Applications are open for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, which are available for full-time doctoral study at a UK university, for candidates from the Commonwealth’s least-developed nations and fragile states.
By funding research that will have a developmental impact, Commonwealth PhD scholarships help meet the needs of Commonwealth countries for development. Aimed at those who would not otherwise be able to afford it, they also improve individual teaching and research capacity, increasing institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth nations. They will also support UK higher education and research by luring top-tier international applicants and fostering links and collaboration.
Starting Date: September/October 2024
Duration: 09 Months
Benefits
Each scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award.
- Approved tuition fees.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area.
- 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 the fieldwork location), where approved
- Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to the Scholar’s home country, unless they have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork.
- Family allowances for each member of the family:
Eligibility
To apply for this scholarship, 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.
- By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
- Not be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2024.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Selection Criteria
The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:
- Academic merit
- Quality of research proposal
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
Application Process
Applicants must upload the following documents with their application:
- Proof that they are citizens or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including up-to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead, or an email clearly showing the sender’s details
- A supporting statement, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead, or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application
For detailed information on Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Least Developed Countries and Fragile States, click here
Deadline: October 17, 2023.
For more information on Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Least Developed Countries and Fragile States, visit the official site.
