Commonwealth Scholarships – Developing Commonwealth Country Citizens

Commonwealth Scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries are offered for Master’s, PhD, and split-site (PhD) study in the UK.

These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

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 developing Commonwealth country (a full list is available at http://bit.ly/cscuk-developing-cw-countries)

·         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

·         For awards to enhance 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.

The Commission wishes to promote equal opportunity, gender equity and cultural exchange. Applications are encouraged from a diverse range of candidates.

Scholarship value

 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 dependant)
-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) – rates quoted at 2012-2013 levels
-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 midterm 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 midterm fare home, nor Scholars who have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse or child allowances for more than 12 months during their award
-For Scholars selected by the Commission for awards exceeding 18 months, a spouse allowance of £220 per month is payable provided that the Scholar and spouse are residing together at the same address in the United Kingdom. It is not paid when the spouse is also in receipt of an award. For Scholars accompanied by their spouse and children, a child allowance 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 reside 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.

How to apply

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).

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