Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarships 2024/2025 – Fully Funded Study in the UK

How the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship Helps PhD Candidates from Low-Income Countries

Table of Content

Overview of Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships
Award Duration and Flexibility
Application Process
Supporting Documentation
Eligibility Criteria and Eligible Countries
Application Checklist and Tips
General Conditions

The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships for the academic year 2024/2025 are now open for applications. This prestigious opportunity allows talented PhD students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to conduct research at a UK university for 12 months. The scholarship, fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK, is part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). It is designed to help achieve international development goals by fostering collaboration between the UK and Commonwealth nations.

This scholarship is aimed at graduates from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and middle-income countries, including those from fragile or conflict-affected states. These candidates typically do not have the financial means to pursue education in the UK, but possess the potential to drive substantial change in their home countries. Their proposed research should focus on themes related to development and leadership to address challenges in their regions.

Award Duration and Flexibility

The scholarship duration is 12 months, which can either be taken as a continuous 12-month period or split into two six-month periods. This flexibility allows candidates to manage their research timeline according to personal and academic needs.

Application Process

Deadline: Applications for the 2024/2025 academic year must be submitted by 16:00 GMT on 16 December 2024.

How to Apply: All applications must be submitted directly through the CSC’s online application system. Due to the high volume of applications, candidates are strongly advised to submit their applications well in advance of the deadline.

University Selection: Applicants must apply to a UK university that has a part-funding agreement with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

Supporting Documentation

Applicants are required to provide the following documents:

Proof of Eligibility: A valid passport or national ID card confirming citizenship or refugee status.
Educational Qualifications: Full transcripts from previous higher education institutions, including current courses.
References: Two references in PDF format from referees (home and proposed UK supervisors).
Supporting Statements: PDF statements from both home and UK supervisors, confirming institutional links and mutual support for the research.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for this scholarship, candidates must:

Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be a permanent resident of an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the start of the scholarship in September 2025.
Ensure there is an institutional or departmental link between the home university and the proposed UK university, which goes beyond individual collaborations. Both supervisors must provide a supporting statement with details of this link to confirm the application’s eligibility.
Be available to commence academic study in the UK in September 2025.
Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours, or a lower second-class degree along with a relevant postgraduate qualification (typically a Master’s degree) by September 2025.
Be unable to afford studying in the UK without this scholarship.
Submit all supporting documentation in the required format.

Eligible Countries

Applicants from the following countries are eligible for the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships 2024/2025:

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Application Checklist and Tips

Applicants should carefully follow the application checklist, which includes providing:

A development impact statement outlining how the research will benefit the home country.
A study plan detailing the research goals and how they will be achieved during the scholarship period.

Additional guidance is provided for selecting a university and course to ensure the application meets the necessary requirements.

Financial Assistance

The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:

Round-trip airfare to and from the UK.
Full tuition fees for the duration of the study.
A monthly stipend for living expenses.
Warm clothing allowance for candidates arriving in the UK.
Study travel grant for academic-related travel during the award period.
Child allowance for candidates with children.
Disability support upon assessment, if applicable.

General Conditions

The scholarship comes with various conditions, including:

Adherence to UK immigration regulations.
Scholars must reside in the UK during their award and cannot engage in paid employment during this period.
The scholarship does not cover study periods at the home country university.

Candidates are encouraged to review the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars for detailed information and updates.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Scholarship at Uniplus Global to apply