Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries.

Application Deadline: 19 November 2015

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

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

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

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)

Eligible African Coutries and Nominating Agencies:

Botswana – national nominating agency details

Cameroon – national nominating agency details

Ghana – national nominating agency details

Kenya – national nominating agency details

Lesotho – national nominating agency details

Malawi – national nominating agency details

Mauritius – national nominating agency details

Mozambique – national nominating agency details

Namibia – national nominating agency details

Nigeria – national nominating agency details

Rwanda – national nominating agency details

Seychelles – national nominating agency details

Sierra Leone – national nominating agency details

South Africa – national nominating agency details

Swaziland – national nominating agency details

Tanzania – national nominating agency details

Uganda – national nominating agency details

Zambia – national nominating agency details

 

COMMONWEALTH PhD SCHOLARSHIPS

• Up to 36 months’ support towards completion of a three-year full-time doctoral postgraduate qualification at an eligible UK university.

COMMONWEALTH MASTER’S SCHOLARSHIPS

• 12 months’ support towards completion of a full-time taught postgraduate qualification at an eligible UK university.
• The CSC funds one-year Master’s programmes only, and does not fund MBAs.

Scholarship Worth:

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor usually the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed)
• Approved tuition and examination fees
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,034 per month, or £1,268 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2015-2016 levels)
• Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
• Warm clothing allowance
• Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
• For PhD Scholars, fieldwork grant towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location)
• For PhD Scholars, paid mid-term visit (airfare) to your home country (unless you have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse and/or child allowances during your scholarship, or have received a return airfare to your home country for fieldwork)
• If your scholarship is at least 18 months long, the following family allowances:
• Spouse allowance of £222 per month if you and your spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship)
• Child allowance of £222 per month for the first child, and £109 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your spouse and children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK
• If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent (irrespective of the length of your scholarship), child allowance of £444 per month for the first child, and £109 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

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.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the 2016 Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK