Full funding · Study in the UK
Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships
Twelve months of UK fees, a living stipend, airfares and a thesis grant
- Funder
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
- Level
- Doctoral
- Coverage
- Full
About this scholarship
This award funds PhD candidates registered at a university in a low or middle income Commonwealth country to spend twelve months of their doctorate at a UK institution.
Because the degree is still awarded at home, it is a route to UK supervision, laboratories and archives without the cost of a full overseas PhD.
🗓️ Deadline
Applications normally open in the autumn and close in December for the following academic year
Award cycles shift year to year. Confirm the current deadline on the official site before you plan around it.
Eligibility
- A citizen of, or refugee in, an eligible Commonwealth country including India and Sri Lanka
- Registered for a PhD at a university in your home country
- Normally at least one year into the doctorate at the point of taking up the award
- A UK host university that has signed an agreement with the Commission
- Unable to fund the UK placement without this support
How to apply
- Confirm your home university and proposed UK host are both eligible
- Secure written support from supervisors at both institutions
- Apply through your home country's nominating agency where one exists
- Submit the online application to the Commission before the December deadline
- Ask your Tutopiya counsellor to check the nominating route for your country
Studying in the UK
World-leading universities, a two-year post-study work route and degrees recognised everywhere. Post-study work: 2 years (Graduate Route).
Other scholarships for the UK
Browse all United Kingdom scholarshipsAberdeen Global Scholarship
University of Aberdeen
£6,000 tuition fee discount for every year of the programme
University of Birmingham Postgraduate High Fliers Scholarship
University of Birmingham
£5,000 tuition fee discount on a taught master's degree
Think Big Scholarships
University of Bristol
Tuition-fee awards of £6,500 or £13,000 per year for undergraduates, and £6,500 to £26,000 for postgraduates
Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships: your questions, answered
What does the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships cover?
Twelve months of UK fees, a living stipend, airfares and a thesis grant. This award funds PhD candidates registered at a university in a low or middle income Commonwealth country to spend twelve months of their doctorate at a UK institution.
Who is eligible for the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships?
Core requirements are: A citizen of, or refugee in, an eligible Commonwealth country including India and Sri Lanka; Registered for a PhD at a university in your home country; Normally at least one year into the doctorate at the point of taking up the award; A UK host university that has signed an agreement with the Commission; Unable to fund the UK placement without this support. Eligibility rules are set by the funder and can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
When is the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships deadline?
Applications normally open in the autumn and close in December for the following academic year. Because award cycles shift year to year, always check the official programme website for the current date.
What does the placement service cost?
A flat SGD 50, billed as two monthly instalments of SGD 25. That covers everything: counselling, university matching, application support and guidance right up to your offer. There are no hidden extras, no agent fees and no commission on your tuition, because our counselling is funded by our university partners, the SGD 50 only covers administration. Separately, you pay the university’s own tuition or semester fees directly to the university after you accept your offer.
What exactly do you help with?
Everything from start to finish: understanding your options, shortlisting the right programme, preparing your application and personal statement, submitting to the university, and guiding you through the offer, enrolment and visa paperwork, all with a dedicated counsellor.
Which universities can you place me into?
We place students into a range of UK and international universities, and we shortlist the best-fit options for your grades, budget and goals rather than pushing a single school. On some pages we run dedicated SGD 50 placement drives for a specific partner university, and we are always adding more partners. Tell us your goals and your counsellor will map out your options.