Candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth nations are invited to apply for 2023/2024 Commonwealth PhD Scholarships. The application submission date is October 18, 2022.
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are awarded to candidates from the Commonwealth’s vulnerable and least developed states for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.
By sponsoring research with a developmental impact, Commonwealth PhD scholarships, which are financed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), contribute to the development requirements of Commonwealth countries. In addition, they enhance individual teaching and research capacity, leading to an increase in institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth countries, contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-calibre international candidates and fostering links and collaboration, and are intended for those who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are also available.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships — Table of Contents Eligibility
Be a citizen of, or granted refugee status by, a qualifying Commonwealth nation, or be a British Protected Person.
Be a permanent resident of a qualifying Commonwealth nation.
Be available to begin academic studies in the United Kingdom by September 2023, the beginning of the UK academic year.
By September 2023, possess a first degree with a minimum upper second class (2:1) honours grade or a second class (2:2) degree plus a suitable postgraduate qualification (often a Master’s degree).
NOT be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD at a UK institution or in your home country before to September/October 2023
Without this scholarship, they could not afford to study in the UK.
Have furnished all relevant documentation in the proper format
Commonwealth Countries Eligible
Bangladesh, Cameroon, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, The, Gambia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia
Benefits of Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Every scholarship offers:
Flights from your native nation to the United Kingdom and back at the conclusion of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
Full tuition fees are paid by an agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not responsible for paying any portion of the tuition charge.
Monthly stipend (living allowance) of £1,236 or £1,516 for those attending universities in the London metropolitan region (rates quoted at current levels)
Allowance for warm clothing where applicable
Grant towards the expense of study-related travel inside the United Kingdom or abroad
Provision towards the cost of overseas fieldwork (the cost of one economy class round-trip travel to your fieldwork destination), if accepted.
Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to your home country, unless you have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or kid allowances or have received return airfare to your home country for fieldwork.
Allowances for families, as follows (at current rates):
If you are accompanied by your spouse but do not have children, you are eligible for a spousal allowance of £266 per month for a maximum of nine months if you and your spouse are living at the same residence in the United Kingdom (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply)
Provided you are accompanied by your spouse and children: spouse allowance of £266 per month and child allowance of £266 per month for the first kid, and £131 per month for the second and third children under the age of 16 if they reside with you at the same UK location (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply)
If you are accompanied by your children but do not have a spouse, you will receive a child allowance of £529 per month for the first kid and £131 per month for the second and third children under the age of 16 if they reside with you in the UK.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships Eligibility Requirements
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria for selection:
Academic excellence of the applicant
The quality of the study plan
Potential impact on the progress of the candidate’s native nation
Application Procedure for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
You must first apply to one of the following nominating organizations; the CSC does not accept direct scholarship applications:
The following documents must be uploaded with the application:
Documentation demonstrating that the applicant is a citizen or refugee of an eligible Commonwealth country: a photocopy of a valid passport (or national ID card) bearing the applicant’s photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
Full transcripts detailing all higher education credentials, including up-to-date transcripts for any currently-studied courses, with certified translations if not in English.
at least two people’ references on institution’s letterhead
Statement of support on institution letterhead from a suggested UK supervisor from at least one of the above