The Carl Paul Malmberg Fellowship

The Carl Paul Malmberg Fellowship

 

Upcoming virtual information session on May 2, 2024 | 4pm UCT +2 | Register here!

 

This Fellowship supports early-career Lesotho nationals studying a master's degree at the University of Pittsburgh in health care, public affairs, education or other areas affecting Lesotho who have demonstrated strong potential for outstanding achievement and a capacity to contribute to the development of Lesotho. Fellows will receive two years of support in the form of a living stipend of $38,400 (paid in monthly installments for two years) and a $1,000 program and professional activities fund.  We will work with the professional school of your admission to provide tuition scholarship if available.

 

Fellow Obligations

During the residency, the Fellow is expected to enroll in the Center’s Graduate Certificate Program and to give at least one presentation on a subject related to his or her professional experience to members of the University. In addition, the Fellow is strongly encouraged to participate in community outreach activities in the region by lecturing about his or her home country to an audience of high school students or interested adults.

Acceptance of the grant by the candidate constitutes an agreement between the grantee and the University. It is expected that, barring unforeseen emergencies, grantees will remain for the full tenure of the award. A grantee who leaves the U.S. or terminates the grant at a date earlier than that specified in the grant authorization, without consent of the University, will be required to reimburse the University for any expenditures made by the University on the grantee’s behalf.

Upon completion of the Malmberg Fellowship program, Fellows are required to submit a final report describing and evaluating the full range of their activities and experiences during the Fellowship, as well as their plans for applying the Fellowship upon return to Lesotho. These reports are subsequently distributed to program officials at the University of Pittsburgh. These reports will also be used as references for incoming Fellowship recipients. Upon acceptance of their final report, Fellows will receive a Malmberg Program certificate from the UCIS in additional to their earned degree from their professional school.

 

Eligibility

The competition for a Malmberg Fellowship is open to Lesotho nationals whose record of accomplishment early in their career indicates strong potential for leadership and achievement in business, government, public services, or other relevant professions.

  1. Applicants must complete an application with the Center for African Studies
  2. Applicants must have been accepted to a Master’s program beginning the academic year for which they seek the Malmberg Fellowship by the respective professional schools
  3. Applicants must have completed a university degree.
  4. Applicants must be proficient in speaking, reading and writing English.
  5. Preference will be given to those applicants at the early or mid-stages of their career.
  6. The Fellowship is intended for individuals in the practitioner and policy domains. It is not awarded for basic academic research, academic sabbaticals or medical research.

 

Application Process

Lesotho nationals interested in submitting an application to be considered for the fellowship should

If selected, we will work with you to apply to any professional school of your choice for admission into the Master's degree program.  Some University of Pittsburgh professional schools with potential Malmberg support include: the School of Education, the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA), and others depending on your field of interest. Please note that the next Fellowship award will be for the beginning of fall 2026 (AY 2026/27).

 

Timeline

  • December 1, 2025: Application to African Studies Due
  • December 15, 2025: Notification for winner of preliminary application to African Studies
  • Master’s program application deadline: Please check the deadline for the school and academic year you intend to apply.
  • Spring 2026: Notification of Master's Program Acceptance: 
  • April 2026: Winner notified and announced on website
  • August 1, 2026: Fellowship begins
  • May 31, 2028: Fellowship ends
 

Who was Carl Malmberg?

Carl Paul Malmberg served in the Peace Corps as a teacher of science and mathematics in Lesotho and later as a research technician in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Laboratories in Beltsville, Maryland. A native of Pittsburgh, he studied at Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University. He had strong interests in science, music, and sports, and was intensely concerned for the welfare of others. Following his untimely death in 1984, his family established the present Fellowship Program in his memory, using funds from his estate. In this manner, his contribution to society - especially to the country of Lesotho, which he had come to love - is extended beyond his mortal existence.

-Dictated by Mr. Paul Malmberg, December 15, 1989

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a PhD with the fellowship? No, the fellowship only covers a stipend for a master's degree.

Can I bring my family? Yes, but no transportation costs, living or other allowances, services or insurance funds are provided for dependents, whether or not they accompany the Fellow.

Do I have to pay USA taxes on my living stipend? Yes, fellows must pay U.S. taxes amounting to 14% of the stipend.

Can my application fee be waived? No, you must pay all fees assotiated with your application

How long is the fellowship awarded for? The fellowship is awarded for the time it takes to get your master's degree usually around 20 months or close to two years