Application Deadline: 20 October 2026 16:00 (GMT)
LOCATION: United Kingdom
The University of Sussex is accepting applications for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states) for September 2027. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for candidates from low-income Commonwealth countries for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth PhD 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.
ELIGIBILITY:
Type of award: Postgraduate Research
Please note that only applicants from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). India is not included in the PhD scheme and eligible countries are:
Bangladesh, The Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia
To apply for these scholarships, you must also :
Be a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible country and be a permanent resident in that country
Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2027
By October 2027 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)
NOT be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before September/October 2027
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
You will need to be in contact with your Sussex supervisor so that they can support your application and provide a supervisor statement. The Sussex supervisor needs to provide a supporting statement, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s Sussex details.
If our applications system is open for applications for autumn 2027, you are advised to apply online for a PhD place at Sussex well before the deadline for scholarship applications so that your supervisor and the academic School can consider your application and provide the supervisor statement of support.
To apply for a place at Sussex please submit a formal application using our online application system at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply, The following documents must be submitted with your application
CV
Degree transcripts and certificates
Statement of interest clearly stating the project title and name of the supervisor
Names of two academic referees
Valid IELTS certificate
BENEFIT:
The award will cover full overseas PhD tuition fees, a stipend, return travel to UK, Research Training Support Grant + fieldwork costs
