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 (CCM), University of Cape Coast, Ghana, invites suitably qualified national, regional and international applicants into its MPhil and PhD degree programmes.

The overarching goal of ACECoR is to support technical capacity development of young African professionals to address issues of coastal degradation, as well as promote the sustainable utilization and management of marine and coastal assets.

ACECoR will carry out education and research programmes in collaboration with academic institutions and industries at the national, regional and international levels to ensure a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to addressing coastal degradation across the sub-region. 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 environment experts who through integrated approaches may work at resolving coastal degradation in West and Central Africa.
• Provide career development for faculty through international exchange programmes and in-service training.

PROGRAMMES ON OFFER

Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Degree Programmes

• MPhil in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• MPhil in Oceanography and Limnology
• MPhil in Fisheries Science

MPhil Degree Programme Description

The ACECoR MPhil programmes are designed as intensive modular courses with a research component. Students admitted to the programmes spend a 12-month period of learning on course modules and another 12 months on research. Students will conduct research in one of the following areas:

MPhil Degree Programme	Areas of Research
MPhil in Integrated Coastal Zone Management	Forestry Engineering Disaster Risk Management and Migration Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning Marine Conservation and Protected Areas Blue Economy Governance and Social Resilience Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
MPhil in Oceanography and Limnology	Marine Meteorology Physical Processes and Geomorphology Brackish Water Ecosystems Marine Biodiversity Fresh Water Ecosystems Marine and Coastal Engineering
MPhil in Fisheries Science	Fish Genetics Fisheries Stock Assessment and Modelling Mariculture Fisheries Management Fish Taxonomy Gear Technology Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fishing

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree Programmes

• PhD in Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• PhD in Oceanography and Limnology
• PhD in Fisheries Science

PhD Degree Programme Description

The ACECoR PhD programmes are designed as 36-month intensive full-time research programmes. Students in the programme spend 24 months on field research and data collection and 12 months for organising and writing their thesis, including attending relevant seminars and conferences to gain critical knowledge and/or present preliminary research results. Students will conduct research in one of the following programme areas:

PhD Degree Programme	Areas of Research
PhD in Integrated Coastal Zone Management	Forestry Engineering Disaster Risk Management and Migration Marine and Coastal Spatial Planning Marine Conservation and Protected Areas Blue Economy Governance and Social Resilience Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity
PhD in Oceanography and Limnology	Marine Meteorology Physical Processes and Geomorphology Brackish Water Ecosystems Marine Biodiversity Fresh Water Ecosystems Marine and Coastal Engineering
PhD in Fisheries Science	Fish Genetics Fisheries Stock Assessment and Modelling Mariculture Fisheries Management Fish Taxonomy Gear Technology Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fishing

ELIGIBILITY

The ACECoR scholarships are available to all African nationals who meet admission requirements of the University of Cape Coast. Priority will be given to female applicants as well as applicants from West and Central African countries.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

MPhil – The minimum admission requirement for the MPhil programmes is a first degree (Second Class Lower Division or equivalent) in a relevant Science or Engineering discipline, from a recognised 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 and multidisciplinary environment.

All candidates must submit the following (indicating the preferred area of research):

1. Completed Scholarship Application form
2. Certified true copies of academic certificates and transcripts
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
4. Statement of Motivation
5. Two (2) letters of recommendation (at least one from a former lecturer/supervisor)
6. A 2-3 page research proposal in the preferred area of research

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 recognised 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 and multidisciplinary environment.

All candidates must submit the following (indicating the preferred area of research):

1. Completed scholarship application form
2. Certified true copies of academic certificates and transcripts
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
4. Statement of Motivation
5. 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

There are no restrictions based on gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, disability and political orientation of the candidates.

Dual Degree Option

Successful applicants have the option to pursue a dual degree awarded by the University of Cape Coast and University of Rhode Island (USA). For further details visit:  https://acecoradmissions.ucc.edu.gh/dual-degree

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

For the 2019/2020 academic year intake, prospective candidates should apply to the listed MPhil and PhD Degree Programmes at the University of Cape Coast (Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences). Applicants must qualify for admission to master’s and doctorate programmes at the University of Cape Coast (visit https://ucc.edu.gh/admission-notices/post-graduate-regular-programmes). To apply, fill the online scholarship application form on the ACECoR website https://acecoradmissions.ucc.edu.gh.

Selected applicants will be required to purchase the UCC admissions voucher and login to the online registration portal https://www.uccghanaportal.com/ with the PIN and SERIAL numbers. Access the graduate admissions brochure at https://sgs.ucc.edu.gh/sites/default/files/Brochure2019.pdf.

Applicants should note that application for scholarship is independent of the application for admission into the University of Cape Coast.

LANGUAGE

ACECoR programmes shall be run in English Language. Applicants whose medium of instruction was not in English at undergraduate or postgraduate levels must have a minimum Test of English as a  Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer-based test). Additional English language support services are available at the University of Cape Coast for students.

SCHOLARSHIP

MPhil and PhD students admitted to the ACECoR programme are eligible for a scholarship award to facilitate completion of the programme. The scholarships cover tuition, accommodation, monthly stipends and field research grants as well as other material and technical support. The scholarship will support students to present their innovative research results at local/international conferences and cover publication fees for research papers submitted to high impact journals. Continued funding support is contingent on academic output based on annual performance reviews. 

Component	Ghanaian Student			Regional Student
	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
MPhil
Accommodation	✔	✔		✔	✔
Tuition	✔	✔		✔	✔
Research Grant	✘	✔		✘	✔
Stipend	✘	✔		✔	✔
PhD
Accommodation	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Tuition	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Research Grant	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Stipend	✘	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

Note:

ACECoR scholarships do not include visa fees or travel tickets. However, there will be administrative assistance with visa applications and airport pickup.

Application deadline: The closing date for the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) applications is  8^th July 2019.

Details of the ACECoR scholarship selection process can be found at   https://acecoradmissions.ucc.edu.gh/scholarship