Last Updated on October 25, 2025
Are you looking forward to pursuing doctoral studies in the UK? If you are a student from India looking forward to enhancing your future through research, then you could be a candidate for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships. Yes, you have heard it right. This scholarship pays for your tuition fees, living expenses, and travel fare, as well. Funded by the British government, this aims at assisting students in research and development.
In this guide, you will get complete details of the commonwealth fellowship options, their eligibility, application process, and coverage. So, let us check out all the details here.
First things first. Understand what it is.
Key Highlights – Commonwealth PhD Scholarships In UK
| Funding Body | UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. |
| Funding Coverage | Tuition fees, Living costs, research-related travel, home country travel, dependents expense |
| Subjects | Biomedical and life sciences, Geography and the environment, International Affairs & Development, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacology and forensic science, Engineering, Management, Computer Science |
| Countries Covered | India, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Bangladesh and few more |
Decoding The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships In UK
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are full-funded scholarships offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It supports students from commonwealth countries like India, towards research work that leads to global development. So, if you are someone who wants to pursue doctoral research in any field, in a global nation like the UK, you must apply for this funding.
While browsing through the commonwealth fellowship for PhD, you will come across three main types.
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships For Least Developed Countries
This is for students from commonwealth countries, which are economically backward.
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships For High-Income Countries
This is directed at students from economically developed countries.
- Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships
This is directed towards low to middle-income commonwealth countries. The funding is available for 12 months of research work.
Basis For Research Under The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Commonwealth Scholarship Coverage
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships provides the following to meritorious research candidates for 3-4 years of research studies.
- Air fare from the researcher’s home country to the UK and return after the end of the doctoral course. It does not cover the expenses of the dependents.
- It covers the entire PhD course tuition fees.
- The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships covers the cost of living, in the range of £1,452 £1,781. The variation is due to the cost factors associated with non-metropolitan areas and metropolitan areas like London.
- It covers clothing allowance for chilly winters, wherever applicable.
- It covers cost of study-related travel.
- Travel costs for field-work at a foreign destination.
- Mid-term home country visit is also covered, unless some other travel allowances for dependents are claimed in between, or if the incumbent has travelled to home country for fieldwork.
Those scholars who are accompanied by family, have reasons to celebrate as well. Here are the offerings under the commonwealth scholarship for PhD.
- Spouse allowance of £313 per month for up to nine months. They must be living at the same address in the UK.
- If accompanied by children, then £313 for the first child, and £154 for second and third child, as applicable. All the members must be residing at the same address. If a spouse receives a separate scholarship, other conditions will come into force.
- If a scholar is a single parent, widowed or divorced, a child allowance of £622 per month is applicable for the first child, and £154 for second and third child, under the age of 16 years.
Eligibility For The Commonwealth Scholarship For PhD
Those students intending to study in uk, and that too, a doctoral program, must keep the requirements handy.
- You must be from an eligible Commonwealth nation, to be considered for the commonwealth scholarship.
- Moreover, you must be holding permanent residence from the eligible country.
- You must be available to start the doctoral research program by September 2026.
- You must be completing your qualifying program, in this case, a master’s after bachelors from a recognised institution. An upper second class degree is desirable at a minimum, in most cases.
- You must not be registered for or enrolled in any PhD or MPhil program in your home country or the UK.
- You must have the necessary financial support to study PhD without a commonwealth scholarship.
- You must have submitted all the necessary documents, as demanded by the university.
How To Apply For The Commonwealth Fellowship For PhD?
- One needs to apply for the commonwealth fellowship for PhD via the official CSC website.
- For students from underdeveloped and economically backward nation, a nominating agency will be required. The agency is responsible for putting forth the application for the commonwealth fellowship.
- Any doctoral candidate applying for a split-site scholarship, can apply to a UK university having a part-funding tie-up with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
- A supervisor needs to be identified, for the entire period of research studies.
- In order to complete the application process, one must submit the below-mentioned documents.
- Proof of citizenship of a Commonwealth nation
- Academic transcripts
- References – at least two
After you complete the application process, the commission will assess you on certain criteria.
- Your academic merit
- Quality of research proposal, based on themes/areas supported by the Commonwealth fellowship
- The type of research you intend to do and its impact on society
- Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview, or asked for additional documents.
Additionally, you must join any available CSC webinars or alumni networks, to be updated on the norms governing the scholarship. It helps to adjust to a foreign environment later, as well.
Application Timeline For Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- September – October – CSC online portal opens for applicants
- October – November – Deadline for the candidates and nominating agency
- December – March – Review and assessment period
- April – June – Results and confirmation from the University
- September – October – Selected scholars need to travel to the UK
Tips To Get Through Commonwealth Fellowship For PhD
- If you intend to apply for the commonwealth scholarship for your PhD program, ensure that your research aligns with global as well as national socio and economic development goals.
- Choosing the right UK supervisor helps in the assessment and selection process.
- You must be able to craft a strong research proposal which aligns with the scholarships’ themes.
- Start preparations early, to avoid unnecessary delays and setbacks. 3-6 months ahead is a good time to start.
- Do explain to the commission during the interview, how you will benefit your home country, after completing the program.
Throughout the process, there will be times when you feel under confident. However, you must not allow that to stop you from achieving your dreams. Talk to a study abroad consultant UK, who has the necessary expertise to deal with all matters related to study in UK, and scholarships such as the Commonwealth Fellowship For PhD.
How Admissify Can Help
If you are looking forward to applying for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, then consider working with a study abroad consultant uk. Admissify is the best one in this segment, with decades of experience. Get end-to-end assistance, right from application to document submission for the commonwealth scholarship for phd. You will also get post-arrival support in the UK, in the form of finding accommodation and joining an alumni network for other matters. Avail the first free counselling session now!
Conclusion
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are the best for research scholars looking forward to study in UK. It is one of the most prestigious routes for international students, to make a mark in society. From strong academic infrastructure and unique subject specialisations, to global exposure, it is the best that can happen to a meritorious student. This is your opportunity to transform not just your career, but your life as a whole. So, stop thinking and enrol with Admissify, now!
FAQs
The £is not a standard PhD stipend. Typical UK stipends for doctoral candidates range between £15,000-£18,000, annually.
Yes, the commonwealth fellowship is hard to get, unless you are well-prepared. There are a limited number of seats available, so you must have a brilliant background, and research proposal to support your candidature.
There is no such benchmark, but mostly a higher second class is the minimum cut-off requirement. When you compare that to a CGPA scale, it is around 3-5-4.0.
What are the requirements for the Commonwealth PhD scholarship 2026?
- You must be a citizen of a commonwealth nation
- You must hold permanent residence of that nation
- You must have completed a 2+1 educational degree, with masters
- You must not be registered for a PhD elsewhere.
- You must be able to support your doctoral studies, even without the commonwealth scholarship.
- You must have all necessary documents
- Is the chevening UK scholarship also for research candidates?
No, it is for taught master’s programs. The duration for which is a year.
Abhrajita Mondal, is a Content Writer who has dabbled in numerous genres including education since the last five years, and has a deep interest in Holistic Wellness & Lifestyle practices. She is an Ex-HR with over 10 years of corporate experience. For a voracious reader and consumer of information, which finds a way of expression through writing, she does that with elan. Abhrajita loves to travel and is a complete foodie. She has a thirst for the unknown, and loves to read esoteric books.
