Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the United Kingdom is currently seeking applications from universities and institutions in developing countries to nominate their mid-career academics for the 2012 Commonwealth Academic Fellowships enabling them to spend periods of up to six months at a UK academic institution. The fellowships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Purpose and Duration
Awards are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution. The purpose of the Academic Fellowships is to provide an opportunity for Fellows to network and update knowledge and skills related to their academic subject and responsibilities. A small number of awards may be granted for collaborative research which is already underway between a Fellow’s employing institution and an institution in the UK. From 2012, awards are tenable for three months, except where a strong case can be made for tenure of up to six months instead.
Eligibility
To apply for a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship, candidates should:
- Be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons
- Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
- Be available to commence their Fellowship in the United Kingdom on 1 October 2012. Any other start date will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances
- Have been employed for at least five years as an academic staff member of a university in a developing Commonwealth country
- Be in the employment of the nominating university AND Hold a doctorate OR In the fields of medicine and dentistry, have qualified as a doctor or dentist before 1 October 2002.
Fellowship Provisions
Approved airfare to the United Kingdom and return on expiry of the Fellowship (the cost of journeys made before final award confirmation will not normally be reimbursed, nor can fares be paid for a Fellow’s dependants)
- A research support grant fixed according to subject
- A personal maintenance allowance at the rate of £1411 per month (£1750 per month for those studying at institutions in the London Metropolitan area)
- A grant towards the expenses of preparing reports and other written work
- An initial arrival allowance, incorporating an initial clothing grant for Fellows from tropical countries
- A grant for expenses for approved travel within the United Kingdom or overseas
- Candidates should note that there is no marriage or child allowance available.
Nomination Process
Nominations for Commonwealth Academic Fellowships may be made by invitation through the following channels:
- The Executive Head of an eligible developing country university on whose staff the applicant serves
- In the case of Bangladesh and India, nominations are made through the University Grants Commission; in Pakistan, through the Higher Education Commission; and in Sri Lanka, through the Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education
- The Executive Head of selected developing country research institutes on whose staff the applicant serves.
- All applications must be made through your nominating university/university body in your home country. You must check with them in the first instance for specific advice on how to make an application and for their own closing dates. The CSC cannot accept any applications direct from candidates.
- Each nominating university/university body is responsible for its own selection process, and in most cases they will set a closing date in the months preceding the CSC’s deadline for nominations.
- The CSC expects all candidates who are nominated for a Commonwealth Academic Fellowship to have completed an application form using the Electronic Application System (EAS).
Last date for submitting the applications through EAS is December 7, 2011
For more information, visit this link.
