Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries, 2017

UK Department for International Development (DFID) offers Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries. Citizens of developing Commonwealth countries can apply for these fellowships.

To widen access to UK equipment and expertise for quality doctoral candidates from Commonwealth countries, and to contribute to UK and Commonwealth higher education and research through collaboration and partnerships.

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is one of the largest and most prestigious scholarship schemes for international study in the world. Since it was established in 1959, around 34,000 individuals have benefited – 26,000 of them have held awards funded by the UK government, managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC).

Applicants must 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).

Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing Split-site (PhD) (where the CSC supports one year’s study at a UK university as part of a PhD being undertaken in applicant’s home country) studies at UK universities.

Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded in all subjects.

Scholarship Award: Each scholarship provides:

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 usually the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed)

Approved tuition and examination fees

Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,043 per month, or £1,279 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2016-2017 levels)

Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable

Warm clothing allowance, where applicable

Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK or overseas

If they are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £448 per month for the first child, and £110 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if they are accompanied by their children and solely legally responsible for them

Scholarship can be taken in the UK

Eligibility:To apply for these scholarships, you must:

Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person

Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country

Be registered for a PhD at a university in your home country by the time your awad is confirmed

Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2017

By October 2017, 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)

Nationality: Citizens of developing Commonwealth countries can apply for these fellowships.

List of Countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (British) and Zambia

College Admission Requirement

Entrance Requirement: Applicants must 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).

Test Requirement: No

English Language Requirements: Applicants from outside the home country will often need to meet specific English language/other language requirements in order to be able to study there.

Government Scholarships

How to Apply: Applicants must make their application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). They are not required to apply via a nominating body for these scholarships. Applicants are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the EAS will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline. They recommend that you complete their application by 31 October 2016.

Online Application

Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted by 15 November 2016.

Scholarship Link