Subject(s) Offered: Any field of study
Study Level: Postgraduate (Masters, PhD)
Scholarship Provider: CSC, DFID
Country of study: UK
Description of the Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an
international programme under which member governments offer
scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth
countries. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom
(CSC) is responsible for managing Britain’s contribution to the CSFP.
There is a nominating agency for Commonwealth Scholarships in each
Commonwealth country. In addition, universities and university bodies in
a number of developing Commonwealth countries are invited to nominate
candidates to the CSC.
Each year, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) invites each
nominating agency, university or university body to forward a specific
number of nominations for the commonwealth scholarship for developing countries.
Each nominating agency/university/university body is responsible for
its own selection process, and in most cases they will set a closing
date in the months preceding the CSC’s deadline for nominations (17
December 2013).
Since their inception in 1959, some 27,000 individuals have benefited
from the award of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships to pursue
advanced academic study in other Commonwealth countries. About two
thirds of awards have been tenable in the United Kingdom. The vast
majority of award holders have returned to make a significant
contribution to their home countries, in many cases at the highest
level, making the award scheme one of the largest and most prestigious
in the world.
Types of Awards:
Candidates may choose any of these ‘nominating routes’ for any category
of award, subject to the exceptions noted. Candidates must, however,
apply locally in the first instance. The Commission does not accept direct applications.
For the following categories of award…
12-36 months’ support towards completion of either a full-time taught or a doctoral
post graduate qualification at an eligible UK institution. These awards
are open to those candidates nominated either by the Vice
Chancellor/Executive Head of their employing institution or by the
appointed agency in their home country. Please note that the Commission
offers awards for one-year Master’s programmes only, and does not fund
MBAs
12 months’ non-degree study in the United Kingdom on a Split-Site basis to aid the completion of a doctoral degree undertaken at a university in the candidate’s home country
Up to 6 months enhancing clinical skills in medicine or dentistry
(available only to candidates from developing countries). These awards
are open to candidates nominated by their Vice Chancellor/Executive Head
or by the appointed agency in the home country
… nominations are invited through the following channels
The candidate’s national Commonwealth Scholarship agency. This is
the main route of application and a full list of Commonwealth
Scholarship agency addresses can be obtained from the CSC website (or
see 'nominating agency/university/university body in your home
country' under Contact below)
The Executive Head of an eligible developing country university on
whose staff the applicant serves. (In the case of Bangladesh and India,
nominations are made through the University Grants Commission; in
Pakistan, through the Higher Education Commission; and in Sri Lanka,
through the Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education)
Selected non-governmental organisations, charitable bodies and development partnerships
See Additional requirements for awards to enhance clinical skills in medicine and dentistry
Eligibility
To apply for the awards covered in this prospectus, candidates should:
Be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons
Be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country other than the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
Be available to commence their academic studies in the United
Kingdom by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2014
Hold, by October 2014, a first degree of upper second class Honours
standard (or above); or a second class degree and a relevant
postgraduate qualification, which will normally be a Master’s degree
AND
For enhancing clinical skills in the fields of medicine and
dentistry, have qualified as a doctor or dentist between 1 October 2004
and 30 September 2009. Please see http://bit.ly/cscuk-apply for fellowship opportunities if you qualified before October 2004.
For 'Additional Requirements', please visit the official website (link to it is below).
Selection criteria
Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:
Academic merit of the candidate
The quality of the proposal
For those candidates from developed Commonwealth countries, the
potential of the candidate to lead in the pursuit of global excellence
in research and knowledge
For those candidates from developing Commonwealth countries (i.e.
all others), the likely impact of the work on the development of the
candidate’s home country
Eligible groups
All students who are citizens of a Developing Commonwealth country.
Participating Institutions
Any approved UK university or
higher education institution (with whom the Commission has a joint
and/or part funding agreement for a specific programme of study or
research and are not restricted to particular subject areas.)
A list of institutions that have agreed to offer joint and part funded scholarships in 2014-2015 is available at http://bit.ly/cscuk-uk-universities.
This list indicates where an institution has agreed to offer funding to
citizens of developed or developing Commonwealth countries only or, if
not specified, to both. Agreement to joint and/or part funded
scholarships is at the discretion of individual institutions.
Fields of study
You can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship for the following levels of study:
Master’s (from 2013, the CSC funds one-year Master’s courses only)
PhD
Split-site, where the CSC supports one year’s study at a UK university as part of a PhD being undertaken in your home country
All subject areas are eligible, although the CSC’s selection criteria
give priority to applications that demonstrate strong relevance to
development.
