Deadline: February 15, 2018
Applications are now open for the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships. The 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.
Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. These scholarships are offered under six themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
Scholarship Value
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 fees
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,065 per month, or £1,306 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2017-2018 levels)
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
- If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £458 per month for the first child, and £112 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK
The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and you must be able to supplement these allowances in order to support any family members who come to the UK with you.
Eligibility
To apply for these scholarships, you 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
Eligible Commonwealth countries
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
Zambia
Selection Criteria
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate
- Quality of the research proposal
- Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country
Application
- For full terms and conditions – including further details of the scholarship themes, tenure and placement, value of the scholarship, and general conditions – see the 2018 terms and conditions
- You should apply to study at a UK university which has a part funding agreement with the CSC. View a full list of UK universities with part funding agreements.
You must make your application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the EAS.
You must provide the following supporting documentation, which must be received by the CSC by 23.59 (GMT)on 19 February 2018 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration:
- Supporting statement from your supervisor at your home country university, highlighting current institutional links
- Supporting statement from your proposed supervisor at a UK university, highlighting current institutional links
- Reference from at least one other individual
- Copy of your valid passport showing your photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
For more information, visit Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships.
