AI security is one of the fastest-growing and least-staffed disciplines in cybersecurity right now. Companies are putting generative AI, large language models and AI-powered applications into production every day, and they desperately need people who can secure those systems. The CyberSafe Foundation, in partnership with the world-renowned SANS Institute, answered that gap with a fully funded, nine-month advanced training and certification fellowship built specifically for experienced African women in cybersecurity.
One honest note before you read further: the 2026 application window ran from 19 August to 10 September 2026 and has now closed. Selection and feedback were scheduled for 30 September 2026, the very day this article was written. If you applied, your decision email should be on its way. If you missed it, read on anyway — this is exactly the kind of programme worth preparing for in advance so you're ready the moment a future round opens.
In short: A fully funded 9-month online fellowship by CyberSafe Foundation and SANS Institute for experienced African women in cybersecurity. It covers four SANS AI security courses plus preparation for two GIAC certifications (GAIPS and GASAE). The 2026 round closed on 10 September 2026; ten fellowships were awarded.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: Online (open to residents of African countries)
- Host Institution: CyberSafe Foundation x SANS Institute
- Degree Level: Professional fellowship (advanced training, not a degree)
- Program Duration: 9 months (October 2026 – July 2027)
- Funding Type: Fully funded
- Deadline: 10 September 2026, 12:00 PM WAT (2026 round closed)
Benefits of the CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship
This is a serious, career-shifting programme — not a beginner bootcamp. Here's what the ten selected fellows receive:
- Four SANS AI security courses — the full AI security track: SEC411, SEC495, SEC545 and SEC598, delivered self-paced through SANS OnDemand. Each course must be completed before the next one unlocks.
- Two GIAC certification preparations — structured preparation for the GIAC AI Platform Security (GAIPS) certification and the GIAC AI Security Automation Engineer (GASAE) certification, both globally recognised credentials.
- Hands-on labs — you build, secure, analyse and defend real systems through labs designed around actual AI security challenges: LLMs, generative AI applications, RAG systems, AI threat modelling, application security and security automation.
- Expert instruction — courses are taught by working AI security consultants, researchers and course authors, not generic trainers.
- Mentorship and structured support — ongoing mentorship throughout the nine months, with dedicated exam preparation timelines so you're not studying alone.
- Zero cost — the full curriculum and certification pathway are covered. SANS provides the training as an in-kind contribution; fellows pay no tuition and no fees.
- Prerequisite AI security course included — applicants complete a prerequisite AI safety course as part of the application itself, so even those without prior AI experience are brought up to speed.
Eligibility Criteria for the CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship
This fellowship is aimed at professionals who already have a cybersecurity foundation and are ready to specialise. You were eligible for the 2026 round if you:
- Were an African woman older than 21 years — the fellowship is exclusively for women.
- Currently resided in an African country — participants join online from whichever African country they live in.
- Could speak and work in English — all training, mentorship and applications run in English.
- Had at least three years of hands-on cybersecurity experience — this is not an entry-level programme; genuine practical experience is required.
- Had a genuine interest in AI security — no prior AI experience was required at all.
- Were willing to complete the prerequisite AI security course — part of the application process.
- Could commit to the full fellowship — including the dedicated exam preparation timelines and the course schedule running to July 2027.
How to Apply for the CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship
Applications were submitted through the online application form on the official CyberSafe Foundation call page. The process for the 2026 round was:
1. Confirm your eligibility — check the experience, residency, age and language requirements above before spending time on the application. 2. Prepare your documents — have your CV and any AI-related articles or publications ready before you begin. 3. Open the official application form — available on the CyberSafe Foundation's fellowship call page. 4. Fill in your personal information — contact details and professional background. 5. Upload the required documents — your CV and any supporting materials. 6. Answer the application questions — within the stated word limits, in your own words and based on your own experiences. The questions cover your cybersecurity experience, your interest in AI security, your career goals and your readiness for the fellowship. 7. Agree to the terms and conditions — read them carefully, then check the data privacy consent. 8. Tell them how you heard about the programme — select the referral source, then submit your form.
Applications were reviewed on a rolling basis, so in the 2026 round the strongest applications went in early rather than waiting for the final day.
Required Documents
- CV — clearly demonstrating your cybersecurity experience, technical responsibilities and relevant professional achievements.
- Articles or publications on AI — any additional writing or research you've done in the AI space (optional but strengthens the application).
CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship Deadline
Applications for the 2026 round closed on 10 September 2026 at 12:00 PM WAT. The full timeline was:
- Applications open: 19 August 2026, 12:00 PM WAT
- Applications close: 10 September 2026, 12:00 PM WAT
- Selection and feedback: 30 September 2026
- Documentation deadline: 14 October 2026
- Orientation: 21 October 2026
- Training begins: 26 October 2026
- Fellowship completion: 30 July 2027
If you missed the deadline, there is no late-application route — the window is firmly closed. The CyberSafe Foundation has not yet announced a 2027 round at the time of writing, but given the fellowship's stated mission of widening the pipeline of African women in advanced cybersecurity roles, following the foundation's official channels is the smart way to catch the next call early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the fellowship really fully funded?
Yes. The programme has no tuition fees and no application fees. SANS Institute provides the training and certification pathway as an in-kind contribution, and the CyberSafe Foundation covers the fellowship costs. Selected fellows do not pay for the curriculum or the certifications.
Who could apply for the 2026 round?
African women older than 21 who spoke English, currently resided in an African country, and had at least three years of hands-on cybersecurity experience. No prior AI experience was required.
Did I need previous AI experience?
No. The fellowship was designed for cybersecurity professionals adding an AI security specialisation on top of an existing foundation. Applicants without AI background completed a prerequisite AI security course as part of the application.
What courses are covered?
Four SANS courses: SEC411 (October 26 – November 24, 2026), SEC495 (November 27 – December 20, 2026), SEC545 (January 4 – April 16, 2027) and SEC598 (April 19 – July 30, 2027). All are delivered self-paced through SANS OnDemand, with each unlocking after the previous is completed.
Which certifications does it prepare me for?
The GIAC AI Platform Security (GAIPS) certification, taken alongside the SEC545 block, and the GIAC AI Security Automation Engineer (GASAE) certification, taken alongside the SEC598 block. Both are globally recognised credentials in AI security.
Is the fellowship online or in person?
Fully online. The training is delivered through SANS OnDemand, mentorship is remote, and participants join from whichever African country they reside in.
How many fellowships were awarded in 2026?
Ten. Ten women working in cybersecurity across Africa were selected for the 2026 cohort, following a 2025 pilot (CyberGirls+) that sent ten CyberGirls Fellowship alumni through SANS training.
Can men apply?
No. This fellowship is exclusively for African women — it's part of the CyberSafe Foundation's wider mission, which has already reached more than 1,800 women in 27 African countries through programmes like CyberGirls.
Was there an application fee?
No. There was no application fee and no participation fee. The application did, however, require completing a prerequisite AI security course.
How can I prepare for a future round?
Strengthen your hands-on cybersecurity experience (three years is the minimum), keep your CV current with concrete technical responsibilities and achievements, start reading about AI security — LLMs, RAG systems, AI threat modelling — and follow the CyberSafe Foundation's official website and social channels so you're among the first to hear about the next call.
Final Words
Fellowships that combine SANS-level training, GIAC certifications and mentorship at zero cost are genuinely rare — and one aimed at putting African women at the front of the AI security demand curve is worth every bit of attention it gets. The 2026 window has closed, but the skills gap it targets isn't going anywhere. Start building your profile now so the next announcement finds you ready.
