Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high income countries)

Award details

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for candidates from High income Commonwealth countries, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides these scholarships jointly with UK universities to support world-class research. The CSC operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

These scholarships are intended to support scholars who could not afford to study in the UK without additional financial support. Applicants from traditionally marginalised or under-represented groups, and those who have overcome significant disadvantage or other barriers in their educational journey so far will be given priority when making selections.

Purpose: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for High income countries support research that will have impact in a field relating to sustainable development. They also enhance individual teaching and research capacity leading to increased institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth countries and will contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-calibre international candidates and encouraging links and collaboration.

Intended beneficiaries: Commonwealth PhD scholarships are for high-quality graduates who have the potential to undertake world-class research of a developmental nature and to become influential leaders, teachers, or researchers in their home countries.

These scholarships are offered under the six CSC Development themes.

Please note the eligibility requirements include that candidates must hold an unconditional offer, or an offer conditional only on finance, for their chosen university at the time of application and be ready to commence their studies in September/October 2025.

Please note that the application closing date for applications is 11 March 2025, at 16:00 (GMT).

Full details are available on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's website . Please check the Commonwealth Scholarship website for any update.

Eligibility criteria

To be considered for these scholarships, candidates must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Show evidence that they are currently permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. Candidates must have been living in an eligible Commonwealth country for a period of two years prior to the date they submit their application, which must be clear within the application.
• Not be registered for or have started a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD at a UK university prior to the start of the Scholarship and be available to start the Scholarship and academic studies in the UK in September/October 2025 (exact date to be agreed by the CSC). The Scholarship will not be offered to anyone who has already started their PhD in the UK prior to September 2025.
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by the time they apply for the Scholarship, with evidence of the degree to be submitted within the application.
• Not have commenced or be currently registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, in their home country or elsewhere.
• Hold an unconditional offer or an offer conditional only on finance for the 2025 UK academic year from all of the UK universities listed on their application, to be submitted as part of the application.
• Provide references from at least 2 individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
• Provide a supporting statement from a proposed supervisor from at least one of the UK universities listed in the application, in PDF format, signed and on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.

For more information please read over the candidate eligibility.

Award conditions

For a full list of conditions please check the Commonwealth website.

Application process

Applications for Commonwealth PhD scholarships (for High income-countries) for the 2025 academic year are now open. The deadline for submitting an application is 16:00 GMT on 11 March 2025. The scholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2025. 

Candidates must:

• Apply for admittance for their chosen PhD at King’s College London via  King’s Apply online application system.
• Apply to the CSC  using the CSC’s online application system.

The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system.

Candidates are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Candidates can expect to hear the outcome by July 2025. We will contact all candidates by email and they should ensure all folders of their email accounts are monitored, including junk mail and spam folders. A scholarship offer may be withdrawn if a candidate is emailed but does not respond within a specified time.

Please check the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's webpage for more information on the application process.

Selection process

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit
• Quality of research proposal
• Impact potential

For further details, see the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for high income countries selection criteria.