Funding/ Scholarships in the United Kingdom

Several scholarships, bursaries and additional financial support are offered by the UK Government
to students from several countries. To verify your eligibility for a scholarship, you can visit the
website of the UK Council for International Student Affairs. In addition to funding provided by
the Government, many universities also offer fully funded postgraduate studentships. There are
several categories of scholarships one can apply to:
a. Global Scholarships – A.S. Hornby Trust Scholarship, Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships,
Chevening Scholarships and Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.
b. Country-specific Scholarships – Young Cell Scheme, Charles Wallace Pakistan Trust
Scholarships and Marshall Scholarship. None of these mentioned scholarships apply to
nationals from African countries.
c. Science and research funding – Marshall Sherfield Fellowships, Euraxess UK, Royal
Society grants and Newton Fund PhD Call. The Euraxess UK and Royal Society grants
(postdoctoral science research) are applicable globally.

To address scholarship opportunities for students from Nigeria, I will be specific on the
Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and the Chevening Scholarships.

Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan

The Commonwealth Scholarship offers around 800 awards for postgraduate study and professional
development each year. This makes it one of the largest scholarships globally. Applicants from
Nigeria have access to about six (6) categories of scholarships provided by the Commonwealth
Scholarship Commission:
a. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states)
b. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
c. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
d. Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle income countries)
e. Commonwealth Medical Fellowships
f. Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

However, I will be expounding on four of them because of their importance.

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Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Description: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for candidates from least developed countries
and fragile states in the Commonwealth, to undertake full-time doctoral study at a UK university.
Host Institutions and Courses Offered: Candidates are expected to apply to UK Universities which
have part funding agreement with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). For lists
of Universities in this category, follow this link; https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/uk-universities/.
Scholarship value: The scholarship covers airfare, tuition fees, living allowance, warm clothing
allowance, study travel grants, family allowances (for those accompanied by dependents), etc.
Eligibility: To apply for these scholarships, you must:
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country
or be a British Protected Person.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year
in September/October 2021.
• By September 2021, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours
standard, or a second-class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (a
Master’s degree).
• NOT be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before
September 2021.
• NOT have commenced and be currently registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a
PhD, in your home country or elsewhere.
• Have the support of a potential supervisor from at least one UK university listed in your
application form.
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Application instructions: For full information on this scholarship, kindly visit this link:
https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-
countries-and-fragile-states/

Note: The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships also go hand in hand with its “sibling” scholarship;

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Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships. For additional information on this, please visit;
https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

Description: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for candidates from least
developed and lower middle income Commonwealth countries, for part-time Master’s study by
distance learning on selected courses offered by UK universities.
Host Institution(s) and Online Courses offered: The list would be available as soon as the call for
2021 scholarship is available. Individual applications for Distance Learning Scholarships are
expected to open mid-late February 2021.
Scholarship value/inclusions: The scholarships provide full tuition fees and all other compulsory
costs of studying a UK Master’s course by distance learning. This includes the full cost of any
residential components of a course. Funding is available for up to five academic years from the
start of an approved programme. Awards cannot be extended or renewed.
Eligibility: To apply for the scholarship, you must:
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country,
or be a British Protected Person
• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and
sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases
• All candidates must provide at least one reference.
• All candidates must hold an offer to start their chosen course of study in the 2021
Application instructions: For a concise information on how to apply, please visit;
https://rb.gy/7sck1h

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Description: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and
lower middle income Commonwealth countries, for full-time Master’s study on selected
courses, jointly supported by UK universities. Awards are for taught Master's programmes only,
subjects must be related to the economic, social and technological development of a candidate's
country.

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Host Institution(s) and Courses offered: The list would be available as soon as the call for 2021
scholarship is available. Applications are expected to open by late January or early February 2021.
Value: Tuition fees, living costs, flights to UK.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
• be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British Protected Person;
• be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;
• be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year
in September/October 2021
• by September 2021, hold a first degree of either first or upper second class (2:1)
classification, or lower second class (2:2) classification plus a relevant postgraduate
qualification (usually a Master’s degree). If you are applying for a second UK Master’s
degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study;
• not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country;
• be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship;
Application instructions: For a concise information on how to apply, please visit;
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarship-scheme

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships

Description: Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for PhD candidates from low- and middle-
income Commonwealth countries, to spend up to 12 months at a UK university as part of their
doctoral studies in their home country.
Host Institutions and Courses Offered: Candidates are expected to apply to UK Universities which
have part funding agreement with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).
Applications usually open in September/ October each year. However, there has been a shift in
application call so interested candidates should anticipate opening for applications in February
2021.
Value: Includes tuition fees, inward and homeward airfares, monthly stipend at government rate,
arrival allowance and a study travel grant. A child allowance may also be provided under certain
circumstances.
Eligibility: In order to apply for an award, you must:

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 • Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country,
or be a British Protected Person;
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;
• Be registered for a PhD at a university in your home country by the time your scholarship
is confirmed (September 2021);
• Ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between your home university and
your proposed UK university - this link must be greater than simply a collaboration
between individuals;
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year
in September/October 2021;
• By October 2021, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard,
or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s
degree);
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship;
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format
Application instructions: For information on how to apply and documents needed, please click on
this link: https://forigen.com/commonwealth-split-site-scholarships-2019/
Note: You may disregard the deadline date on the link attached. On the official CSC webpage, the
scholarship will be opened this year.

Chevening Scholarships
Chevening is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme that offers future leaders the
unique opportunity to study in the UK. These scholarships are awarded to outstanding
professionals from all over the world to pursue a one-year master’s degree in any subject at any
UK university. If you have ambition, leadership qualities, and a strong academic background, you
are encouraged to apply during the application window.

Application timeline: The Chevening Scholarship has a structured application timeline which can
help prospective scholars to prepare their required application documents in advance. Please click
on this link for the application timeline of the just concluded application window:

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https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/application-timeline/. Documents required include
education documents, references, and one unconditional UK university offer.

What does this scholarship cover?

As Chevening Scholarships are fully-funded, your award includes the following:
• university tuition fees
• a monthly stipend
• travel costs to and from the UK
• an arrival allowance
• a homeward departure allowance
• the cost of one visa application
• a travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK

For further information: https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/nigeria/

Other website links for Scholarships in UK

1. https://findaphd.com
2. https://www.afterschoolafrica.com/40809/30-phd-scholarships-in-uk-for-international-
students-fully-funded/