The Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarships are now open.
Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for PhD candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries (including South Africa), to spend up to 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country.
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. They provide access to UK facilities, equipment, and expertise for high-quality doctoral candidates and contribute to UK and Commonwealth higher education and research through supporting collaboration and partnerships between universities.
The scholarships are for study starting in the UK in January/February 2022, and are aimed at high-quality graduates whose proposed research has a developmental focus and who have the potential to deliver impact in their home countries.
Degree level
PhD
Deadlines
The closing date for applications is 13 August 2021.
Who can apply?
- Applicants who are citizens 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;
- Must be registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time their scholarship is confirmed;
- There must also be an institutional or departmental link between the candidate’s home university and their proposed UK university;
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK in January 2022;
- Hold a first degree, or a second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by December 2021;
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship;
- Study at a UK university which has a part funding agreement with the CSC.
Scholarship offer
- A round-trip airfare ticket;
- Tuition fees;
- A monthly stipend towards living expenses;
- 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 £478 per month for the first child, and £118 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;
Fields of Study
These scholarships are offered under six developmental themes:
1. Science and technology for development;
2. Strengthening health systems and capacity;
3. Promoting global prosperity;
4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance;
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises; and
6. Access, inclusion and opportunity.
Application process
You must make your application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s online application system.
You are not required to apply via a nominating body for these scholarships.
For your application to be eligible for consideration, your application must include the following supporting documentation uploaded to the online application system by 17:00 (GMT) on 03 September 2021:
- Copy of your valid passport (or national ID card) showing your photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship or refugee status;
- Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications (with certified translations if not in English);
- Supporting statement from your supervisor at your home country university, which must include details of the institutional link between the university where you are/will be registered for your PhD and your proposed UK university – submitted directly by your supervisor;
- Supporting statement from your proposed supervisor at a UK university, which must include details of the institutional link between the university where you are/will be registered for your PhD and your proposed UK university – submitted directly by your supervisor;
- Reference from at least one other individual – submitted directly by the referee.
Contact
For applications or for more information about the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship, kindly send an online request to the CSC at https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/contact-us/
Documents and links
Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows
General conditions of the award
UK universities with part funding agreements
Note
Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
