Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2018 in UK

Deadline: 22 May 2018
Open to: be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country
Scholarship: fully funded

Description

Applications are open for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2018. The 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 Ph.D. Scholarships support excellence in UK higher education and sustain the principles of the Commonwealth.

Eligibility

  • 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) honors standard, or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree);
  • Not be registered for a Ph.D., or an MPhil leading to a Ph.D., 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).

Scholarship

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 fees;
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of GBP 1,065 per month, or GBP 1,306 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area;
  • Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable;
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable;
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas;
  • Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location), where approved;
  • 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);
  • Family allowances, as follows:
    • Spouse allowance of GBP 229 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; other conditions also apply);
    • Child allowance of GBP 229 per month for the first child, and GBP 112 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, child allowance of GBP 458 per month for the first child, and GBP 112 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?

In order to apply, please fill the application.

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.

For more information, please visit the official web page.