Deadline: May 22, 2018
Applications are open for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2018. The Scholarships are for candidates from high income Commonwealth countries, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. Funded by the UK Department for Education (DfE), Commonwealth PhD Scholarships support excellence in UK higher education and sustain the principles of the Commonwealth.
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
- Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
- 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 (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location), where approved
- Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to your home country (unless you have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse and/or child allowances during your scholarship, or have received a return airfare to your home country for fieldwork)
- Family allowances, as follows:
- Spouse allowance of £229 per month if you and your spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply)
- Child allowance of £229 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 spouse and children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK
- 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
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2018 or January 2019 (to be agreed by the CSC)
- 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)
- Not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before September/October 2018
- Hold an unconditional offer from your chosen university/universities by the time you submit your scholarship application (a conditional offer with only a financial condition is acceptable)
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates.
Eligible Commonwealth countries
Anguilla
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Cayman Islands
Cyprus
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands
Selection Criteria
Each candidate’s application will be considered firstly by an academic adviser with expertise in the subject area concerned, and then by the CSC selection committee in competition with other candidates.
Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate
- Quality of the plan of study
- Potential of the candidate to lead in the pursuit of global excellence in research and knowledge
Application
You must make your application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s application system. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via its application system. All applications must be submitted by 23:59 (BST) on 22 May 2018 at the latest.
In your application, you must provide the following supporting documentation:
- Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications (with certified translations if not in English)
- Unconditional offer(s) from your chosen university/universities (a conditional offer with only a financial condition is acceptable)
- Proof that you are a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of your passport or birth certificate
You must provide the following supporting documentation to be received by the CSC by 16.00 (BST) on 30 May 2018:
- References from at least two individuals
- A supporting statement from a proposed supervisor at one or more of the UK universities named on your application form
If this documentation is not provided by the dates specified above, your application will be considered ineligible.
Click here to apply now
For more information, visit Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.
