Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries, 2018

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).

Scholarship Description:

Application Deadline: February 15, 2018
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: 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
Number of Scholarships: Not given
Nationality: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent, and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia
Scholarship can be taken in the UK

Eligibility for the Scholarship:

Eligible Countries: Citizens of developing Commonwealth countries can apply for these fellowships.
Entrance Requirements: To apply for these scholarships, applicants 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 your home country by the time your scholarship is confirmed. Your final qualification will be awarded by your home country university (not your proposed UK university). This scholarship will not support your period of study at your home country university.
- 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.
- Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2018
- By October 2018, 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)
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates.
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

Application Procedure:

Introduction – Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for PhD candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to spend up to 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country. You must use the Electronic Application System (EAS) to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship. The EAS allows you to submit your application electronically and to download and save your application in PDF format (which can then be printed in hard copy).

How to Apply: Applicants must also:

Wait when you have clicked on Submit at the end of your application. It can take up to three minutes for your application to be submitted.
Wait while downloading a PDF of your application. These PDFs can be up to 2 MB in size.
Let your referees know in advance that they will each receive an email inviting them to complete their references electronically. This email is generated as soon as you submit your application.
Let your potential supervisor in the UK know in advance that they will each receive an email asking for a supporting statement. This email is generated as soon as you submit your application.

Before you start your application, you should read the step-by-step guide on How to apply for a Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship (1.0 MB), and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Applicants.

The application form has links to the Notes for Candidates to help you as well.

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