Fully Funded Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2019 in UK
  • Full Scholarship

Commonwealth is accepting applications for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2019 in UK. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries, for full-time PhD study at a UK university.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth PhD Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. These scholarships are offered under six themes:

  • Science and technology for development
  • Strengthening health systems and capacity
  • Promoting global prosperity
  • Strengthening global peace, security and governance
  • Strengthening resilience and response to crises
  • Access, inclusion and opportunity

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. The Commonwealth is home to 2.4 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. Thirty-one of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. Their shared values and principles are inscribed in the Commonwealth Charter Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organizations.

The Department for International Development (DFID) was set up in 1997. DFID leads the UK’s work to end extreme poverty. They are tackling the global challenges of their time including poverty and disease, mass migration, insecurity, and conflict. Their work is building a safer, healthier, more prosperous world for people in developing countries and in the UK too.

They work in countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, many of which are fragile or at risk from fragile neighbours. They also have regional programmes in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, and development relationships with 3 aid dependent Overseas Territories – St Helena, the Pitcairn Islands and Montserrat. In addition to working directly in countries, DFID also gives UK Aid through multi-country global programmes and core contributions to multilaterals.

Location:

United Kingdom

Benefits

  • Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,084 per month, or £1,330 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2018-2019 levels)
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
  • Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location), where approved
  • Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to your home country (unless you have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse and/or child allowances during your scholarship, or have received a return airfare to your home country for fieldwork)
  • Family allowances, as follows (rates quoted at 2018-2019 levels)
    • If you are accompanied by your spouse but no children: spouse allowance of £233 per month for a maximum period of nine months, if you and your spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply)
    • If you are accompanied by your spouse and children: spouse allowance of £233 per month and child allowance of £233 per month for the first child, and £114 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if your spouse and children are living with you at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply)
    • If you are accompanied by your children but no spouse: child allowance of £465 per month for the first child, and £114 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if your children are living with you at the same address in the UK

Eligibilities

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

  • Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
  • Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
  • Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2019
  • By October 2019, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
  • NOT be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before September/October 2019
  • NOT have commenced and be currently registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, in your home country or elsewhere
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
Eligible Regions: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Application Process

  • You must apply to one of the following nominating bodies in the first instance – the CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships:
    • National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
    • Selected universities/university bodies, which can nominate their own academic staff
    • Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
  • All applications must be made through one of these nominating bodies. Each nominating body is responsible for its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. You must check with your nominating body for their specific advice and rules for applying, their own eligibility criteria, and their own closing date for applications.
  • You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your nominating body. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.
  • All applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 19 December 2018 at the latest.
  • You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.
  • Your application must include the following supporting documentation, by 16:00 (GMT) on 4 January 2019 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration:
    • Proof of citizenship or refugee status – uploaded to the online application system
    • Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system
    • References from at least two individuals – submitted directly by the referees to the online application system (referees will be sent an email request)
    • Supporting statement from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on your application form – submitted directly by your proposed supervisor to the online application system (supervisors will be sent an email request).
  • The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted by nominating agencies or outside the online application system.
  • Supporting documentation uploaded to the online application system must be uploaded as files which are no more than 5 MB in size and must be in one of the following formats: PDF, .doc, .docx, .odt, .jpg, .jpeg . Files submitted in any other format (including Zip files and PDF Portfolios) will NOT be accepted.

Application Deadline: December 19, 2018

Application ClosedOfficial link

For Further Queries

For further information please email at: [email protected]
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