Applications are open for Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships for Low and Middle Income Countries. Funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Fellowships to widen access to UK equipment and expertise for high-quality doctoral candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, and to contribute to UK and Commonwealth higher education and research through collaboration and partnerships.

Eligibility

To apply for these fellowships, prospective Host organizations must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be registered for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time your scholarship is confirmed (September 2021).
• Ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between your home university and your proposed UK university.
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by January 2022.
• By December 2021, 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).
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.

Selection Process

Eligible applications will be considered in line with the CSC’s CSC Selection Criteria 2021, including by the CSC selection committee in competition with other candidates.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria

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

Stipend

Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships provides the following stipend

• 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 the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed).
• Approved tuition fees.
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,116 per month, or £1,369 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2020-2021 levels).
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
• Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
• If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £478 per month for the first child, and £118 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.

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