qualification from a recognized university. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate strong interest in research, development and innovation in science and technology, as well as the ability to work optimally and independently in an international multidisciplinary environment.
• Note: Applicants for the PhD (Blue Economy, Governance and Social Resilience) programme must:
  • Have an MPhil or research MA/M.Ed/MSc/MBA degree in an appropriate field of study from a recognised university; OR
  • Have MA/Med/MSc/MBA degree in an appropriate field, with CGPA of 3.5 or better with not more than grade C+. Also, have scored B+ or better in Research Methods course.
• All candidates must submit the following (indicating the preferred area of research):
  • Completed Scholarship Application form
  • Certified true copy of academic certificates and transcripts
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Statement of Motivation
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one from a former lecturer/supervisor)
  • 6. A 3-5-page research proposal in the preferred area of research
  • Applicants must pass a selection interview and satisfy any additional requirements prescribed by the Department that hosts their programme of interest before they will be admitted.
  • There are no restrictions based on gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability and political orientation of the candidates.

For more information, visit https://acecoradmissions.ucc.edu.gh/