Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarship 2024 in UK for Developing Countries

The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are offered to support citizens of developing Commonwealth countries for one year’s study at a UK university as part of a PhD being undertaken in a candidate’s home country.

Application Deadline: 5th December 2023

Eligible Countries: Developing Commonwealth Countries

To be taken at (country): UK Universities

Eligible Field of Study: All subject areas are eligible, although the CSC’s selection criteria give priority to applications that demonstrate the strongest relevance to development.

About Scholarship: Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships support one year’s study at a UK university as part of a PhD being undertaken in a candidate’s home country, under the joint supervision of a home country and UK supervisor.

The 12-month period of study in the UK supported by the scholarship can be taken at any stage during your PhD study, providing this is justified in your study plan. It can be divided into two or more periods, with no more than 12 months elapsing between each award term. If you have not already started your PhD at the time of your application, you will be eligible to spend a maximum of six months in the UK in your first year of study.

These scholarships are for:

• 12 months study at a UK university as part of an applicant’s doctoral studies in their home country, starting in Sep 2024
• Applicants who are registered (or will be registered by September 2024) for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Study at a UK university with which your home university has an established institutional or departmental link
• 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

Offered Since: 1959

Type: PhD study

Selection Criteria: Applications for Commonwealth Split-site will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the research proposal
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

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 registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time your Scholarship starts (September 2024)
• 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 – see section on ‘Tenure and placement’ for further details. Both supervisors must provide a supporting statement which provides further details of the link to ensure your application is eligible.
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK in September 2024
• By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower 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

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to fellows with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Number of Scholarships: Several

Value of Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship: Each fellowship 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
• 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 (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
• If a Scholar is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £576.61 per month for the first child, and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them 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 to support any family members who come to the UK with you.

Duration of Scholarship: One year

How to Apply for Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship: Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

Candidates must apply to study at a UK university which has a part funding agreement with the CSC. Part funding agreements are at the discretion of individual universities. For a list of universities that have agreed to part fund Commonwealth Scholarships, visit the UK universities with part funding agreements page on the CSC website

Candidates are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.

• It is important to go through all application requirements in the Award Webpage (see Link below) before applying.
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Visit Programme Webpage for details