The Commonwealth Scholarships in the United Kingdom [formerly known as the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP)], funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, enables students from Commonwealth countries to pursue advanced academic study in the United Kingdom. The award is particularly aimed at students of 'high intellectual promise, with the ability to make a real difference in their own countries'.

The Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK scheme is administered by IDP Education Australia

A recommended short-list of UTS students or graduates will be forwarded for consideration. Selection is based on three main criteria: the academic merit of the candidate; the quality of the proposal; and the candidate's potential or demonstrated leadership qualities. Applicants for the Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK must submit their application through the university they most recently attended.

Benefits

The Commonwealth Scholarships in the United Kingdom provide a maintenance allowance, tuition and examination fees, airfares and other allowances. For a full list of benefits please see the Prospectus (below).

Eligibility

Applicants must be Australian citizens by birth or naturalisation

Applicants must hold by 1 October 2008, a first degree of upper second class Honours standard or above; or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification

Applicants must be able by 1 October 2008, to commence their academic studies in the United Kingdom.

Conditions of award

Candidates can be awarded a scholarship for one of the following:

12-36 months support towards completion of either a full-time taught or doctoral postgraduate qualification at an eligible United Kingdom institution; or

12 months non-degree study in the United Kingdom on a split-site basis to aid the completion of a doctoral degree undertaken at a university in the candidate's home country.

Applications will not be accepted for first degree studies or post-doctoral research.

Required documents

• Applicants are required to submit five copies (ie. the original and four copies) of the Application Form and five recent passport-sized photographs, stapled (not stuck) to each form in the space provided
• Five copies of academic transcripts, certified by the awarding body
• Five copies of any University admissions letter
• One certified copy only of your birth certificate. Proof of Australian citizenship is required for applicants who were not born in Australia
• Three confidential references (for more information on the references required please refer to the Application Form below)

In addition to the documents listed above, please submit 2 extra copies of your complete application (all  documents except references) to UTS by the closing date (Friday 12 October 2007).

Please note: if original documents are not supplied, then a university registrar must certify photocopies of the original documents. Uncertified photocopies will not be accepted and original documents will not be returned to applicants.

It is strongly recommended that candidates apply independently to their preferred institutions in the UK at, or before, the time of their application. Where offers of entry have been received at the time of application, copies of these should be enclosed with the application.

Application procedure

You may download the Application Form, Prospectus and Selection Criteria. Applicants are strongly advised to read all documents carefully before completing the Application Form.  Applications should be submitted to the Scholarships Manager UTS.

If you have any queries regarding the Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK scheme please contact: fellowships.enquiries@idp.com

Closing date

Applications should be submitted by 5pm Friday 12 October 2007.  Applications should be submitted to the Scholarships Manager, UTS.

 It is the  responsibility of the applicant to ensure referee reports arrive at our office by this date.

Application outcome

Applicants will be advised whether they have been short-listed by the University before the end of Otober. Short-listed applicants will have their application sent to an external administrator (to be advised) for further assessement. They will then be advised by the administrator by late December 2007 if they have been recommended to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for consideration. Successful applicants will be advised of the outcome by April or May 2008 by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.