To contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by supporting research that will have a developmental impact, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has organized the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships for the academic year 2022-2023.

The Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are offered to candidates from least developed countries and fragile States in the Commonwealth for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. The winning candidates’ selection will be based on the academic merit of the candidate, the quality of the plan of study, and the potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country. Candidates who cannot afford their education in the UK will be considered eligible.

The scholarship award covers expenses like airfare from and to the home country and the UK on time, full tuition fee, a maximum stipend of £1,516 per month, allowance for warm clothes, where applicable, study travel grant within the UK or overseas, costs of fieldwork undertaken, and family allowances, only spouse and children.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission 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.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government’s scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. The commission supports the co-creation of research, innovation, and solutions to enact sustainable development priorities across the Commonwealth and beyond. The CSC has helped many students over the years to help them study in the UK and gain skills, acquire knowledge, and build networks to tackle global development challenges.

Application Deadline:  The closing date for applications is 18th October 2022.

Brief Description

• University or Organization: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
• Department: NA
• Course Level: PhD
• Award: Stipend, Tuition fee, and Other Allowances
• Number of Awards: NA
• Access Mode: Online
• Nationality: International
• The award can be taken in the United Kingdom.

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: Students from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tuvalu, Uganda, and Zambia are eligible to apply.
• Eligible Course or Subjects: The applicants can apply for a postgraduate degree program taught at a British institute.
• Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible, the applicants must meet all the following/given criteria:
• The applicants must be citizens of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country or be British Protected.
• The applicants must be permanent residents in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• The applicants must be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023.
• The applicants must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.

How to Apply

• How to Apply: The applicants must apply for admission application via their respective university’s online portal. Scholarship applications must be made by logging in here. The candidates must also bear in mind the specifications of completing the application form.
• Supporting Documents: The students are required to present the following documents to the university:
• 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
• Admission Requirements: The applicants must hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard or a second class degree (2:2) and relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) and meet the admission requirements of their respective universities.
• Language Requirement: The applicants must meet the English language requirements of the universities they have decided to join. IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc., are widely accepted across universities in Britain.

Benefits

The selected candidates will be placed for 36 months in their applied university and will be given the following benefits:

• Airfare from home country to the UK and return at the end of the award
• Full fees covered
• 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
• 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
• Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to home country
• Family allowances, if applicable

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