How to Apply for Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for PhD candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to spend up to 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), 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. These scholarships are offered under six themes:

1. Science and technology for development
2. Strengthening health systems and capacity
3. Promoting global prosperity
4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises
6. Access, inclusion and opportunity

Split-site Scholarships are now open

These scholarships are for:

• Applicants who are citizens of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
• 12 months study at a UK university as part of an applicant’s doctoral studies in their home country, starting in October 2019
• Applicants who are registered (or will be registered by September 2019) for a PhD at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Study at a UK university with which your home university has an established institutional or departmental link.
• Study at a UK university which has a part funding agreement with the CSC

Full eligibility criteria is included in the terms and conditions on page 2. Please read all sections of the terms and conditions before applying.

Eligible Commonwealth countries

Antigua and Barbuda
Bangladesh
Belize
Botswana
Cameroon
Dominica
Eswatini
Fiji
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
India
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
St Helena
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
The Gambia
Tonga
Tuvalu
Uganda
Vanuatu
Zambia

How to apply

You must make your application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s online application system. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system. You are not required to apply via a nominating body for these scholarships.

Only one application per applicant for these scholarships will be accepted.

Application deadline: Your application must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 04 February 2019 at the latest.

You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Supporting documentation deadline: Your application must include the following supporting documentation by 16:00 (GMT) on 18 February 2019

• Copy of your valid passport (or national ID card) showing your photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship – uploaded to the online application system
• Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system
• Supporting statement from your supervisor at your home country university, highlighting current institutional links submitted directly by your supervisor to the online application system (supervisors will be sent an email request).
• Supporting statement from your proposed supervisor at a UK university, highlighting current institutional links submitted directly by your supervisor to the online application system (supervisors will be sent an email request).
• Reference from at least one other individual – submitted directly by the referee to the online application system (referees will be sent an email request)

The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system. 

Access the online application system

The online application system is now open.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Please note that the CSC does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.

Selection process

Eligible applications will be considered firstly by an academic adviser with expertise in the subject area concerned, and then 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 of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships 2019 selection criteria.

Anti-fraud policy

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For further information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and the DFID guidance on reporting fraud.

Enquiries

If you have any queries about applying for a Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship, you can Contact us. We will not use your email address for any purpose other than responding to your enquiry.

For more information on other scholarships offered by the CSC, visit the CSC Apply page.