2016 Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study

Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth. For information on other scholarships offered by the CSC, visit our Apply page.

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

• Master’s (one-year courses only)
• PhD

All subject areas are eligible, although the CSC’s selection criteria give priority to applications that demonstrate the strongest relevance to development.

You should apply to study at a UK university with which the CSC has a part funding agreement. Click here for a list of UK universities which have part funding agreements with the CSC

Eligibility

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

• Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person
• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
• 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)

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.

Terms and conditions

For full terms and conditions, see the Commonwealth Scholarships 2016 prospectus

Selection process

Each year, the CSC invites selected nominating bodies to submit a specific number of nominations. The deadline for nominating bodies to submit nominations to the CSC is 17 December 2015.

The CSC invites around three times more nominations than scholarships available – therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to be awarded a scholarship. There are no quotas for scholarships for any individual country. Candidates nominated by national nominating agencies are in competition with those nominated by other nominating bodies, and the same standards will be applied to applications made through either channel.

Each nominated candidate’s application is first considered by a member of the CSC’s panel of advisers with expertise in the subject area concerned, and then by the CSC’s selection committee in competition with other candidates.

Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the proposal
• Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

For further details, see the Selection criteria for 2016 Commonwealth Scholarships for developing Commonwealth country citizens

You may also find the Feedback for unsuccessful candidates useful.

How to apply

You must apply to one of the following nominating bodies in the first instance – the CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships:

• National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application. Click here for a list of national nominating agencies, with contact details
• Selected universities/university bodies, which can nominate their own academic staff. Click here for a list of nominating universities/university bodies
• Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies

All applications must be made through your nominating body in your home country. Each nominating body is responsible for its own selection process. You must check with your nominating body for their specific advice and rules for applying, and for their own closing date for applications. The CSC does not impose any age limit on applicants, but nominating bodies may do so in line with their own priorities.

You must make your application using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). Click here for full information on how to use the EAS, including detailed guides.

Your application must be submitted to and endorsed by one of the approved nominating bodies listed above. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the EAS to a nominating body in your home country.

All applications must be submitted by 19 November 2015 at the latest. Please note that this is an earlier deadline than in previous years.

How to use the EAS

Enquiries?

All enquiries about these scholarships should be directed to your nominating body in your home country.

Source: cscuk.dfid.gov.uk

2015 Commonwealth Professional Fellowships - Zambia

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships support mid-career professionals from developing Commonwealth countries to spend a period of time with a UK host organisation working in their field for a programme of professional development. Fellowships are typically three months but can be between one and six months in length, and can include limited time for attendance at short courses or conferences, as well as visits to other organisations.

Programmes must have demonstrable development impact in the Fellow’s home country and the Fellow must be able to show how the knowledge and skills they will gain during the Fellowship will be disseminated after their return home.

Organisations in any sector in the UK can apply to host a Professional Fellowship. A broad selection have done so over the 13 years since the scheme was established.

• Organisations previously selected to host Professional Fellows

Prospective host organisations might find it helpful to read about previously successful programmes:

• Information leaflet
• Updates on Professional Fellows from previous years
• An information event for current and prospective hosts was held in February 2011 – further details and presentations

Key features of Professional Fellowships

• Applications must come from an organisation in the UK willing to set up a programme and host the Fellow(s), or have the agreement of a separate organisation in the UK to act as the host (if the latter is the case, a letter will need to be supplied at the time of application to confirm the agreement).
• Organisations wishing to nominate a Fellow/Fellows will need to set up a suitable programme and identify the Fellow(s) themselves. A programme can include time spent within their own organisation, learning from colleagues in a structured manner and undertaking project work which meets their learning objectives, as well as time spent at other organisations within the UK and at conferences and a limited time on short courses.
• Funding can be given for programmes of between one and six months (though typically for three months). Justification is required for awards of more than three months.
• Applications are sought for programmes within the following broadly-defined areas:
  • Agriculture/fisheries/forestry
  • Economic growth
  • Education
  • Engineering/science/technology
  • Environment
  • Governance
  • Public health.
• Organisations can apply to host up to ten Fellows in one year, with no more than six in any round.
• Fellows must be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons and must be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country.
• Fellows must normally have at least five years’ relevant work experience in the field within which they wish to undertake the Fellowship.
• A Commonwealth Professional Fellowship covers the living expenses for the Fellow as well as a return airfare to the UK and the visa application fee. It also provides £800 funding support to the host organisation, with a budget of up to £3,000 available for attendance at conferences, on short courses, and other eligible costs.
• Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are not for academic study or research of any sort. However, academics can be nominated for programmes of professional development in academic management.

