Commonwealth Scholarships tenable in the United Kingdom 2021
Guidelines and Declaration for nomination: University of Nigeria
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) has invited the University of Nigeria to nominate 2 candidates for consideration by the CSC for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships tenable from September/October 2021. Full details of the scholarships are contained in the 2021 Terms and Conditions which are available on the website: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/scholarships
Applications are open only to persons who hold full-time teaching position in the University.
Selection Criteria
The CSC will make the final selection of candidates. The CSC seeks 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
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
Applicants are, particularly, to take note of the following:
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.
Application timeline and procedure
Applications opened on the 14th December 2020. All interested candidates must apply to the CSC’s online application system by 18th January 2021. Any candidate who has not submitted an application by this date cannot be considered for a scholarship.
The CSC has a deadline of 1st February 2021 for receipt of all required supporting documentation:
– proof of citizenship or refugee status in a Commonwealth country
– all university academic transcripts
– two references
– one supporting statement from a UK institution for PhD candidates
Only supporting documentation submitted directly to the CSC’s online application system in the correct format will be accepted and candidates whose applications do not include these documents by this date will not be eligible for further consideration for a Commonwealth Scholarship.
No hard copy documentation will be accepted by the CSC.
Please note:
- To be considered by the University of Nigeria for Nomination, candidates must provide a copy of their submitted CSC application form to the Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) <johnson.urama@unn.edu.ng> before 2.00pm on January 19, 2021 (please note that these forms will not include references).
- Nominated candidates would be informed shortly thereafter.
- Candidates to be nominated by the University should, please, note that their nomination does not in any way guarantee selection or placement.
Prof. Johnson O. Urama
Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
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