Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for PhD candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, to spend up to 12 months at Cranfield University as part of their doctoral studies in their home country.

Funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. These scholarships are offered under six themes:

  1. Science and technology for development;
  2. Strengthening health systems and capacity;
  3. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship;
  4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance;
  5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises;
  6. Access, inclusion and opportunity.

Applicants must ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between your home university and Cranfield University - this link must be greater than simply a collaboration between individuals.

At a glance

  • Funding valueAll tuition fees, travel and living costs
  • Suitable for Applicants fromRest of world
  • DeadlineOn going
  • Funding provider(s)Commonwealth Scholarship Commission


What it covers

  • Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor usually the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed).
  • Approved tuition: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university.
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,378 per month (2025/26 level).
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
  • Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
  • If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £590 per month for the first child, and £146 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK. 

If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Applicable courses

This funding opportunity is applicable to PhD courses at Cranfield University. Please see the 'Who can apply' section for more information.

Who can apply

In order to apply for an award, 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 registered for a PhD at a university in your home country by the time your scholarship is confirmed;
  • 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 September;
  • By September, 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.

Further information

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

  • Academic merit of the candidate,
  • Quality of the research proposal,
  • Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country.


How to apply

Applications are typically open for 6 weeks, opening in November each year and closing in December. Please check the CSC website for more details.

You must make your application directly to the CSC using the CSC’s online application system. You are not required to apply via a nominating body for these scholarships.

Only one application per applicant for these scholarships will be accepted.

You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline. Please note that you will need to provide a supporting statement from a proposed supervisor, please arrange this in advance.

The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.

For full details, please visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website.