Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships 2024

Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships for students from low and middle income countries. This program is open to PhD candidates.

This Full Scholarship is an opportunity offered to qualified PhD students from low and middle income countries. This program is sponsored by UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and hosted by Eligible Commonwealth Country University. The Commonwealth scholarship aims at supporting and encouraging resourceful and highly motivated applicants to gain the knowledge and specific skills required for sustainable development and also targeted at those who could not have otherwise have the funds to study in the UK.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom. Equivalent to other countries’ ministries of foreign affairs, it was created on 2 September 2020 through the merger of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID). The FCO was itself created in 1968 by the merger of the Foreign Office (FO) and the Commonwealth Office. The department in its various forms is responsible for representing and promoting British interests worldwide. The head of the FCDO is the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, commonly abbreviated to “Foreign Secretary”. This is regarded as one of the four most prestigious positions in the Cabinet – the Great Offices of State – alongside those of Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary. James Cleverly was appointed Foreign Secretary on 6 September 2022. The FCDO is managed day-to-day by a civil servant, the permanent under-secretary of state for foreign affairs, who also acts as the Head of His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service. Philip Barton took office as permanent under-secretary on 2 September 2020. The expenditure, administration and policy of the FCDO are scrutinized by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Scholarship Summary:

Scholarship Sponsor(s): UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Scholarship Type: Full Scholarship

Scholarships to be taken at: Eligible Commonwealth Country University

Study level: Postgraduate (PhD)

Scholarship Worth: See Scholarship Benefits (below)

Number of Awards: Several

Nationality: Low and Middle Income Countries

Requirement and Eligibility Criteria for Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships 2024:

Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
Be residing permanently in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be a registered PhD candidate at a university in a Commonwealth eligible country by the time of scholarship confirmation (September, 2024).
Be sure that an institutional or departmental link exists between your home university and the proposed UK university.
Applicant must be available to start academic studies in the UK by the commencement of the UK academic year in September, 2024.
Applicants are to provide all supporting documents in the required formats.
By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
Be unable to afford studies in the UK without the scholarship

Scholarship Benefits

Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award.
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 you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK.

If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

Application Procedure for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships (how to apply):

Interested applicants for the Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships 2024 are to apply to study at a UK university which has a part funding agreement with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).

Applicants are to apply directly to the CSC using the CSC’s online application system. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not done via the online application system.

Document Requirements:

Proof of citizenship or refugee status: copy of valid passport or national ID card showing photograph, date of birth, country of citizenship or refugee status and uploaded to the online application system.
Full academic transcripts of all higher education qualifications including up-to-date transcripts for any qualifications currently undertaking (with certified translations if not in English Language). Same should be uploaded to the online application portal.
References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details
Supporting statement on institutional letterhead from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form
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.

Application Deadline: 5 December, 2023 at 16:00 (GMT)

For more information about this opportunity, Visit the Official Webpage.