Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2024/25 | Doctoral Study in UK

The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are awarded to candidates from the Commonwealth’s least developed and fragile states for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

Commonwealth PhD scholarships, which are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by funding research with a developmental impact. They also 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 otherwise be unable to afford to study in the UK.

Benefits.

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 the cost of journeys made before your award is
  confirmed)
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between
  the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for
  any part of the tuition fee
• 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 (rates quoted at current levels)
• 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 (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 (rates quoted at current levels):
  • If you are accompanied by your spouse but no children: spouse
    allowance of £266 per month for a maximum period of nine months, 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)
  • If you are accompanied by your spouse and children: spouse allowance
    of £266 per month and child allowance of £266 per month for the first
    child, and £131 per month for the second and third child under the age
    of 16, if your spouse and children are living with you at the same
    address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a
    scholarship; other conditions also apply)
  • If you are accompanied by your children but no spouse: child
    allowance of £529 per month for the first child, and £131 per month for
    the second and third child under the age of 16, if your children are
    living with you at the same address in the UK

Eligibility.

• 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 available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
• By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard or a second class degree (2:2) 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 or in your home country before September/October 2024
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format

Eligible Commonwealth Countries

• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Rwanda
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• Tanzania
• The Gambia
• Tuvalu
• Uganda 
• Zambia.

Selection Criteria.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the plan of study
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

Method of Application.

You
must apply to one of the following nominating bodies in the first
instance – the CSC does not accept direct applications for these
scholarships:

• National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
• Selected universities/ university bodies, which can nominate their own academic staff
• Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies

In order for your application to be eligible for consideration:

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status – uploaded to the online application system
• Full
  transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications
  including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently
  studying (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to
  the online application system
• References from at least two
  individuals – submitted directly by the referees to the online
  application system (referees will be sent an email request)
• Supporting
  statement from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the
  institutions named on your application form -– submitted directly by
  your proposed supervisor to the online application system (supervisors
  will be sent an email request).

Official Link