The goal of the Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships is to give talented doctoral students from low-income and middle-income countries in the Commonwealth access to equipment and experts in the UK. These scholarships, which are paid for by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), are a unique chance for Ph.D. students to research in the UK for a year.
The program is meant to help highly qualified graduates who are interested in sustainable development and have the potential to become leaders in their field. The scholarships are given out under six development themes meant to help the UK and Commonwealth work together and form partnerships in higher education and research.
VALUE AND DURATION
Each Scholarship Includes:
Airfare: Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and a return trip at the award’s end. Note: The CSC will not cover fares for dependants or any journeys made before the award is confirmed
Tuition Fees: Full tuition fees are covered per the agreement between the CSC and the UK university. Scholars are not responsible for paying any part of the tuition fees.
Stipend (Living Allowance): A monthly stipend of £1,236 (or £1,516 for those studying at universities in the London metropolitan area) is provided to cover living expenses. Rates are subject to change.
Warm Clothing Allowance: If applicable, a warm clothing allowance may be provided. Study Travel Grant: A study travel grant is offered to cover the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
Child Allowance: For widowed, divorced, or single parents, a 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 is provided if the children are living with you at the same address in the UK.
Citizenship of an eligible Commonwealth country or possession of refugee status, or being a British Protected Person
Permanent residency in an eligible Commonwealth country
Enrollment in a Ph.D. program at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country as of September 2023
Presence of an institutional or departmental link between the home university and the proposed UK university, with both supervisors providing a supporting statement to verify the application’s eligibility. This link must be more substantial than just individual collaboration.
Availability to commence academic studies in the UK in September 2023
Holding a first degree with at least a 2:1 honors standard or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by September 2023
Inability to finance studies in the UK without the Scholarship.
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.
Supporting statement on institutional letterhead from the current supervisor at the home university
If any of the required documentation is not provided by the closing date, the application will be considered ineligible.
The 2023/24 Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship applications are now being accepted. All supporting documents must be submitted by March 2, 2023, at 16:00 GMT.
The applications must be made via the CSC online application system. To be eligible, candidates must apply to study at a UK university that has a part-funding agreement with the CSC. Individual universities decide on these agreements.
To see the list of universities that have agreed to fund the scholarships partially, visit the “UK universities with part funding agreements” page on the CSC website. Candidates are urged to submit their applications as soon as possible to avoid the expected high traffic on the online application system in the days leading up to the deadline.
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