RMIT Centre for African Engagement (CAE) PhD Scholarships - Housing Affordability and Addictive Behaviour in Africa

The scholarships provide tuition fees for a period of 3.5 years and a stipend of $35,886 per annum (2025 rate indexed annually)

One (1)

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

• meet the minimum requirements for admission to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program at RMIT. 

Details are available on the How to apply page.

• be a citizen of an African country 

This scholarship is supporting the project titled: "Housing Affordability and Addictive Behaviour in Africa", which has specific eligibility requirements.  The ideal candidate for this PhD project should hold a relevant master's degree preferably in social sciences, business and economics, urban studies, or a related interdisciplinary field.

Ideal set of capabilities:

• Strong quantitative and qualitative skills 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Strong analytical skills 
• Knowledge or experience in African socio-economic and cultural contexts, particularly in Ghana and South Africa 
• Experience working on issues relating to housing affordability and/or addictive behaviours. 
• Knowledge of housing policy, mental health or addiction studies. 
• Experience working in a policy environment will be highly regarded

17/11/2025

Scholarship applications must include evidence of contact with the proposed senior supervisor. Please contact Dr Kwabena Mintah submit the following documents:

• A brief overview of your motivation and suitability for this PhD project.
• A detailed CV including academic achievements & research experience.
• Academic certificates and transcripts 

Applicants that can demonstrate evidence of contact with the proposed senior supervisor can submit an application via the How to Apply page

Application deadline is 17 November, 2025.

A summary of the project is below:

This project aims to explore the relationship between housing affordability and addictive behaviour in Africa drawing on evidence from Ghana and South Africa. In recent years, the issue of housing affordability in Africa has escalated due to rapid urbanization, growing population densities and socio-economic disparities (Olaniran et al, 2024). Beyond economic stress, unaffordable housing may trigger psychosocial challenges that influence behavioural outcomes such as alcohol misuse, smoking, and gambling (see, e.g., Mason et al., 2013; Kuroki, 2023). The project seeks to understand how housing affordability dynamics shape addictive behaviours through pathways related to stress, mental health, social isolation, and economic coping mechanisms, while considering the moderating influence of technology, cultural and institutional differences across the two case studies. A mixed methods approach will be employed. The quantitative component will draw on nationally representative household surveys to model associations between housing affordability and addictive behaviours using regression analysis. The qualitative component will involve semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with affected households, community leaders, and social service providers to examine the lived experiences underlying these relationships. The project will generate insights into how housing stress translates into behavioural outcomes in different African settings, and lay a foundation for future studies in this space.

References

Kuroki, M. (2023). Housing affordability and mental health in the United States: 2013–2020. Mental Health & Prevention, 29, 200261.Mason, K. E., Baker, E., Blakely, T., & Bentley, R. J. (2013). Housing affordability and mental health: does the relationship differ for renters and home purchasers?. Social Science & Medicine, 94, 91-97.Olaniran, T. O., Musvoto, G. G., & Aule, T. T. (2024). Potentials for adopting sustainable mixed-income housing in African cities: a bibliometric and systematic review. Urban, Planning and Transport Research, 12(1), 2405195.