Their work drives forward global sustainable development objectives by supporting innovators and leaders of the future from across the Commonwealth, while simultaneously attracting outstanding talent to Britain’s universities.
Funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Split-site 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. They offer Ph.D. scholars studying at eligible universities across the Commonwealth the opportunity to conduct research at an institute in the UK for 12 months.
Purpose: To widen access to UK equipment and expertise for high-quality doctoral candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, and to contribute to UK and Commonwealth higher education and research through collaboration and partnerships.
Intended beneficiaries: High-quality graduates whose proposed research has a developmental focus and who have the potential to become influential teachers or researchers in their home countries.
To date, over 30,000 people have taken up a Commonwealth Scholarship since the first group of 175 Scholars arrived in the UK in 1960. During those six decades, the scheme has constantly developed, adapting to the very different world of the 56-nation Commonwealth of today. The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to become catalysts for positive change in their communities and beyond. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. Since 2018, the CSC has supported 72 disabled Scholars from 15 countries.
52% of candidates selected for CSC scholarships (those funded by Overseas Development Assistance funding) in 2021 were female. They work closely with their nominating agencies and university partners to ensure they are offering equal opportunities to all candidates regardless of their gender and that all their partners carry out nominations in a way that ensures an equal gender balance. Their gender policy requires all agencies to work towards nominating at least 45% female and 45% male candidates.
Commonwealth Scholarships act as a catalyst for sustainable development by actively supporting candidates of outstanding ability, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, based in low and middle-income countries.
Location:
United KingdomBenefits
- 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 dependents, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed).
- Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by an agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, a child allowance of £529 per month for the first child, and £131 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK.
Eligibilities
To apply for these Scholarships, prospective Scholars 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 registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time your Scholarship starts (September 2023)
- Ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between your home university and your proposed UK university. This link must be greater than simply a collaboration between individuals – see section on ‘Tenure and placement’ for further details. Both supervisors must provide a supporting statement which provides further details of the link to ensure your application is eligible.
- Be available to start your academic studies in the UK in September 2023
- By September 2023, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this Scholarship
Application Process
- Applications must be made using the CSC’s online application system.
- Candidates must apply to study at a UK university that has a part funding agreement with the CSC. Part funding agreements are at the discretion of individual universities. For a list of universities that have agreed to part-fund Commonwealth Scholarships, visit the UK universities with part funding agreements page on the CSC website.
- Candidates are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.
- Proof that the applicant is a citizen or has refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English.
- References from at least two individuals on institutional letterhead.
- Supporting statement on institutional letterhead from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form.
- Supporting statement on institutional letterhead from the current supervisor at the home university.
Application Deadline: March 2, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link
