CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship 2026 | Fully Funded AI Security Fellowship for African Women

 

The CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded nine-month advanced training and certification programme designed for experienced African women working in cybersecurity.

The fellowship is organised by CyberSafe Foundation in partnership with the SANS Institute and is designed to help experienced cybersecurity professionals specialise in the rapidly growing field of AI security.

Selected fellows will receive advanced SANS training, practical laboratory experience, mentorship and preparation for globally recognised cybersecurity certifications. The programme focuses on securing artificial intelligence systems, large language models, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems, AI applications and security automation.

Unlike entry-level cybersecurity programmes, this fellowship is specifically designed for professionals who already have hands-on cybersecurity experience and want to develop advanced expertise in AI security.

CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship 2026

The CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship provides a structured nine-month learning pathway running from October 2026 to July 2027.

The programme combines self-paced SANS OnDemand training, practical laboratories, mentorship, progress reviews and certification preparation.

Participants will gradually move from AI security fundamentals to advanced AI application security and security automation.

The fellowship is delivered online, allowing eligible professionals across African countries to participate without relocating.

Fellowship Benefits

The programme is fully funded, meaning selected fellows do not pay tuition for the fellowship.

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Benefits include:

• Fully funded SANS training
• No tuition fees
• Hands-on cybersecurity laboratories
• Advanced AI security training
• Mentorship and structured support
• Preparation for GIAC AI Platform Security (GAIPS) certification
• Preparation for GIAC AI Security Automation Engineer (GASAE) certification
• SANS OnDemand learning
• Practical experience securing AI systems
• Professional development opportunities
• Nine months of specialised AI security training

SANS provides the training and certification pathway as an in-kind contribution, according to CyberSafe Foundation.

What Will Fellows Learn?

The fellowship follows a four-stage learning pathway.

1. AI Security Principles and Practices

Participants begin with SEC411: AI Security Principles and Practices: GenAI and LLM Defense.

This stage introduces important concepts including how large language models work, tokenisation security, AI attack surfaces, prompt injection and jailbreaking.

2. Building and Securing RAG Systems

The second stage focuses on SEC495: Leveraging LLMs: Building & Securing RAG, Contextual RAG and Agentic RAG.

Participants learn how to build Retrieval-Augmented Generation systems and understand how to protect them against security threats.

Topics include access controls, prompt injection and protection of sensitive information.

3. GenAI Application Security

The third stage, SEC545: GenAI and LLM Application Security, focuses on securing real-world generative AI applications.

Participants explore technologies and concepts including vector databases, LangChain agents, MCP, Kubernetes and AI threat modelling using the MAESTRO framework.

The course also includes a practical capture-the-flag exercise.

4. AI and Security Automation

The final stage is SEC598: AI and Security Automation for Red, Blue and Purple Teams.

Participants learn how AI can be used to automate security workflows, including SOAR playbooks, infrastructure as code and AI-driven detection and response across cloud environments such as AWS and Azure.

Who Can Apply?

The CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship is specifically designed for experienced African women in cybersecurity.

Applicants must meet the following key requirements:

• Be a woman older than 21
• Be African
• Currently reside in an African country
• Be able to communicate in English
• Have at least three years of hands-on cybersecurity experience
• Have a genuine interest in AI security
• Be able to commit to the full fellowship
• Be willing to complete the required prerequisite AI security course

Previous experience in artificial intelligence is not required. However, applicants must have a strong cybersecurity foundation and at least three years of practical cybersecurity experience.

You also do not have to be a CyberSafe Foundation alumna. The fellowship is open to eligible African women who meet the requirements.

Is the Fellowship Free?

Yes.

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Master in-demand skills with expert-led courses on Programming, AI, Data Science, Business, Finance, Marketing, Design and thousands more.

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✔ Learn at your own pace  |  ✔ Lifetime access  |  ✔ Certificates of completion

The CyberSafe Foundation describes the programme as a fully funded fellowship. Fellows do not pay tuition for the SANS training and certification pathway.

This makes the opportunity particularly valuable for cybersecurity professionals who want access to advanced SANS training but may not otherwise be able to afford the cost.

Application Deadline

The application window opened on August 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM WAT.

Application Deadline: September 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM WAT

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their applications.

According to the official programme timeline:

• Applications open: August 19, 2026
• Applications close: September 10, 2026
• Selection and feedback: September 30, 2026
• Orientation: October 21, 2026
• Training begins: October 26, 2026
• Fellowship completion: July 30, 2027

What Do You Need to Apply?

Applicants should prepare the following information and documents:

• Contact information
• Country of origin
• Country of residence
• LinkedIn profile
• Current job role
• Current organisation
• Years of cybersecurity experience
• Current salary range
• CV in PDF format
• Maximum two-page CV
• Optional AI-related articles or publications
• Answers to the application questions

The application form also asks applicants about a real cybersecurity problem they have worked on and why they are interested in AI security.

Important: CyberSafe Foundation specifically instructs applicants to answer the application questions in their own words and not use ChatGPT or other generative AI tools to write or substantially rewrite their responses. Applications containing substantially AI-generated responses may be disqualified.

🎓 Invest in Your Future

Master in-demand skills with expert-led courses on Programming, AI, Data Science, Business, Finance, Marketing, Design and thousands more.

🚀 Explore Udemy Courses

✔ Learn at your own pace  |  ✔ Lifetime access  |  ✔ Certificates of completion

How to Apply

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Confirm that you meet the age, nationality, residence, gender and cybersecurity experience requirements.

Step 2: Prepare Your CV

Prepare a professional CV of no more than two pages in PDF format. Highlight your cybersecurity experience, technical skills, projects and professional achievements.

Step 3: Read the Application Guide

Review the official fellowship information carefully before starting the application.

Step 4: Complete the Application

Provide your personal and professional information and answer the application questions honestly and in your own words.

Step 5: Complete the Prerequisite

Applicants must complete the designated prerequisite AI security course and submit the required credential before their application proceeds to formal review.

Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline

Submit your completed application before September 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM WAT.

Who Should Apply?

This fellowship is particularly suitable for cybersecurity professionals who already have practical experience and want to move into emerging AI security roles.

It could be valuable for professionals interested in:

• AI security
• Application security
• Cloud security
• Security automation
• AI threat modelling
• LLM security
• RAG security
• Cybersecurity engineering
• AI governance and risk
• Offensive and defensive security

Applicants should understand that this is not an introductory cybersecurity course. CyberSafe Foundation specifically states that the programme is designed for professionals who already have cybersecurity experience.

Final Thoughts

The CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship 2026 provides experienced African women in cybersecurity with an opportunity to gain advanced expertise in one of the fastest-growing areas of technology security.

Through fully funded SANS training, hands-on laboratories, mentorship and certification preparation, participants can develop specialised skills in securing AI systems, generative AI applications, RAG systems and automated security workflows.

With applications closing on September 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM WAT, eligible cybersecurity professionals should begin their applications as soon as possible.

Fellowship Summary

Programme: CyberSafe x SANS AI Security Fellowship
Host Organisations: CyberSafe Foundation and SANS Institute
Location: Online
Duration: 9 months
Start Date: October 26, 2026
Completion: July 30, 2027
Funding: Fully funded
Target Group: African women in cybersecurity
Minimum Experience: 3 years hands-on cybersecurity experience
Age: Older than 21
Application Deadline: September 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM WAT

Official Application Link

Apply through the official CyberSafe Foundation application form:

Official Fellowship Information:
https://cybersafefoundation.org/our-programs/cybersafe-sans-ai-security-fellowship/