Tag Archives: PhD

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM COMMONWEALTH SHARED SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

Application Deadline: 18/12/2025

LOCATION: United Kingdom

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, including the University of Birmingham, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

ELIGIBILITY:

Candidates should be commencing a course in September 2025.

Candidates must also certify that they:

are nationals of a Commonwealth developing country, and not at present living or studying in a developed country;

have not undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country;

are themselves, or through their families, unable to pay to study in the United Kingdom;

agree to return to their own country to work or study as soon as the award ends. The commission will only consider requests to extend leave to remain in the UK post-award for those wishing to move from Masters to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.

DFID requires that the University certifies when submitting its shortlist of candidates that they are sufficiently proficient in the English language to cope with the course for which they have applied. This will normally mean that you will have to have satisfied any requirements concerning competence in the English language which are a condition of your offer of admission.

You can read more about the eligibility criteria by visiting the Commonwealth Scholarship Comission’s website.

Candidates must also have been offered a place at the University of Birmingham on one of the following postgraduate programme:

MA Africa and Development

MSc Development Policy and Politics

MSc Conflict, Security and Development

MSc Clinical Oncology

MSc Environment, Development and Politics

BENEFIT:

The award is financed jointly by the University and the DFID. The award will cover:

Full tuition fees

Maintenance stipend

Air fare to and from the United Kingdom

Immigration Health Surcharge costs 

A one-off arrival allowance payment 

Thesis expenses 

Study travel grant

Full details of the award are listed on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship website. 

APPLY

DAAD IN-COUNTRY/IN-REGION PHD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AT FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AKURE, NIGERIA

Application Deadline: 21st November 2024

LOCATION: Nigeria

As part of the „In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme“, DAAD offers scholarships for PhD studies. The programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and designed primarily for university staff in the first line, whilst also catering to the public sector demand of academically trained personnel.

The target group for scholarships is graduates from Sub-Saharan Africa with a Master’s degree if applying for a doctoral programme, who want to pursue PhD courses, either

in their home country (In-Country scholarships designed for students who study in their home country or in the country for which they have a residence permit.) or

in another Sub-Saharan Africa country (In-Region scholarships designed for students who want to participate in a study programme in a country of their home region (here: Sub-Saharan /outside their home country/in the country for which they do not have a residence permit).

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants for a PhD degree:

postgraduates with a first academic degree, who have successfully completed a two-year university Master’s degree (or equivalent) with above average results (at least: Second Class/Upper Division or equivalent, if applicable) Candidates who cannot provide a Second Class/Upper Division or a higher result are not eligible;

clearly show motivation and strong commitment;

have thorough knowledge of the language of instruction;

have completed their last university degree not more than 6 years ago at the time of application;

must be nationals or permanent residents of a Sub-Saharan African country;

should be:

staff member of a public university,

or a candidate considered for teaching or research staff recruitment,

or from the public sector and/or

Alumni of the DAFI-program.

Fresh graduates, professionals and other candidates who do not fit in the above-mentioned areas are also invited to apply for the program.

Female applicants, refugees with recognized refugee status and candidates from other less privileged regions or groups are especially encouraged to participate in the program.

Please note: Federal University of Technology might have additional requirements for admission to the university.

The In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme supports studies in subject areas with strong relevance to national development: PhD in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Scholarships at Federal University of Technology are available for the following programme:

BENEFIT:

The scholarship covers:

Tuition Fees

Study and research allowance :920 EUR annually

Thesis publishing costs once towards the end of scholarship: 800 EUR

Monthly Scholarship (Accommodation, Food etc.) monthly:

600 EUR In-Region

500 EUR In-Country

Travel allowance (In-Region only) usually twice (beginning/ end of scholarship)

Health Insurance (In-Region only) annually

Additional Benefits:

DAAD In-Country/In-Region scholarship holders in the framework of PhD programs are also encouraged to apply for a short-term research stay in Germany for 3 up to 6 months.

The short-term research scholarship includes:

a monthly scholarship payment for living costs

health/accident/personal liability insurance

a flat-rate travel allowance

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