Scholarship Description: The new 50 Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships is now available for the researchers from other Commonwealth countries to spend one or two years at an eligible UK university or higher education institution conducting postdoctoral research. These fellowships are funded by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through the Rutherford Fund, with the aim of attracting global talent and supporting the UK’s research base. The purpose of the fellowship is to support world-class research and innovation and to contribute to the UK’s research base by attracting high-calibre international candidates and encouraging links and collaboration. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) awards over 800 scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development to Commonwealth citizens each year. The CSC aims to contribute to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, support excellence in UK higher education, and sustain the principles of the Commonwealth. Candidates are selected on the basis of merit and their potential to contribute to the needs of their home countries.
Course Level: Fellowships are available to pursue Postdoctoral research programme.
Study Subject: Fellowships are awarded to learn any of the subjects offered by the university.
Scholarship Award: Each fellowship provides: Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed will not usually be reimbursed). Research support grant of £2,500 per annum. Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,627 per month, or £2,019 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2017-2018 levels).Study travel grant of £1,000 per award towards the costs of approved travel within the UK or overseas.
Eligible nationalities: Applicants from commonwealth country other than the UK are eligible to apply for this fellowship programme.
Eligibility Criteria: To apply for these fellowships, you must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by a Commonwealth country other than the United Kingdom, or be a British Protected Person. Be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country other than the UK, and not based in the UK at the time of application. Be available to start your fellowship in the UK before 31 March 2018. Have been awarded your PhD no more than ten years prior to 1 November 2017. Not have previously held a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship awarded by the CSC.
Application Procedure: You must provide the following supporting documentation, which must be received by the CSC by 12.30 (GMT) on 13 December 2017 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration:
- References from at least two individuals. One of these referees must be your Ph.D. supervisor; without a reference from this person (except in exceptional circumstances) your application will be ineligible
- PhD certificate
- Supporting statement from your proposed supervisor in the UK
- Copy of your passport showing your photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
Deadline: December 11, 2017