Research
Doctoral training and research that addresses real African problems.
TALI coordinates a portfolio of research themes that span every contributing School. Doctoral candidates are admitted to one of these themes and supervised by a primary supervisor and at least one co-supervisor.
Research themes
Each theme is convened by a senior faculty member who reviews concept notes from prospective doctoral candidates and matches them with available supervisors.
Statistics & Data Science
Applied statistics, official statistics, machine learning for development, statistical capacity building.
Computing & Digital Society
Software engineering for resource-constrained settings, digital public infrastructure, AI ethics.
Public Health
Health systems, maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, health information systems.
Business, Markets & Institutions
African capital markets, SME growth, behavioural finance, marketing in emerging economies, HR in the public sector.
Theology, Faith & Society
African Christianity, public theology, pastoral counselling and the role of religion in development.
Sustainability & Climate
Climate adaptation, sustainable enterprise, environmental health, food systems.
Methodology & Measurement
Mixed methods, survey design, evaluation science, instrument validation for African contexts.
Doctoral training pathway
- Concept note (pre-application). A 1,500–2,500-word concept note is reviewed by the relevant theme convenor.
- Application & admission. Candidates with positive concept-note review are invited to submit a full proposal.
- Confirmation of registration. Within 12 months of registration, candidates defend a confirmation paper before the Doctoral Committee.
- Annual progress review. Every candidate submits an annual progress report co-signed by supervisors.
- Pre-submission seminar. A public seminar three months before thesis submission.
- Examination. Independent internal and external examiners; oral viva conducted by an examination panel.
Research ethics
All research involving human participants, sensitive data or institutional collaborators must be cleared by the University Research Ethics Committee before fieldwork begins. The Graduate School maintains the application protocols and a registry of cleared studies.
Publications & outputs
Doctoral candidates are required to submit at least one paper to a peer-reviewed journal before viva. The Graduate School supports candidates with a writing-for-publication seminar each semester and small grants for conference travel.