Commonwealth Professional Fellowships allow mid-career professionals from low- and middle-income countries to spend a length of time working in their field at a UK Host organization as part of a professional development program.
This program aims to provide professionals the chance to develop and improve their knowledge and abilities in their respective fields while also having a catalytic effect on their workplaces.
These fellowships are available under six development themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening healthcare systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Increasing global peace, security, and governance
- Improving Resilience and crisis response
- Access, inclusiveness, and opportunity
The CSC aims to recognize talented individuals with the capacity to affect change. We are dedicated to an equal opportunity and non-discrimination policy and welcome applications from a varied variety of people. See the CSC disability support statement for more information on the resources available to applicants with disabilities.
If you would like to apply for our Gender and Sexuality Fellowship program, please visit the Gender and Sexuality Fellowship homepage.
Benefits
Each Fellowship provides:
- Return airfare from the fellow’s native country to the United Kingdom has been approved.
- Regular visa application cost is reimbursed.
- Stipend (living allowance) of £1,782 per month (or £2,197 per month for individuals working in the London metropolitan region) payable monthly (or pro rata) for the length of the award (rates indicated at 2021/22 levels).
- If a fellow declares having a disability, the CSC will conduct a comprehensive assessment of needs and determine eligibility for further financial assistance. For additional information, see the CSC disability support statement.
- Arrival allowance of up to £972.59 (rates given at 2021/22 levels), including a component for warm clothes
- A £1,000 travel allowance per fellow will be provided for the Clean Energy, Air, and Oceans programme (managed by host organizations).
- Host organizations can agree on a maximum of £3,000 per fellow for short courses/conferences, as well as travel to other UK organizations when this is an intrinsic element of the program. Host organizations should be aware of the limitations in our advise on claimable costs.
Requirement
To be eligible for these Fellowships, prospective fellows must:
- Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth nation or have been given refugee status by that country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Be a permanent resident of a Commonwealth country.
- Have at least five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience in a profession that is associated with the subject of the Fellowship course by the anticipated start date – volunteer work experience will not be counted towards this requirement.
- Be employed at the time of application at an organization where they intend to return after completing the Fellowship.
- Prospective Fellows who are nominated for a Professional Fellowship must present at least two references, one of which must be from their present workplace. Prospective Fellows will be contacted directly by the CSC if references are necessary. When assessing a Fellow’s application, the Host organization may contact them to obtain a reference.
- Not have had a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship during the previous five years (at the time of accepting the award).
- Not attempting to pursue an academic research or study program. Academics are eligible to apply for the scheme, but only to pursue academic management programs rather than research or courses relevant to their research subject.
- be available to begin and complete their Fellowship within the timeframes specified
In addition to the aforementioned requirements, prospective fellows must ensure they fulfill any qualifying criteria established by each host organization.
Method of Application
To submit your application using our online application system, please click here.
Prospective fellows will be requested to complete the following fields on the application form:
- List all undergraduate and postgraduate university degrees earned (if appropriate).
- Include up to ten publications and awards (if relevant).
- Provide information about your work experience and explain how each position relates to the program you want to pursue in the UK (up to 100 words per job).
- Provide a statement (up to 300 words) describing how your past work experience relates to the proposed Fellowship.
- Provide a four-part development impact statement.
For further information, visit.
