The UK Government Announces The Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarship Program 2025/26 for Students From Low-Income Countries

The UK government is offering fully funded Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarship to students from low/middle-income countries to aid their studies in the UK. Apply Below: 

When is the Application Deadline:

The application deadline for the UK Government Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarship Program 2025/26 for Students From Low-Income Countries is 16:00 GMT on Monday 16 December 2024.

Tell Me About The Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarship Program:

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for candidates from low and middle-income countries, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in the Commonwealth, to conduct research at a university in the UK for 12 months.

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Which Fields are Eligible?

All fields

Type:

Scholarship 

Who can Apply For The Commonwealth Split-site (PhD) Scholarship Program?

Also, the eligibility criteria include:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time the scholarship starts in September 2025.
• Ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between the home university and the proposed UK university. This link must be greater than simply a collaboration between individuals – see the section on ‘Tenure and placement’ below for further details. Both supervisors must provide a supporting statement with further details of the link to ensure the application is eligible.
• Be available to start academic study in the UK in September 2025.
• By September 2025, 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.
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format

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How are Applicants Selected?

Applications 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 applicant’s home country

Required documents:

Additionally, applicants must upload the following documents with the application:

• Proof that they are a citizen 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 to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
• 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 the institution named on the application form.
• A supporting statement, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from the current supervisor at the home university.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

See the list of eligible countries here. 

Where will the Award be Taken?

UK

How Many Awards?

Not specified

What is the Benefit of the Award?

Furthermore, the benefits include:

• Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by an 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 £1,378 per month, or £1,690 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 £590 per month for the first child, and £146 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.

How Long Will the Award Last?

12 months 

How to Apply:

• Applications to the CSC must be made using the application system, CSC Central.
• Should you experience any issues, please contact info@cscuk.org.uk 
• A template application form including all questions is available here and technical guidance is here.