Apply for the 2018 United Kingdom Commonwealth Scholarships administered by the Scholarships and Assistance Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Planning. This annual scholarships program offers a Masters and Doctoral degree scholarship for qualified applicants to study in the UK.
Applications are invited for United Kingdom Commonwealth Scholarships for Jamaican graduate students to participate in one of the following programmes at an eligible university in the United Kingdom with effect from December 2018. The awards are one Masters awarded lasting one year and one Doctoral scholarship award. All full scholarships!
Value of the UK Commonwealth Scholarships
Each of the UK Commonwealth scholarship provides:
- 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 fees
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,065 per month, or £1,306 per month for those at universities in the
London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2017-2018 levels) - Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
- Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
- If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £458 per month for the first child, and £112
per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they
are living with you at the same address in the UK
The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in
the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and you must be able to supplement these allowances
in order to support any family members who come to the UK with you.
For more information, see the Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows, available at http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/award-holders/handbook-forms
Priority Disciplines
Science and technology for Development: The scholarship, which may be in any area of science or technology (including, for example, agriculture, veterinary science, or forestry), will develop knowledge and/or skills that are directly related to the specific needs of a low or middle income country. Where possible, applications should cite expressed national or local priorities.
Strengthening health systems and capacity: The scholarship will develop knowledge and/or skills that will improve health provision or outcomes for disadvantaged groups in low and middle income countries. A range of approaches could be adopted, such as training staff to fill critical shortage areas; establishing better systems, processes, or management; health
promotion and improving understanding of non-take up; or developing new treatments.
Promoting global prosperity: The scholarship will support economic prosperity in low and middle income countries. The knowledge and/or skills gained could lead to, for example, enhanced trade capacity; improved economic understanding or decision-making by business or government; new products and services; or long-term capacity building, through the development of entrepreneurial skills, for instance.
Strengthening global peace, security and governance: The scholarship will develop knowledge and/or skills that will strengthen peace and security at national, regional, or international levels. Multiple approaches could be used, such as strengthening open and transparent governance; improving mutual understanding within and between societies; or building systems that reduce the potential for conflict or encourage its resolution.
Strengthening resilience and response to crises: The scholarship will develop knowledge and/or skills which will help low and middle countries adapt to changing contexts, withstand sudden shocks, or increase capacity to preserve the continuity of operations following such events. This could apply to a broad range of threats, including natural and physical disasters; long-term threats such as climate change; interruptions to the supply of key resources; or sudden economic or
technological disruption.
Access, inclusion and opportunity: The scholarship will develop knowledge and/or skills that will promote opportunity amongst historically disadvantaged groups in low and middle income countries. This could be through, for example, expanding educational opportunities; conducting community outreach; enhancing access to decision-making; or increasing understanding of the barriers faced. A range of disadvantage can be addressed – including social, economic, gender, ethnic, regional, or political – provided that the need is clearly stated.
Eligibility for the 2018 Commonwealth Scholarships
Candidates of the 2018 United Kingdom Commonwealth Scholarships should:
- Be Jamaican citizen permanently residing in Jamaica for at least three {3} years prior to application
- For Master’s Degree, Applicant must hold, or expect to hold by October 2018 a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard or a second class degree
- Submission of the relevant academic transcripts are required
- For PhD candidates only, supporting statement from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on your application form
- Submit the email addresses of three {3} references* {1 professional, 2 academic} on the prescribed reference forms along with their application form
- Submit a Certified copy of Birth Certificate and Biodata page of passport
- Be able to take up their awards in September/October 2018
- Be demonstrably unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
- Be able to meet all the immigration requirements of a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK
The UK Commonwealth Scholarships Awards are tenable at any approved United Kingdom university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement. A list of these institutions can be found at http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/uk-universities/part-funding/.
Prospective candidates should submit independent applications to their chosen institutions in the United Kingdom prior to your application to the Commonwealth Scholarships, without awaiting feedback from the Commonwealth Scholarships Selection Committee.
Benefits and Obligation of the Commonwealth Scholarships Winners
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2018 terms and conditions
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2018 terms and conditions
Successful candidates will be required to sign a bond prior to leaving Jamaica, undertaking to return and work in Jamaica for a minimum period of five {5} years immediately upon completion of their course of study to contribute to national development.
Application Procedure
Application forms, copies of the prospectus and further details can be accessed from the UK Commonwealth website at http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/eas/applicants/scholarships/
Completed application forms are to be submitted online and a hard copy, signed and submitted along with certified copies of the required documents to the:
Scholarships and Assistance Unit
Ministry of Finance and Planning
1 st Floor, Block “G”
30 National Heroes Circle, Kingston 4
(Telephone 922-8600-12 Fax:932-5013)
Email: scholarships@mof.gov.jm
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS Friday February 16, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Late applications will NOT be accepted. The Scholarships and Assistance Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Planning thanks all applicants for their interest in this scholarship opportunity. However, CONTACT WILL ONLY BE MADE WITH SHORT-LISTED CANDIDATES BY MARCH 22, 2018.
About the Commonwealth Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is one of the largest and most prestigious international scholarship schemes in the world. Since it was established in 1959, 35,000 individuals have held a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship – 27,000 of them were funded by the UK government, through the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC).
The CSC awards over 800 scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development to Commonwealth citizens each year. The CSC’s Secretariat is provided by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, based in London; overseas services are provided by the British Council.
For information about the other scholarships and fellowships offered by the CSC, visit www.dfid.gov.uk/cscuk. For information about Commonwealth Scholarships offered by other Commonwealth countries, visit www.acu.ac.uk/commonwealth-scholarships
About The Scholarships and Assistance Unit
The Scholarships and Assistance Unit, Public Service Establishment Division, manages the GOJ Civil Service Training Programme and acts as Point of Contact for the various donor Agencies and Countries offering technical assistance to the Government under bilateral and multilateral agreements. In this regard, this office is responsible for disseminating information on training and study opportunities as they become available. For all the courses, unless otherwise stated, application forms are available at this office.
