Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for candidates from high income Commonwealth countries, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

Funded by the UK Department for Education (DfE), Commonwealth PhD Scholarships support excellence in UK higher education and sustain the principles of the Commonwealth.

Information on other scholarships offered by the CSC

Eligibility

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2018 or January 2019 (to be agreed by the CSC)
• By October 2018, 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)
• Not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before September/October 2018
• Hold an unconditional offer from your chosen university/universities by the time you submit your scholarship application (a conditional offer with only a financial condition is acceptable)

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For further information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and the DFID guidance on reporting fraud.

Eligible Commonwealth countries

Anguilla
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Cayman Islands
Cyprus
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos Islands

Terms and conditions

For full terms and conditions – including further tenure and placement, value of the scholarship, and general conditions – see the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high income countries) 2018 terms and conditions

The CSC will negotiate joint funding agreements individually for selected candidates. You should make this clear to your chosen university/universities.

Selection process

Each candidate’s application will be considered firstly by an academic adviser with expertise in the subject area concerned, and then by the CSC selection committee in competition with other candidates.

Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the plan of study
• Potential of the candidate to lead in the pursuit of global excellence in research and knowledge

For further details, see the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high income countries) 2018 selection criteria

How to apply

You must make your application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s application system. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via its application system.

All applications must be submitted by 23:59 (BST) on 22 May 2018 at the latest.

In your application, you must provide the following supporting documentation:

• Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications (with certified translations if not in English)
• Unconditional offer(s) from your chosen university/universities (a conditional offer with only a financial condition is acceptable)
• Proof that you are a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of your passport or birth certificate

You must provide the following supporting documentation to be received by the CSC by 16.00 (BST) on 30 May 2018:

• References from at least two individuals
• A supporting statement from a proposed supervisor at one or more of the UK universities named on your application form

If this documentation is not provided by the dates specified above, your application will be considered ineligible.

Apply now

 Choosing a university/course – refer to link below

Any questions?  – refer to link below