Thinklab Foundation Africa
For university students

Thinklab University Fellowship

A community for university students who want to build a strong career or enterprise in science or the creative industries. You get career guidance, practical bootcamps, real challenges and mentors, with a clear path towards a job or your own enterprise.

Apply nowWhat you get
Membership
UGX 85,000 a year
Application fee
UGX 10,000, paid once
When to apply
Any time of year
Who can apply
University students
What you get

Everything a fellow gets in a year

Your membership covers all of the following for the whole year.

STEM career guidance

Advice on careers in science, technology and the creative industries, and help planning the steps to reach the one you want.

Enterprise building

Support to turn an idea into a business: testing it with the people it is for, working out what it costs and preparing to pitch it.

STEAM bootcamps

Short, practical training in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths skills that you can put to work straight away.

Innovation challenges

Work in teams on real problems set by Thinklab and its partners, build prototypes and present your solutions.

Mentorship on enterprise building

Experienced mentors guide you as you plan, start and grow an enterprise.

A community with a clear pathway

Most importantly, you belong to a community of fellows, each working towards a job or an enterprise along a clear path.

Two pathways

Choose the pathway that fits your goal

When you join, you tell us whether you are working towards a job or your own enterprise. If you are not sure yet, we will talk it through with you.

The job pathway

For fellows who want a strong career in science or the creative industries. You focus on career guidance, practical skills from bootcamps, and experience of solving real problems in innovation challenges.

The enterprise pathway

For fellows who want to start a business. You focus on enterprise building and mentorship, taking an idea from a real problem to a prototype and then to a product.

Fees

What it costs

You pay a one-time application fee when you apply. If your application is accepted, you then pay the yearly membership fee.

Paid once, when you apply

UGX 10,000

Application fee

Paid each year, once accepted

UGX 85,000

Fellowship membership

How to pay the application fee

Send UGX 10,000 by MTN Mobile Money to:

MTN MoMo+256 772 310 404Nanteza Ruth Ssebagala

Ms Ssebagala is the Executive Director of Thinklab Foundation Africa. Keep the confirmation message: you will upload a screenshot or photo of it with your application.

How to apply

Applications are open all year

We review applications as they arrive, so you can apply whenever you are ready.

  1. Pay the application feeSend UGX 10,000 by MTN Mobile Money and keep the confirmation message.
  2. Apply onlineFill in the form below and upload your payment receipt.
  3. We reviewOur team reviews your application and contacts you by email or phone.
  4. JoinIf you are accepted, pay UGX 85,000 for the year and start with an orientation.
Application form

Apply for the Thinklab University Fellowship

It takes about 10 minutes. Questions marked * are required. Have your student registration number and payment receipt ready.

Before you start

Pay the UGX 10,000 application fee by MTN Mobile Money to +256 772 310 404 (Nanteza Ruth Ssebagala) and keep the confirmation message.

Your answers are saved on this device as you type, so you can finish later.
1About you
Please answer this question.
Please answer this question.
Enter your date of birth.
Please choose an option.
Please answer this question.
Please answer this question.
Enter a valid phone number, for example +256 772 000 000.
Enter a valid email address.
2Your studies
Please answer this question.
For example: BSc Civil Engineering, Bachelor of Fine Art.Please answer this question.
Please choose an option.
Please answer this question.
Please choose an option.
3Your goals
Which fields do you want to build a career in? *
Choose at least one.
Which pathway are you aiming for? *
Please choose an option.
What do you want most from the fellowship? (optional)
Choose at least one.
A few sentences in your own words.Please answer this question.
You do not need an idea to apply. You can start by looking for a real problem to work on.Please answer this question.
Enter a full web address starting with https://
Please choose an option.
4Application fee and receipt

All questions in this section are required.

Send the application fee of UGX 10,000 by MTN Mobile Money to +256 772 310 404, registered to Nanteza Ruth Ssebagala. This is a one-time fee.

Please answer this question.
Enter the phone number used to pay.
Enter the amount you paid. The application fee is UGX 10,000.
Enter the date you paid.
You will find it in the MTN confirmation message.Enter the transaction ID from the MTN message.
Upload your payment receipt *
No file chosenA screenshot or photo of the MTN message, or a PDF. Up to 5 MB.
Upload a file of up to 5 MB in one of the formats listed.
5Declaration

By sending this application, I confirm that:

  • I am a university student, and the information in this application is true.
  • I understand that the UGX 10,000 application fee is paid once, and that if I am accepted, the fellowship costs UGX 85,000 a year.
  • I will follow Thinklab’s code of conduct if I become a fellow.
  • Thinklab may use my information to process my application and run the fellowship, in line with Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.
Tick this box to send the form.
Type your full name to sign.
Enter today’s date.

We review applications as they arrive and will contact you by email or phone.

Application received

If you have a question, call +256 772 310 404 or email connect@thinklabfoundation.org, quoting your reference number.

Questions

Questions about the fellowship

Who can apply for the Thinklab University Fellowship?

University students who want to build a strong career or enterprise in science or the creative industries.

How much does the fellowship cost?

There is a one-time application fee of UGX 10,000. If you are accepted, the fellowship costs UGX 85,000 a year.

When can I apply?

At any time. Applications are open all year, and we review them as they arrive.

How do I pay the application fee?

Send UGX 10,000 by MTN Mobile Money to +256 772 310 404, registered to Nanteza Ruth Ssebagala. Then upload a screenshot or photo of the confirmation message with your application.

What do fellows get?

STEM career guidance, enterprise building, STEAM bootcamps, innovation challenges and mentorship on enterprise building. Most importantly, you belong to a community with a clear pathway to a job or an enterprise.

Do I need a business idea to apply?

No. You can start by looking for a real problem to work on. If you already have an idea, tell us about it in your application.

Do I have to study a science course?

The fellowship is for university students who want to build a career in science or the creative industries. Tell us what you study and where you want to go, and we will consider your application on that basis.

What happens after I apply?

We review your application and contact you by email or phone. If you are accepted, we tell you how to pay the UGX 85,000 yearly fee and when your orientation starts.