Call for Applications: IGC Jordan PhD Local Fellowship
The IGC Jordan PhD Fellowship offers PhD students and recent PhD graduates a three-month research opportunity in Amman, providing first-hand exposure to Jordan’s policy and data landscape.
Fellows will develop policy-relevant research questions aligned with Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV) and one of the International Growth Centre (IGC)’s key themes and receive mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics. The fellowship includes financial support for travel and living expenses. In partnership with the University of Jordan, two positions will be reserved for University of Jordan students, and one position will be open to all applicants. Applications are open until 17 August 2025, with selected fellows visiting IGC Jordan between September and December 2025.
About IGC Jordan
IGC Jordan works in close partnership with the Government of Jordan, particularly the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC), to generate and apply high-quality research that informs policy and supports sustainable growth. IGC Jordan's work focuses on priority areas such as labour markets, water scarcity, infrastructure, and private sector development, aligning with the goals set out in Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision. Through collaboration with leading academics and local stakeholders, IGC Jordan is committed to strengthening evidence-based policymaking for long-term national impact.
The Jordan PhD Local Fellowship aims to strengthen the pipeline of local researchers contributing to policy-relevant economic research in Jordan. Fellows will work closely with the IGC Jordan team and government partners to generate rigorous evidence that informs national economic policymaking and supports the priorities of Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision (EMV).
Beyond hands-on engagement with real-world policy challenges, fellows will benefit from structured mentorship by professors and advanced researchers from leading global universities, including, but not limited to, the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). This mentorship will provide support on research design, empirical methods, and translating academic work into actionable policy insights, while offering access to a wider international research and policy network.
The fellowship is designed as a strategic investment in Jordan’s research infrastructure, and, in collaboration with the University of Jordan, aims to build a stronger local research community, build links between academia and government, and support the development of rising researchers and economists.
The fellowship is a part-time role designed for three recent or current PhD economics, and other social sciences, students currently enrolled or recently graduated from Jordanian universities. Fellows will collaborate with IGC Jordan staff, policymakers, and international researchers on applied research projects and policy engagements.
Fellow responsibilities may include:
- Supporting data cleaning, management, and analysis using administrative and survey datasets.
- Conducting literature reviews and contributing to research outputs, policy briefs, and presentations.
- Assisting in the design and implementation of impact evaluations and empirical research.
- Engaging directly with government counterparts to support evidence-based policymaking.
- Participating in meetings and workshops with policymakers, development partners, and researchers.
- Engaging in regular peer learning sessions with the LSE and Oxford-based PhD mentors.
Applicants must:
- Applicants must be either enrolled in a Jordanian PhD programme or have defended their PhD in 3 years preceding the fellowship; Jordanian nationals in PhD programmes in MENA universities may also be considered. Priority will be given to economics PhD students, though all social science PhDs are welcome to apply.
- Two positions will be reserved for University of Jordan students, and one position will be open to all applicants
- Have excellent analytical skills and communication skills in both Arabic and English.
- Have strong quantitative skills, including proficiency with a statistical software such SPSS or R.
- Applicants should be able to describe at least one research project with a strong policy application that they will work on during their time at IGC Jordan. This can include broad research questions they aim to develop during the fellowship, with relevant policymakers and mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics.
- Produce final output addressing key policy challenge in Jordan.
Fellows will receive financial assistance equivalent to £5,000 GBP to support research activities and living expenses during the fellowship period. Fellows will also receive mentorship from IGC-affiliated academics.
Three months. The expected fellowship period is between September and December 2025 but start dates may be adjusted based on the availability of selected candidates. All fellowships must be completed no later than March 2026.
Please only apply using the button below to apply. The deadline for submission of applications is 17 August 2025. Please note we do not receive applications by email or post.
Accepted fellows would be visiting IGC Jordan for 3 months from September to December 2025.
Selected applicants will be emailed the final decision within two weeks of the closing deadline, which may involve an interview. The selected applicants must confirm their decision to accept the fellowship offer two weeks after being contacted.
As part of your application, you will be asked to upload your curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter clearly outlining a research area relevant to growth challenges in Jordan that you wish to develop during the fellowship. If your application is successful, your PhD supervisor will need to provide a letter of referenced, which should be emailed (by your supervisor) to the following address: [email protected]. The reference letter will also certify that you are enrolled in a PhD programme at your university. If you have recently defended your PhD, you will still be required to submit a letter of reference from your former supervisor, as well as your diploma.
Application deadline
Applications must be submitted by 23:59 Jordan time on 17 August 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews.