Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

Commonwealth scholarships support talented students from low and middle income Commonwealth countries to study in the UK.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for applicants from least developed countries and vulnerable states, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

To get this scholarship you must:

• be a British Protected Person, a citizen of an eligible country, or a refugee living in an eligible country
• be permanently resident in one of the eligible countries 
• be available to start your academic studies by the start of the UK academic year in September 
• have a 2:1 honours degree, or a 2:2 degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification
• not already be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university, in your home country or anywhere else 
• have support from a potential supervisor from at least 1 UK university named in your application form
• be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship 
• provide all supporting documentation in the required format 

Your proposed PhD research must relate to at least 1 of the following themes:

• Science and technology for development 
• Strengthening health systems and capacity 
• Promoting global prosperity 
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance 
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises 
• Access, inclusion and opportunity

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides more information on this scholarship.