The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) is inviting nominations from Mbarara University of Science & Technology for Commonwealth PhD
Scholarships tenable from September 2025.
Applications open on 10th September 2024
Full details of the scholarships are available on our website: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/scholarships
Number and Type of Nominations
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage
applications from a diverse range of candidates.
The CSC is committed to supporting outreach activities and providing additional investment for scholarships for people with disabilities and in subject areas related to the rights of people
with disabilities. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, please see the CSC disability support statement at: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/apply/csc-disability-support-statement
The CSC is keen to ensure an equitable distribution of awards amongst men and women. As such we do ask that you nominate a balance of female and male applicants. You are invited to
nominate 4 candidates for PhD study. We will not be able to consider or acknowledge any nominations beyond the number requested for each programme. Please make it clear to all nominated candidates that their nomination does not in any way guarantee selection or placement.
Full candidate eligibility requirements are available at:
https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-
developed-countries-and-fragile-states/
Selection Criteria
The CSC will make the final selection of candidates. We seek candidates of the highest academic quality who demonstrate a real capacity to make a difference to their home country on completion of their award. The CSC’s selection committee will grade applications on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate
- Quality of the study plan
- Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country
It is CSC policy to consider personal circumstances in all applications to ensure that, all other things being equal, candidates from disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds are selected.
The CSC invites around three times more nominations than scholarships available – therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to be awarded a scholarship. There are no quotas for scholarships for any individual country.
Details of the CSC’s selection criteria are enclosed and are available at: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/scholarships
- All candidates must demonstrate in their application the direct and applied relevance of their study to development in their home country. Candidates should make any such links explicit in their applications.
- Commonwealth Scholarships are aimed at individuals who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Every candidate will be required to sign a declaration that they do not have access to sufficient funds to study in the UK and no candidate with the independent means to study in the UK should be nominated to the CSC.
- Candidates will be asked to supply a personal statement within their application which will provide the selection panel with more information about their background and give an additional context to their application. It will be taken into account by the selection panel but will not be graded.
Reviewing applications
There are different methods to review applications, you can request:
1. candidates provide a copy of their submitted CSC application form to you directly (please
note that these forms will not include references and candidates must download it
themselves when submitting their application); or
2. candidates complete your own application form in addition to the CSC’s form.
How to submit nominations
Nominated candidates must be submitted to the CSC by completing and uploading the
Nomination Spreadsheet to the Huddle space by Tuesday, 10 December 2024. To
complete the Nomination spreadsheet, include the candidate(s) first name, last name, six-
digit electronic application number and gender in the relevant spreadsheet columns.
All nominations must be uploaded to the Huddle space by the deadlines above.
Acknowledgement
Please complete the Agency Online Declaration form by Tuesday, 13 August 2024, and
the Proof of Advertisement by Thursday, 12 September 2024.
To raise any questions or queries about this process, or for further information on how to
access/use the Huddle space please contact the Nomination Team via email at
