The prestigious DFID Commonwealth fully funded scholarships for students from developing countries is now open for application. This scholarship is offered by DFID to students who want to pursue master PhD and split-site PhD programs in UK universities. Scholarship is fully funded and covers expenses like tuition fees, living expenses, air fare etc. If you had been dreaming of studying in the UK, but you are hampered by finances, avail yourself of this great opportunity. But before you start your application ensure that you read through the scholarship requirements as stated below.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person
- Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
- Be available to start their academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2017
- By October 2017, 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).
Please note that CSC promotes equal opportunity, gender equity, and cultural exchange. Applications are encouraged from a diverse range of candidates.
Eligible countries
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (British) and Zambia.
Fields of study
Scholarship is for all masters and PhD programs offered in UK universities.
What the scholarship covers
The Commonwealth scholarship covers the following expenses:
- 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 £1,043 per month, or £1,279 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2016-2017 levels).
- Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable.
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
- 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), where approved.
- 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 £224 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 £224 per month for the first child, and £110 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 they are widowed, divorced, or a single parent (irrespective of the length of your scholarship), child allowance of £448 per month for the first child, and £110 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 The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and you must be able to supplement these allowances in order to support any family members who come to the UK with you.
How to apply
Applicants must make their application using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). Applicants should apply to study at Master’s/PhD level at a UK university with which the CSC has a part funding agreement. Part funding agreements are at the discretion of individual universities. For a list of universities that have already agreed to part fund Commonwealth Scholarships. All subject areas are eligible – although you should note that the CSC’s selection criteria give priority to applications that demonstrate the strongest relevance to development. Applicants 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.
- Selected universities/university bodies, which can nominate their own academic staff.
- Selected non-governmental organizations 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, their own eligibility criteria, and their own closing date for applications. The CSC does not impose any age limit on applicants, but nominating bodies may do so in line with their own priorities.
Applicants must make an application using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS), in addition to any other application form that you are required to complete by your nominating body.
The following supporting documents must be provided by 6th January 2017 for your application to be considered;
- References from at least two individuals.
- For PhD candidates only, supporting statement.
Click here to contact the scholarship provider for more information on how to apply.
Application deadline
The deadline for scholarship application is November 15, 2016.
Important points to note
- The Commonwealth scholarship is a fully funded UK government scholarship which covers expenses like tuition fees, living expenses, air fare etc
- The scholarship is for masters and PhD programs only
- Applicants need to apply online using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS) and sending their applications through the nominating agencies.
- Your nominating agencies will advice you on how to go about the application.
- Applications must be submitted before November 2016, while supporting documents must be provided before 6th January 2017
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