Commonwealth Scholarships for students from the developed Commonwealth to study in the United Kingdom will be funded by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). These awards will be co-funded by selected UK Universities.
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
- 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
- 6 months´ clinical training in medicine or dentistry (available only to candidates from developing countries). These awards are only open to candidates nominated by their Vice Chancellor/ ExecutiveHead or by the appointed agency in the home country
Eligibility Criteria
These Scholarships apply to candidates from Australia, The Bahamas, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cyprus, Malta, New Zealand, and Singapore.
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 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.
Offered Benefits
Each Scholarship provides:
- Student concessionary or other approved airfare to the UnitedKingdom and return on expiry of the Scholarship (the cost of jour -neys made before final award confirmation will not normally bereimbursed, nor can fares be paid for a Scholar’s dependants)
- Approved tuition and examination fees
- A personal maintenance allowance at the rate of £977 per month(£1,208 per month for those studying at institutions in the LondonMetropolitan area) – rates quoted at 2014-2015 levels
- A grant towards the expenses of preparing a thesis or dissertation,where applicable
- An initial arrival allowance, including visa reimbursement whereapplicable
- A grant for expenses for approved study travel within the UnitedKingdomor overseas
- A contribution towards fieldwork costs for those Scholarsundertaking doctoral studies for whom a case has been made forfieldwork outside the United Kingdom. This shall not normallyexceed one economy class return airfare to the fieldwork location
- A paid mid-term fare to their home country for Scholars on threeyear doctoral awards. Scholars for whom fieldwork fares are providedto their home country shall not be entitled to a mid-term fare home,nor Scholars who have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse or childallowances for more than 12 months during their award
- For Scholars selected by the Commission for awards exceed ing 18months, a spouse allowance of £220 per month is payable providedthat the Scholar and spouse are residing together at the same addressin the United Kingdom. It is not paid when the spouse is also inreceipt of an award. For Scholars accompanied by their spouse andchildren, a child allow ance is payable at the rate of £138 per monthfor the first child, and £108 per month for the second and thirdchild under the age of 16, provided they are residing with theirparents. The Commission’s spouse and family allowances representonly a contribution towards the costs of family maintenance in the UK and Scholars should expect and be able to supplement these allow - ances 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 thefirst accompanying child and child allowances for the second andthird accompanying children
More information can be found about the terms and conditions of theScholarships in the Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows,available on the CSC website.
