Applications are invited for Commonwealth Scholarships available to citizens of developed Commonwealth countries. Scholarships are available for pursuing Ph.D. and split-site Ph.D. study in the UK.

Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are available to support world-class research and scholarship, and to contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-calibre international candidates and encouraging links and collaboration and Commonwealth Split-site Ph.D. Scholarships are available to widen access to UK equipment and expertise for high-calibre doctoral candidates from Commonwealth countries, and to contribute to the 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 30,000 individuals have benefited – 25,000 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 Ph.D. and split-site Ph.D. study in the UK.

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

Scholarship Award: Each scholarship provides:

• Approved airfare from applicants home country to the UK and return at the end of applicants award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor usually the cost of journeys made before their award is finally confirmed)
• Approved tuition and examination fees
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,068 per month, or £1,268 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area
• Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
• Warm clothing allowance
• Study travel grant towards the costs of study related travel within the UK or overseas
• Fieldwork grant towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to their fieldwork location)
• Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to applicants home country (unless they have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship, or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork)
• If applicants scholarship is at least 18 months long, the following family allowances:
• Spouse allowance of £222 per month if they and their spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless their spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship)
• Child allowance of £222 per month for the first child, and £109 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if they are accompanied by their spouse and children and they are living with them at the same address in the UK
• If applicants are widowed, divorced, or a single parent (irrespective of the length of their scholarship), child allowance of £444 per month for the first child, and £109 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if they are accompanied by their children and them are living with they at the same address in the UK
• The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining their family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and they must be able to supplement these allowances in order to support any family members who come to the UK with them.

Scholarship can be taken in the UK

Eligibility: To apply for these scholarships, applicants must

• Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person
• Be permanently resident in Australia, The Bahamas, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cyprus, Malta, or New Zealand
• Be available to start their academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2016
• By October 2016, 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)
• If they are applying for split-site (Ph.D.) study, be registered for a Ph.D. at a university in their home country

If they have already started their Ph.D. study at a UK university, they are not eligible to apply for these scholarships.

Nationality: Students of developed Commonwealth countries can apply for these scholarships

List of Countries: Australia, The Bahamas, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cyprus, Malta, and New Zealand

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.

Commonwealth Scholarships

How to Apply: All subject areas are eligible – although applicants should note that the CSC’s selection criteria give priority to applications that demonstrate the strongest potential for strategic impact.

If applicants are applying for Ph.D. study, the scholarship will be tenable only at a UK university with which the CSC has a joint funding agreement. Joint funding agreements will be negotiated individually for selected candidates for Ph.D. study.

Applicants should make this clear to their chosen universities. Applicants must make their application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS)

The deadline for applications is 23:59 (BST) on 17 June 2016 at the latest. All documentation – including references, transcripts, unconditional offers and supporting statements – must be provided by 16:00 (BST) on 27 June 2016

Electronic Application System (EAS)

Application Deadline: The application deadline is 17 June 2016.

Scholarship Link