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2015 prospectus – includes full details of the scheme and terms and conditions

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships – information for prospective host/nominating organisations

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships – information for candidates

Source: cscuk.dfid.gov.uk

2015 Commonwealth Academic Fellowships - Zambia

Commonwealth Academic Fellowships are offered for early career academics from developing Commonwealth countries. These fellowships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.

You can apply for a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship to spend between three and ten months at any approved UK university or higher education institution. Applications must include a justification for the length of award requested.

Purpose: To provide early career academics with the opportunity to plan, conduct, or write research, to encourage applications from universities where capacity building is a priority, and to enhance knowledge, skills and contacts in Fellows’ given disciplines.

Intended beneficiaries: Early career academics (with no less than two years’ and no more than ten years’ postdoctoral academic experience) working in universities in developing Commonwealth countries

In your application, you are expected to identify one university that you think is the most appropriate to host your fellowship, and to explain your reasons. You must also provide evidence of agreement to host your fellowship from an academic at your chosen university.

Eligibility

To apply for these fellowships, you must:

• Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person
• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
• Be employed by a university in a developing Commonwealth country
• Be available to start your fellowship in the UK on 1 October 2016. Any other start date will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances
• Have been awarded your PhD between two and ten years prior to October 2016
• Not have previously held a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship within five years

AND

• Have been awarded your PhD by a UK university while on a Commonwealth Scholarship

OR

• Be in the employment of your nominating university

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.

Terms and conditions

For full terms and conditions, see the Commonwealth Academic Fellowships 2016 prospectus

Selection process

Once received by the CSC, each candidate’s application is first considered by a member of the CSC’s panel of advisers with expertise in the subject area concerned, and then by the CSC’s selection committee in competition with other candidates.

Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the proposal
• Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

For further details, see Selection criteria for 2016 Commonwealth Academic Fellowships

You may also find the Feedback for unsuccessful candidates useful.

How to apply

If you have previously held a Commonwealth PhD Scholarship funded by the CSC and meet the eligibility criteria for these fellowships, you can apply directly to the CSC.

Selected universities are also invited to nominate their own academic staff. If you are employed by one of these universities, you must apply via that institution in the first instance. You must check with your nominating university for their specific advice and rules for applying, and for their own closing date for applications. The deadline for nominating universities to submit nominations to the CSC is 17 December 2015. Click here for alist of nominating universities

You must make your application using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). Click here for full information on how to use the EAS, including detailed guides.

Your application must be endorsed by the Vice-Chancellor or Executive Head of the university that employs you. Unless you previously held a Commonwealth PhD Scholarship funded by the CSC, the CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via a nominating university.

All applications must be submitted via the EAS by 19 November 2015 at the latest. Please note that this is an earlier deadline than in previous years.

Universities in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are not invited to nominate candidates for Commonwealth Academic Fellowships in 2016. However, if you are from one of these countries and were awarded your PhD by a UK university while on a Commonwealth Scholarship and meet the other eligibility criteria, you can apply directly to the CSC.

How to use the EAS

Enquiries?

Enquiries about these fellowships should be directed to your nominating university in your home country. Enquiries from alumni only should be sent to info@cscuk.org.uk

Source: cscuk.dfid.gov.uk

2015 Commonwealth Scholarships - Zambia

If you are a citizen of a developed Commonwealth country, you can apply for:

• Scholarships for PhD or split-site PhD study at a UK university

If you are a citizen of a developing Commonwealth country, you can apply for

• Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study at a UK university
• Split-site Scholarships for split-site PhD study at a UK university
• Shared Scholarships for Master’s study at selected UK universities
• Distance Learning Scholarships to study UK Master’s degree courses in your home country
• Academic Fellowships for early career academics to spend time at a UK university
• Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals to spend time at a UK host organisation
• Medical Fellowships for doctors and dentists to spend time at a UK hospital

If you are a citizen of the Falkland Islands, the Maldives, St Helena or the Seychelles, you can apply for:

• Scholarships for undergraduate study at a UK university

If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, you can apply for

• Scholarships and fellowships in other Commonwealth countries

To find out more about Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships in countries other than the UK, visit theCSFP website.