Applications call for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2021

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for candidates from high-income Commonwealth countries, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for Education in conjunction with UK universities to support world-class research and to contribute to UK higher education and research to help sustain international recognition of the UK higher education system and for the benefit of wider society. The CSC does not offer scholarships to candidates from high-income Commonwealth countries who have already started their PhD study in the UK.

Eligibilities

In order to be eligible for this Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, candidates must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Show evidence that you are permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. You must have lived in an eligible Commonwealth country for a continuous period of five years within the last ten years. If the CSC is unable to determine this from your application, you will be contacted to provide further evidence.
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK between January/February 2021 (to be agreed by the CSC).
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second-class degree and relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by the time of submitting your scholarship application.
• Not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before January 2021.
• Not have commenced and be currently registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, in your home country or elsewhere.
• Hold an unconditional offer from your chosen university/universities listed on your CSC online application, at the point of being notified that you have been provisionally selected for an award by the CSC.
• Provide all supporting documentation in the required format including references from at least 2 individuals and a supporting statement from a proposed supervisor at one or more of the UK universities.

Benefits 

The Scholarships will cover the following things

• 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 dependents, nor usually the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed).
• Approved tuition fees.
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,110 per month, or £1,362 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2019-2020 levels).
• 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.

Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships (for high-income countries) 2020 terms and conditions.