Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships 2024-2025

Have you been wondering on how to access a scholarship opportunity in furthering your education all this while? worry no more! The Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships has answered your prayer as it has been announced for the general public to apply for its scholarship grant this year. This article therefore brings to the notice of interested applicants on the outlined guidelines and step-by- step procedure in applying for the scholarship.

Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are for candidates from least developed countries and fragile States in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. Commonwealth PhD scholarships are for high-quality graduates who have the potential to undertake world-class research of a developmental nature and to become influential leaders, teachers, or researchers in their home countries. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.
Purpose: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth PhD scholarships contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by supporting research that will have a developmental impact.

Eligibility Criteria for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

To apply for these grants, candidates 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 available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024
By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second-class degree (2:2) 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 or in your home country before September/October 2023
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

Eligible Countries

Take note that only candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states) in 2024/2025

Bangladesh
Cameroon
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Nigeria
Pakistan
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Tanzania
The Gambia
Togo
Tuvalu
Uganda
Zambia

Benefits of Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships

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 defendants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels)
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 (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 (rates quoted at current levels
If you are accompanied by your spouse but no children: spouse allowance of £266 per month for a maximum period of nine months, 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)
If you are accompanied by your spouse and children: spouse allowance of £266 per month and child allowance of £266 per month for the first child, and £131 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if your spouse and children are living with you at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply)
If you are accompanied by your children but no spouse: child allowance of £529 per month for the first child, and £131 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if your children are living with you at the same address in the UK.
If you share that you have a disability, a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

How to Apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

Candidates must complete an application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application required to be completed by the nominating agency. The CSC is unable to accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.

Note that candidates are required to collect references and supporting statements, on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from referees and proposed supervisors in the UK and then upload them in PDF format to the application system with their other supporting documentation. This is a change from previous years when referees and supervisors would receive a separate email requesting their statements.

The references and supporting statements must be uploaded to the application system by the deadline for applications and we are unable to accept references and supporting statements any other way or after this date.

Candidates must upload the following documents with the application:

Proof that the applicant is a citizen or has refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English.
References from at least two individuals on institutional letterhead
Supporting statement on institutional letterhead from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form.