You are requested to apply for a course of study at a UK university with which the CSC has a part funding agreement.
Awards are to obtain one degree and funding will not be extended to
enable candidates to complete an additional or higher qualification
than that for which the selection was made. Scholarships are made in
respect of full-time study only and no other courses of study may be
undertaken at the same time.
It is important that candidates make clear at the point of application
the qualification for which they are applying, especially if they wish
to be considered for a Scholarship intended to lead to a doctoral degree. This will enable the Commission to consider the application in the correct category.
Number of Awards
Approximately 300 scholarships are awarded each year. The CSC invites
around three times more nominations than scholarships available –
therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to get a
scholarship.
There are no quotas for scholarships for any individual country.
Candidates nominated by national nominating agencies are in competition
with those nominated by universities/university bodies, and the same
standards will be applied to applications made through either channel.
Sponsorship duration
For the whole duration of the programme
Scholarship benefits
Each Scholarship provides:
Student concessionary or other approved airfare to the United
Kingdom and return on expiry of the Scholarship (the cost of journeys
made before final award confirmation will not normally be reimbursed, nor can fares be paid for a Scholar’s dependants)
Approved tuition and examination fees
A personal maintenance allowance at the rate of £917 per month
(£1,134 per month for those studying at institutions in the London
Metropolitan area)
A grant towards the expenses of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
An initial arrival allowance, incorporating an initial clothing grant for Scholars from tropical countries
A grant for expenses for approved travel within the United Kingdom or overseas
A grant towards fieldwork costs for those Scholars undertaking
doctoral studies for whom a case has been made for fieldwork outside the
United Kingdom. This shall not normally exceed one economy class return
airfare to the fieldwork location
A paid mid-term fare to their home country for Scholars on three
year doctoral awards. Scholars for whom fieldwork fares are provided to
their home country shall not be entitled to a mid-term fare home, nor
Scholars who have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse or child
allowances for more than 12 months during their award.
For married Scholars selected by the Commission for awards exceeding
18 months, a marriage allowance of £220 per month is payable provided
that the husband and wife (or civil partners) are residing together at
the same address in the United Kingdom. It is not paid when a husband or
wife (or civil partner) of the Scholar is also in receipt of an award.
For such married couples accompanied by their children, a child allow
ance is payable at the rate of £138 per month for the first child, and
£108 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16,
provided they are residing with their parents. The Commission’s spouse
and family allowances represent only a contribution towards the costs of
family maintenance in the UK and Scholars should expect and be able to
supplement these allowances to support family members who choose to come
to the UK.
Irrespective of the length of the award, a Scholar who is widowed,
divorced or a lone parent will receive an allowance in respect of the
first accompanying child and child allowances for the second and third
accompanying children.
Method of Application
All applications must be made through your nominating agency (or university/university body, if applicable) in your home country.
You must check with them in the first instance for specific advice on
how to make an application and for their own closing date. The CSC cannot accept any applications direct from candidates.
The CSC expects all Commonwealth Scholarship candidates to be nominated
by an approved nominating agency/university/university body, and to have
completed an application form using our Electronic Application System
(EAS).
Full help on how to apply using the EAS is provided in our guides (see
below), which should be read in full before making any attempt to use
the EAS.
You may Access the EAS
For detailed information, visit the official website (link to it is below), and take time to review Commonwealth Scholarships 2014 prospectus – includes full terms and conditions (please note in particular the eligibility criteria)
DEADLINES:
The EAS will close to applicants on 3 December 2013 and no further applications can be made after that date. The
CSC will not accept any applications which are not submitted via the
EAS to the nominating agency/university/university body in the
candidate’s home country.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you are a citizen of a developing Commonwealth country (see 'Eligible groups' above), you can apply for:
Scholarships for Master’s, PhD, or split-site (PhD) study at UK universities
Shared Scholarships for Master’s study at selected UK universities
Distance Learning Scholarships to study UK Master’s degree courses in your home country
Academic Fellowships for mid-career academics to spend time at UK universities
Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals to spend time at a UK host organisation
Contact
Please note that all enquiries about these scholarships should be directed to the nominating agency/university/university body in your home country;
Or,
You may contact the CSC by completing the online email form here;
Or,
You may visit or write:
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom
c/o The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HF.
Application Deadline: 3 December 2013
Open for International Students: Yes
Click here for Scholarship Information and Application