King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme PhD – Fully Funded for SIDS Scholars

King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme PhD – A Unique Opportunity for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique challenges, from climate change to economic sustainability. To address these issues, it is crucial to build a strong foundation of skilled researchers, educators, engineers, and healthcare professionals who can drive long-term growth and resilience in their communities.

The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) PhD, inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, offers an exceptional opportunity for professionals from SIDS to pursue a PhD while continuing their careers. This fellowship allows candidates to study at a university in their home country, with the added benefit of joint supervision from leading institutions across the Commonwealth, including universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.

If you are passionate about climate action, education, engineering, or public health, this fellowship provides financial support, international research exposure, and professional development opportunities—all while enabling you to contribute directly to your home country’s progress.

About the Fellowship

The KCFP PhD Fellowship allows candidates to enroll in a PhD programme at a university in their home country while receiving joint supervision from a partner university across the Commonwealth (mainly in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom). Fellows will have opportunities to attend research training or short study periods at their partner institution.

This initiative is designed for academic staff and professionals who hold a Master’s degree or equivalent experience and are committed to advancing engineering, education, health, or climate resilience in their communities.

Research Areas Covered

PhD studies supported by the fellowship should focus on one of the following key areas:

Climate Change & Environment – Sustainable development, disaster resilience, conservation, and environmental management.
Education – Strengthening education systems, teacher training, and innovative learning strategies.
Engineering – Infrastructure development, renewable energy, and technology-driven solutions for SIDS.
Health – Public health initiatives, disease prevention, healthcare access, and medical research.

What Does the Fellowship Offer?

Successful applicants will receive comprehensive support throughout their PhD journey, including:

GBP 30,000 funding over six years (£5,000 per year) for research activities and visits to a partner university.
Waiver of international tuition fees for research visits to the partner university.
GBP 12,000 research support grant (£2,000 per year).
20% salary contribution to the fellow’s employer over six years.
Access to resources such as academic libraries and research databases at the partner university.
Joint supervision from faculty at both the SIDS home university and the partner university.
Professional development opportunities as part of the King’s Fellows Cohort, including training in communication, policymaking, entrepreneurship, and grant applications.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the KCFP PhD Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent experience.
Be enrolled or planning to enroll in a PhD research programme at an ACU SIDS member university in the 2025/26 academic year.
Research must fall under one of the four priority areas (Climate Change, Education, Engineering, or Health).
Hold citizenship or refugee status in a Commonwealth SIDS, including:

Eligible Countries

Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles
Asia: Maldives
Caribbean & Americas: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago
Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Indigenous community members are especially encouraged to apply, although it is not a strict eligibility criterion.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online via the official application portal.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: 25 April 2025 (13:00 UTC)
Fellowship Duration: 6 years

This prestigious fellowship presents an exceptional opportunity for emerging researchers and professionals from SIDS to enhance their expertise, contribute to their country’s development, and gain international research exposure while remaining embedded in their home communities.

Apply now and take your research to the next level!

How to Apply

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