Overview

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.

Who Can Apply?

1. Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
2. Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
3. Be registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time the scholarship starts in September 2025.
4. Ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between the home university and proposed UK university. This link must be greater than simply a collaboration between individuals – see 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.
5. Be available to start academic study in the UK in September 2025.
6. 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).
7. Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
8. Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

Application Procedure

Applicants should carefully follow the detailed application checklist, which includes providing a development impact statement and a plan of study. Additional advice for choosing a university and course is available, guiding applicants through the process.

What Financial Support is Available?

• Approved airfare: The scholarship covers the cost of a return airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK at the beginning and end of the award. The CSC will not reimburse fares for dependants or for travel before the award is confirmed.

• Approved tuition fees: Full tuition fees are covered through an agreement between the CSC and the UK university, meaning Scholars are not required to pay any portion of the tuition fees.

• Stipend (living allowance): Scholars receive a monthly stipend of £1,378, or £1,690 if studying at a university within the London metropolitan area (current rates).

• Warm clothing allowance: Provided where applicable.

• Study travel grant: A grant to help cover the costs of study-related travel, either within the UK or internationally.

• Child allowance: For widowed, divorced, or single-parent Scholars, a child allowance of £590 per month for the first child and £146 per month for the second and third children (under the age of 16), provided the children live with the Scholar at the same address in the UK.

For More Information

For more information click here.