Commonwealth Scholarships for PhD – Call For Applications

Commonwealth Scholarships for citizens of developed Commonwealth countries (Australia, The Bahamas, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cyprus, Malta, and New Zealand) are offered for PhD and split-site PhD study in the UK. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Scottish Government, in conjunction with UK universities.

You can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship for the following levels of study:

  • PhD
  • Split-site (PhD), where the CSC supports one year’s study at a UK university as part of a PhD being undertaken in your home country

All subject areas are eligible, although the CSC’s selection criteria give priority to applications that demonstrate the strongest potential for strategic impact.

If you are applying for PhD study, the scholarship will be tenable only at a UK university with which the CSC has a joint funding agreement. Joint funding agreements will be negotiated individually for selected candidates for PhD study. You should make this clear to your chosen universities.
Eligibility

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

  • Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person
  • Be permanently resident in Australia, The Bahamas, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cyprus, Malta, or New Zealand
  • Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2016
  • By October 2016, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
  • If you are applying for split-site (PhD) study, be registered for a PhD at a university in your home country

If you have already started your PhD study at a UK university, you are not eligible to apply for these scholarships.

Applications without any supporting statements from your proposed supervisors will be considered ineligible.

The CSC promotes equal opportunity, gender equity, and cultural exchange. Applications are encouraged from a diverse range of candidates. The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner – for more information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy.

All applications must be submitted by 23.59 (BST) on 17 June 2016 at the latest. All documentation – including references, transcripts, unconditional offers and supporting statements – must be provided by 16:00 (BST) on 27 June 2016.

For full details of the awards, and to apply, please visit: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/scholarships-developed-cw